Page 21 - Innovation Delaware 2018

and makes the planning process easy. The ‘new’ in New Castle County is our unapologetic commitment to rebranding the largest county in Delaware as Open for Business,” said Morris. “The tremendous advantage to being a small state is the ability to quickly communicate with elected officials and get the right people to the table”.
The county’s Department of
Economic Development is especially focused on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Whether a graduate student is seeking affordable laboratory space to research new chemistry or a technology startup has discovered a new application
to streamline reverse logistics, New Castle County has options. The Delaware Innovation
Space, located at the DuPont Experimental Station, and the Emerging Enterprise Center (housed within the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce) are just two of many incubator spaces and business support resources committed to fostering growth of new enterprise.
And to further support small
business enterprises, the Meyer administration is launching NCCInnovates. Announced in March 2018, NCCInnovates
is a targeted initiative that
will provide small grants to startup business owners. These entrepreneurs will compete in pitch contests, and the winners will receive small grants for their businesses. “A few thousand dollars won’t mean much to
a company the size of Incyte,
but it could be a game changer for an entrepreneur searching for seed money to build a prototype”, said Morris “Delaware universities are producing future
leaders in BioTech, ChemTech and Life Sciences and it is
our responsibility to foster an environment of support so new companies are created right here”.
Morris has also observed that
the county lacks a cohesive resource and service database for entrepreneurs. Businesses need direct access to assistance and that is why New Castle County is a proud supporter
of DelawareIQ. Slated for go
live in 2018, DelawareIQ is an online, centralized resource for some of Delaware’s strongest industries, including FinTech,
Life Sciences, Chemistry & Materials, LegalTech and Small Business Entrepreneurship. With DelawareIQ, entrepreneurs will have access to a comprehensive database of resources and service providers focused on New Castle County’s core industry clusters.
The newly announced expansion
of the Port of Wilmington, development of the new Amtrak transportation hub in Claymont and leveraging economic development and job creation potential at the New Castle County Airport are examples of the new possibilities that Morris pitches to businesses searching for cost effective alternatives to Delaware’s surrounding states.
Quality of life is a major
consideration for entrepreneurs and businesses of any size. Expounding on the current qualities of the county, the Meyer administration passed legislation expanding clean energy capability and will announce a new bike trail that will offer the first bike path
in New Castle County connecting the City of Wilmington to Battery Park in Old New Castle. “Strong, sustainable communities are
essential to attracting companies to New Castle County. Companies want a talented workforce, cool places to live with great restaurant and entertainment options.” said Morris. “The technology driven programming at the new Route
9 Library & Innovation Center
is an example of the County’s efforts to support the creation of an innovative future workforce. Providing access to robotics and NASA technology, for example, creates an environment where students can stretch their imaginations and build hope for the future.”
In short, what’s ‘new’ in New
Castle County is ‘transparency and efficiency’, Morris says. “And that means making the County a welcoming and accessible place for entrepreneurs and businesses of all shapes and sizes. Building trust begins with being open, honest and committed. And we are energized every day to make New Castle County an even better place to be somebody.”
To learn more about New Castle County: Department of Economic Development Tamarra Morris 302-395-5959 tfmorris@nccde.org
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