Governor Carney Announces Transformative Seaford Economic Development Project

Watch the video.

SEAFORD, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday joined local officials, business leaders, and community members to announce a transformative economic development project in the City of Seaford. A combination of private and public investment will fund the redevelopment of the Nylon Capital Shopping Center into a multi-purpose community facility that includes on-site health care services, an education hub, early learning center, co-working space, and a job skills center.

This project is the result of a state, city, and nonprofit partnership to redevelop a shopping center in a city that was hit hard by COVID-19.

 

Funding for this project came from the following entities:

  • $3.1 million from the City of Seaford
  • $2 million from the State of Delaware
  • $500,000 from 9th Street Development Company

The new facility will have the following features:

  • Public Wi-Fi availability
  • A higher education hub focusing on workforce development trainings and courses
  • A medical facility
  • An early learning center
  • A co-working space for start-up companies

“We need to promote prosperity for all areas of our state, and we have the opportunity to revitalize this center in Seaford that was once a source for good jobs and an economic engine for Sussex County,” said Governor Carney. “This investment represents not just the revitalization of this center, but the future of western Sussex. I want to thank Mayor Genshaw, Representative Short, Senator Richardson, members of the Seaford Council, and Rob Herrera for partnering with us and transforming this center to be the core of the community once again.”

 

“The sale of the Nylon Capital Shopping Center is a positive step forward for the city of Seaford,” said State Senator Bryant Richardson. “Mayor David Genshaw, City Manager Charles Anderson and the city staff worked for years to negotiate the terms for the purchase of the center. I know Mayor Genshaw was in regular contact with Governor John Carney to request his help with the sale. Our city will benefit greatly from the improvements to the center. This is an important day for Seaford.”

 

“This shopping center has not only been an eyesore for decades but it’s also been a drag on redeveloping this portion of Seaford,” said State Representative Danny Short. “This project will not only remove a major impediment to revitalizing the western gateway to the city, it’s doing it in a way that will set this area up for success for many years to come.”

 

“This is a great day for Seaford and our surrounding area. The Nylon Capital Shopping Center for years was an icon of Seaford’s success, only to become a reminder of where we once stood. Today is a new beginning,” said Mayor David Genshaw. “We thank Governor Carney for his partnership in the vision of a better Seaford. To any current or past elected officials, as well as any current or past City of Seaford employees, we say thank you for getting us to this point of revitalization. Thank you to Sussex County who played an integral part in the start of this conversation. Lastly, Rob Herrera and the team with 9th Street Development Co., we thank you for your willingness to take on this project. Your gifts and talents will make this site something really special.”

 

“This Nylon Shopping Center project is the result of a community of leaders coming together and demanding a change,” said Rob Herrera of 9th Street Development Company. “It’s impossible to quantify the importance of the Nylon Shopping Center to the local community, and our team at 9th Street Development Company does not take that lightly. We are eager to breathe new life into this shopping center with a diverse group of tenants spanning co-working, health care, higher education, and the workforce training that DelTech will provide.  Our team is eager to continue to engage with the local community to program the site for success for years to come!”

 

“As a lifelong resident of the Seaford and Laurel area, it is very exciting to not only see the development of this center coming to fruition for this community I care deeply about, but also to be a part of the project through my role at Delaware Tech,” said Justina Thomas, vice president for academic affairs at Delaware Technical Community College. “We are planning to offer industrial training and comprehensive healthcare programs at the center when it opens. As always, Delaware Tech will bring its experience in offering programs that meet the needs of the community and industry.”

 

View video of the announcement on Governor Carney’s YouTube page.

View photos from the announcement on Governor Carney’s Flickr page.

 

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Reminder: DNREC to Hold Public Hearing Oct. 26 on Proposed Biogas Facility in Southern Delaware

Public Comment to be Accepted Before, During and After Hearing on Bioenergy Devco’s Expansion Plans for Existing Composting Operation

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a virtual public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. on the proposed expansion by Bioenergy Devco (BDC) of its existing composting facility in Seaford, Del. to transform organic waste into renewable energy. The proposed project will require multiple permits from DNREC, spanning several of the Department’s divisions, including Air Quality, Waste and Hazardous Substances, and Water. Detailed information about the project and additional related resources – including English, Spanish and Haitian Creole versions of both the DNREC public notice about the hearing and the presentation made at a DNREC virtual community workshop held Sept. 28 – can be found at de.gov/biodevco.

The public hearing will allow attendees who have pre-registered with DNREC to offer comments on Bioenergy Devco’s permit applications to be entered into the public record. All public comments made directly to DNREC – whether received verbally at the public hearing or in writing before or after the hearing – have the same weight and will be considered equally by the DNREC Secretary in making a decision on whether to grant the permits that BDC would require for proceeding with its expansion plans. It is not necessary to submit comments elsewhere – and only comments made to DNREC and entered into the public record will be considered by the Department as part of the permit decision process. Closed captioning, in languages including English and Spanish, is available as an option for comments from the community. Registration and connection information for the hearing can be found on DNREC’s Bioenergy Devco public hearing webpage.

BDC’s facility is currently permitted by DNREC to accept organic waste from approved poultry industry sources for composting. The proposed facility expansion would give BDC the capacity for receiving and processing up to 250,000 tons per year of permitted organic waste. In addition to the proposed anaerobic digestion system, the expansion plans also include construction of a wastewater pre-treatment system and a biogas upgrading plant. There is also a proposed emergency generator in the expansion plans.

Byproducts from the process would include pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG) and digestate, which would be dewatered and is proposed for use in the adjacent compost facility – or to be marketed in the future as a soil amendment that can be turned into compost (and which would require a distribution and marketing permit that is not part of the current proposed project and permit applications).

Specifically, the DNREC permits BDC has applied for include:

  • A resource recovery facility permit from the DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances to construct an anaerobic digestion system, biogas upgrading plant, and compost facility, designed to process poultry industry wastes into digestate, pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG), and compost. Wastes the facility will accept include poultry litter, hatchery waste, dissolved air flotation (DAF) solid cake and liquid sludge, offal, waste activated sludge, and fats, oils, and greases.
  • Two 1102 Natural Minor air pollution permits from the DNREC Division of Air Quality to construct a natural gas-fired emergency generator with a standby power rating of 1,082 kilowatts (kW) (1,451 horsepower) and four anaerobic digesters with associated biogas upgrade and air pollution control equipment. The engine used in the proposed generator set is certified to comply with, and will be required to adhere to, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
  • Two wastewater facility construction permits from the DNREC Division of Water to construct an anaerobic digestion system and a wastewater pre-treatment system as part of the proposed resource recovery facility that processes poultry industry wastes into digestate, pipeline-grade renewable natural gas and compost. The anaerobic digestion system and wastewater pretreatment system will include three 0.208-million-gallon (MG) pretreatment tanks, and four 1.95 MG fermentation tanks, a Membrane Bioreactor System (MBR), a 0.198 MG anoxic tank, a 0.412 MG aerobic reactor, a 0.198 MG ultrafiltration feeding tank and ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment systems. The treated wastewater will be pumped and hauled to the Seaford wastewater treatment and disposal facility. BDC plans for a future construction phase will eliminate the need to transport the wastewater via truck by constructing a sanitary sewer pump station and force main that will connect to a future city of Seaford force main located in front of the BDC biogas site on Seaford Road.

BDC’s permit applications and supporting materials can be found in detail on the DNREC website, de.gov/biodevco.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Air Quality monitors and regulates all emissions to the air. The DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Concord Pond to Be Treated for Invasive Aquatic Weed Hydrilla

The invasive aquatic weed hydrilla. Photo by David J. Moorhead-University of Georgia

 

With inland water temperatures rising and aquatic plants emerging, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will treat Concord Pond near Seaford beginning May 16 for the nuisance aquatic weed hydrilla. Signs will be posted at the Concord Pond boat ramp the day of treatment, and will remain in place for a month to advise the public and anglers of the treatment.

Hydrilla is a non-native, invasive plant that likely entered the state through the aquarium trade. Uncontrolled hydrilla can choke ponds and other waterways, crowding out beneficial plant species and preventing fishing and boating access.

Sonar, an aquatic herbicide containing fluridone, will be used to treat the pond for hydrilla. Sonar, registered with and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has been used in Delaware since the 1980s and proven to be environmentally-compatible and effective for controlling hydrilla. Sonar does not pose a threat to wildlife, including fish, and there are no restrictions on fishing or consumption of fish after treatment.

The only restriction related to Sonar is that water from the treated pond should not be used for irrigation for 30 days after the date of treatment. Residents and farmers along the treated pond and directly downstream of it should not use the water to irrigate their gardens, yards or agricultural lands to avoid possible damage to their plantings. Landowners with permits to use water from the pond will be directly notified before treatment.

To prevent the spread of hydrilla and other invasive aquatic vegetation, anglers and boaters are encouraged to remove all hydrilla and other aquatic plants from their boats, trailers and gear before leaving the Concord Pond boat ramp.

For more information, contact the DNREC Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife to close Phillips Landing boat ramp for reconstruction

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today the anticipated nearly six-month closure of the Phillips Landing Boat Ramp west of Laurel for reconstruction and expansion of the boat ramp beginning Monday, Nov. 12 and continuing through April 30, 2019, weather permitting. The portion of the parking area closest to the boat ramp used by the contractor for construction will be closed during this time, with the remaining portion of the parking lot open to the public for parking and bank fishing access.

The project includes expanding the current two-lane boat ramp into a three-lane boat ramp with new courtesy docks, repaving the parking lot, installing a kayak launching dock, and other site upgrades.

Boaters can use other nearby Division of Fish & Wildlife boat ramps located in Laurel and Seaford to access Broad Creek and the Nanticoke River.

For more information on the Phillips Landing boat ramp project, please call the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

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

Vol. 48, No. 307

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DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, Reclaim Our River program partner on ‘Pollinators and Gardening for Clean Water’ presentations set for Feb. 19 and March 26 in Seaford

SEAFORD – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and the Reclaim Our River (ROR) Program, in partnership with the Delaware Nature Society and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, will host two presentations on pollinators and gardening for clean water on two upcoming Mondays, Feb. 19 and March 26, at the Seaford Library, 600 North Market Street Extended, Seaford, DE 19973. Both events start at 6 p.m.

The presentations will focus on how the monarch butterfly population worldwide over the last 20 years has declined by 90 percent – and what can be done to halt this critical environmental loss, since plants depend on pollinators like the monarch butterfly for reproducing and natural abundance. Pollinators enable flowering plants to help purify water, and also help prevent erosion through a plant’s roots that hold soil in place and the foliage that buffers the impact of rain as it falls to the earth.

A limited amount of free milkweed seeds – which can be grown into attractive monarch habitat – will be available to those attending the presentations. ROR partnership members will share information on activities that support clean water, according to Philip Miller, DNREC Nonpoint Source Program, Division of Watershed Stewardship, while also learning about this year’s ROR-Nanticoke Series which again offers numerous opportunities to have fun around the water and learn surefire techniques for keeping our waterways clean.

The Feb. 19 pollinator presentation will be given by Mike McFarlin, who raises hundreds of monarch butterflies each summer in an effort to bolster Delaware’s monarch population. His presentation will delve into this majestic butterfly’s migration routes and the impact humans have on the monarch’s habitat. Mr. McFarlin will also discuss his experiences looking for eggs, raising the monarch from eggs, feeding them, and ultimately releasing the butterflies he raises into Delaware’s environment.

The March 26 presentation will be led by Alice Mohrman from the Delaware Nature Society’s Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, and will focus on gardening for clean water and butterflies. Attendees will learn how to make your yard, deck, patio, or balcony more inviting for pollinators including birds and butterflies. Ms. Mohrman also will offer tips on landscaping your yard, whether big or small, with attractive native plants which support wildlife habitat while also helping to reduce pollution in our waterways. She also will demonstrate a few easy steps toward creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

For more information about both presentations, please contact Alice Mohrman at 302-422-0847 or alice@delawarenaturesociety.org. For more information on the Reclaim Our River Program, which is devoted to bringing monthly events, workshops and recreational activities to the Nanticoke Watershed, please contact Philip Miller at 302-739-9939 or Philip.miller@delaware.gov. The ROR-Nanticoke Series offers participants fun opportunities for connecting with Delaware’s waterways and provides important information on water quality that can help in protecting the state’s aquatic resources.

Vol. 48, No. 21

Contact: Philip Miller, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, Nonpoint Source Program, 302-739-9939; philip.miller@delaware.gov