New Castle County, Delaware
"The First County in the First State"
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Office of Economic Development

Thank you for visiting the website for the New Castle County Office of Economic Development. We hope you will find this website to be a useful tool for learning about New Castle County's local economy, business permitting process, low taxes, development incentives, available land for development, and other information and links. Please click the links to the left for information.
 
The main priority of the New Castle County Office of Economic Development is to provide new, developing, and existing businesses with the resources they need to grow, remain successful, and contribute to our vibrant local economy. We assist local and national companies with government regulations and the permitting process. In coordination with the Delaware Economic Development Office and other partnerships, we work to attract new businesses and existing ones through marketing and outreach. Because of our positive business climate, more than 60% of all Fortune 500 companies have incorporated in our state, such as DuPont, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, W.L. Gore, and many others. We have thriving business and great opportunities in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, financial services, clean energy, and manufacturing sectors.
 
Property redevelopment is a key component of New Castle County's economic development and land-use plans. It helps to preserve open space, limit sprawl, provide reinvestment to older communities, and utilize already existing infrastructure and neighborhood amenities. New Castle County has worked to attract more investment in traditional neighborhood development through ordinances to waive impact fees for redevelopment projects, compressing the land-use approval process, and other incentives.
New Castle County is pleased to announce its “Sowing Seeds, Growing Jobs” economic development program. The program consists of several initiatives that will support businesses of all sizes, invest in infrastructure and improve the business climate and development process.
 
New Castle County Partial Property Tax Exemption Program – Businesses that invest at least $50,000 in new construction of commercial or manufacturing facilities in unincorporated areas of the county are eligible for a three year property tax abatement for the increased assessment due to new development.
 
Route 9 and 13 Corridors Economic Development Plan – New Castle County will be working with a consultant to develop an economic development strategy for the Route 9 and 13 Corridors south of Wilmington.
 
Community Economic Development Grants Program – The Office of Economic Development and Community Services will award competitive grants of up to $15,000 to nonprofit and community groups or municipal governments for projects that promote economic development, job growth or small businesses.
 
Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds – New Castle County has been awarded $1.62 million in federal funds for businesses and non-profits to borrow through a county bond program. These Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds provide low-interest financing – currently 2% – to qualified businesses for green energy and energy-efficiency projects in designated areas.
 
Buy From Your Neighbor – New Castle County will expand its Buy From Your Neighbor program that promotes local businesses, farms, manufacturers and artisans. The Buy From Your Neighbor website will be updated with news, listings of local businesses and interactive features.
 
 

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