Governor Carney Announces Downtown Development District Designations

Governor Carney designates new districts in Delaware City, Middletown, New Castle and Clayton 

DELAWARE CITY, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday announced the latest cities and towns receiving a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) designation. The program significantly builds on the state’s efforts to redevelop Delaware’s commercial business districts and drive private investment in towns and cities.   

Governor Carney officially designated four new Downtown Development Districts – in Delaware City, Middletown, New Castle and Clayton. Investors who make qualified improvements to residential, commercial or industrial properties in those districts now may qualify for state and local development incentives, including a rebate of up to 20 percent of eligible costs upon completion of the project.

“The Downtown Development Districts program is already bringing significant private investment to the eight currently designated cities and towns, and I am thrilled to welcome these four new designations to the program,” said Governor John Carney. “This expansion continues our commitment to revitalizing our downtown business districts and surrounding neighborhoods.”

Established in May 2014, the DDD program was created to spur private capital investment in commercial business districts and other neighborhoods; stimulate job growth and improve the commercial vitality of our cities and towns; and help build a stable community of long-term residents in our downtowns and other neighborhoods.

Since the first reservation awards in April 2015, the DDD program has been a catalyst for private investment in the eight Delaware downtowns previously designated. Those districts are: Dover, Georgetown, Harrington, Laurel, Milford, Seaford, Smyrna and Wilmington. To date, $31.6 million in rebates through the program has leveraged $597 million in private investment in those designated downtown districts.

Governor Carney made the announcement in downtown Delaware City on Monday morning, joined by local officials representing the new districts.

“We are excited about the transformation that will occur in downtown Delaware City thanks to this program. We want our residents to be able to live, work and enjoy themselves in our downtown, and this designation will go a long way to helping us achieve that,” said Delaware City Mayor Paul H. Johnson, Sr.

“The City of New Castle is honored to accept the Governor’s Downtown Development District designation, and we are excited to see the positive changes this program can have for our community,” said New Castle City Mayor Michael J. Quaranta. “Investors looking to make improvements in our city now have another incentive to help further strengthen our community.”

“The Town Council and I are committed to continuing the economic growth in Middletown, particularly within the main commercial district,” said Middletown Mayor Ken Branner. “We firmly believe this designation, combined with significant local incentives, will encourage private investment in the downtown areas that have been left out of current development.”

“This Downtown Development Districts designation provides a wonderful opportunity for the Town of Clayton to jump start our revitalization,” said Clayton Vice Mayor Alex Dias. “By participating in the program, our downtown is certain to prosper, maintain its character, and be the center of our community.”

The DDD program is administered by the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA). In October, DSHA will launch a new funding round for large projects in each of Delaware’s Downtown Development Districts. Nearly $8 million in funding will be available for projects statewide. Applications to fund small projects are accepted on a rolling basis.

“We’re thrilled to work with homeowners, developers, and small business owners to drive investment in all of the newly-designated districts,” said Anas Ben Addi, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. “This program is already successful in the eight current districts, and we look forward to even more progress statewide.”

Governor Carney announced in February that the DDD program would expand through new district designations. Delaware’s Office of State Planning Coordination led the process to review the applications and designate the new districts. Applications were scored based on the town or city’s need for Downtown Development District incentives, the jurisdiction’s downtown revitalization plan and the creativity of its incentive package.

“All of Delaware’s towns and cities are unique, and I am so pleased that we were able to expand this program to the four diverse communities being recognized today,” said State Planning Director Constance Holland. “The best part of this program is that it supports such a wide range of redevelopment activities so each town can thrive. This program demonstrates that the state supports all of our local governments and their visions of economically vibrant, healthy, and complete communities.”

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DNREC’s Division of Air Quality offering public workshops for demolition contractors and municipalities Feb. 10, 16 and 23

DOVER – Demolition contractors and municipality representatives who want to learn more about demolition-related requirements and regulations are encouraged to attend public workshops offered this month by DNREC’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and Small Business Environmental Assistance Program. The workshops will provide information on regulations related to demolition activities, asbestos, state and federal notification requirements as well as information on enforcement and recycling opportunities for demolition waste.

Workshops will be held in all three counties from 6-8 p.m., with dates and locations as follow, and preregistration suggested:

  • Sussex County: Wednesday, Feb. 10, Sussex County Administrative Offices West Complex, 22215 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947
  • Kent County: Tuesday, Feb. 16, DelDOT Administrative Building, Farmington/Felton Room, 800 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901
  • New Castle County: Tuesday, Feb. 23, Bear Public Library, Meeting Rooms 1A & 1B, 101 Governor’s Place, Bear, DE 19701

“Similar workshops were last held in 2012, and a few recent compliance issues prompted DNREC to hold the workshops again,” said Tom Postell, program manager with DAQ’s Area Source Compliance Program. “With these workshops we want to re-educate both demolition contractors and municipalities about the requirements surrounding demolition activities, and thus enhance future compliance. Contractors and municipality representatives are encouraged to attend.”

For more information, please contact Tom Postell, Division of Air Quality, at 302-739-9402. To preregister, please email Michelle Jacobs, DNREC Small Business ombudsman, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, at or call 302-739-9069.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 31


$7 Million Now Available to Revitalize Downtowns

Dover, DE – Governor Jack Markell and Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) Director Anas Ben Addi announced today the launch of the Downtown Development Districts (DDD) Grant Program. The DDD Grant is now available for investments in recently designated areas of Wilmington, Dover and Seaford that need the rehabilitation, expansion or new construction of commercial, industrial, residential (including multi-family), and mixed-use buildings or facilities located within the boundaries of a District.

Governor Markell said, “Downtown Development Districts will spur private capital investment in commercial business districts, stimulate job growth, help build a stable community of long term residents by improving housing opportunities, and strengthen our neighborhoods.  The DDD Grant Program offers the opportunity to generate a surge of cultural, real estate, and business activity that could reinvigorate declining areas of our cities.”

DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi added, “After many rounds of outreach and gathering feedback, we are excited to launch this program.  In structuring the grant allocation process, we tried to be fair to all projects and Districts, regardless of the size or location. The $7 million funding will allow us to attract at least $35 million worth of private investments to the designated Districts.”

The DDD Act of 2014 was enacted by General Assembly to spur private investment in commercial business districts and other neighborhoods; improve the commercial vitality of our cities and towns; and, help build a stable community of long-term residents in our downtowns and other neighborhoods.  State and local incentives are available to businesses and district investors who invest within the Downtown Development District boundaries.

Examples of eligible activities include:  Exterior, interior, structural, mechanical or electrical improvements; excavations; grading and paving; installing driveways; landscaping or land improvements; and, demolition.

Developers, homeowners, or business owners interested in investing in the DDDs may apply directly to DSHA. Applications, forms and guidelines may be obtained from DSHA’s website. Projects seeking a Large Project reservation must apply by March 20, 2015. Small Project applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

(Please see the Downtown Development District Fact Sheet for additional information.)

To view the Downtown Development Districts Grant Program, visit the DSHA’s Downtown Development District web page.  Visit the Office of State Planning Coordination website to learn about additional available programs that may be used in combination with the DDD Grant.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it is also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (302) 739-4263 or visit our website at: www.destatehousing.com.

Press Contact:

Christina M. Hardin-Dirksen
Chief of Community Relations, DSHA
Phone:  (302) 739-4263
Email:  Christina@destatehousing.com