Sallie Mae opens new operations center in Newark, contributes $25,000 to United Way of Delaware

Sallie Mae announced plans to open a new Credit Operations Center in the state that would add 1,100 jobs to Delaware's workforce. In addition, the company's philanthropic organization, The Sallie Mae Fund, contributed $25,000 to the United Way of Delaware.

The Delaware Economic Development Office and the New Castle County Executive Office worked collaboratively to recruit the company to the state of Delaware.

“The efforts of Governor Minner and the Delaware Economic Development Office made our decision to locate in Delaware an easy one,” said Albert L. (Al) Lord, chief executive officer, Sallie Mae. “This new facility streamlines and enhances our credit, collections, and compliance functions while placing us in a business-friendly state that is rich in financial services talent. I am confident that our move will help position our company for future growth and continued industry leadership.”

Sallie Mae expects to hire approximately 750 employees in Delaware for its new operations center by the end of 2010 and an additional 350 more employees in 2011. The new center will perform specialized credit management, collection, and compliance functions in support of the company's education lending and servicing business. The new operations center will have a value-added impact of $173.7 million on Delaware's economy in the first year, and $262 million annually when fully staffed. Additionally, Sallie Mae plans to invest an estimated $10 million for capital expenditures at the site at 300 Continental Drive, Newark, Del.

The Sallie Mae Fund's $25,000 contribution to the United Way of Delaware will support Governor Minner's “Delaware Does More” initiative, which supports food banks and other community groups throughout the state. The donation is the largest corporate commitment to this initiative to date.

Sallie Mae is eligible for up to $1 million in company-match workforce training grants associated with the start-up and relocation of operations at the center through the Blue Collar Training Fund program, administered by the Delaware Economic Development Office.

“Sallie Mae's announcement to bring their new Credit Operations Center to New Castle County is the right medicine for this ailing local economy,” said County Executive Chris Coons. “We are proud to assist Sallie Mae in locating their new center in New Castle County, which will result in hundreds of competitive jobs being created in the years ahead.”

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ShopRite's Kenny Family Opens Worldclass Store in Wilmington, Delaware

The Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware now consists of four neighborhood ShopRite supermarkets located in the State of Delaware. While operating these markets, the owner and his family are living and raising their children in Delaware. Bernie Kenny, President and CEO, began operating supermarkets in Delaware in 1995. Bernie has three sons, two daughters, a son-in-law, and a grandson all working for the family business.

On December 27th, 2008, the Kenny family enthusiastically opened their fourth store at 501 South Walnut Street in Wilmington near the Riverfront. The 70,000-square-foot world-class supermarket superstore was designed specifically for Wilmington. The store has many unique design features which are a first for Delaware: roof-top parking, customer elevators, a cartveyor system, and numerous in-store department enhancements.

The new store has the largest meat department in Delaware. With four stores in New Castle County, the Kenny's are striving to become Delaware's premier supermarket retailer.

The company hired nearly 200 new associates and spent millions making sure the residents are provided with the best place to shop and the friendliest and highly trained associates possible.

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Cooper Health System Unveils Largest Expansion in Three Decades

Last month, Cooper Health System announced a $220 million patient-care pavillion - the organization's largest expansion in three decades.

A $15 million New Markets loan was provided to Cooper Health System to assist in the construction of the project. The 10-story, 312,000-square-foot pavilion includes 12 new operating room suites, 60 private medical/surgical rooms, a 30-bed intensive-care unit, and an automated laboratory facility.

The project also includes a 12,000-square-foot expansion of Cooper's emergency department, which will open next year. The project is expected to result in the creation of approximately 237 new, full-time jobs within two years.

Cooper CEO John P. Sheridan, Chairman George E. Norcoss and several elected officials came together to celebrate the occasion. Also N.J. Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Cooper spokeswoman Kelly Ripa appeared in Camden to host a lighting ceremony.

Cooper received financing as a result of a $125-million allocation to the EDA under the federal New Markets Tax Credits program. The program, enacted in December 2002 as part of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act, provides loans for fixed-asset financing such as building construction, renovations, real estate acquisitions, and equipment purchases.

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The expectation is that federal investments in infrastructure will follow as a means to spark the economy when President-elect Barack Obama takes office on Tuesday.

The Delaware River project will be fully funded in stages through state bonds issued by the South Jersey Corp. in the absence of Federal funding.

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Museum Holds Topping Off Ceremony Upon Completion Of Steel Structure Of New Building

The steel frame of the National Museum of American Jewish History being constructed on Independence Mall in Philadelphia was topped off Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, noon, completing a significant milestone for the building that will serve as a cornerstone of the modern-day American Jewish community.

The final 31-foot beam was be placed on the northwest corner of the 121-foot and six-inch high, 100,000–square-foot, five-story building, designed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York. In the heart of historic Philadelphia, the Museum joined Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell and other landmarks at the site of America's birth. The new Museum will open in 2010.

The final beam was hoisted with banners from the Museum, Ironworkers Local Union 401, and INTECH Construction Inc., the Museum's contractor. Also included will be an American flag and evergreen tree, traditional symbols of the ironworkers' topping off ceremony. With the steel structure finished, the next steps for the building will be pouring its concrete floors and the construction of the north and west walls.

The western wall facing Independence Mall will be a glass prism, expressing the accessibility of the museum and the openness of America, as well as the perennial fragility of democracy. The north wall will be constructed of terra cotta, expressing the strength of Jewish survival and the protective shelter of American freedom.

“With this phase of the construction complete, and as the Museum takes shape on Independence Mall, I think it becomes clear that there could not be a more fitting place for a museum that will explore the promise and challenges of liberty through the lens of the American Jewish experience,” said Gwen Goodman, the NMAJH's Executive Director/CEO.

The new National Museum of American Jewish History will be the first and only major museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Through intriguing exhibits, rare artifacts and interactive displays, the Museum will mark the trials and triumphs of American Jews through every phase of the country's history. It will explore the challenges of identity and assimilation they faced and celebrate the contributions they have made to every facet of American life. And since other immigrant ethnic groups have faced similar challenges, the Museum will ultimately be a place for all Americans to explore, offering an experience that is thought-provoking and informative.

The National Museum of American Jewish History is dedicated to telling the still unfolding story of Jews in America – who embraced freedom with its choices and challenges as they shaped, and were shaped by, our nation. The Museum envisions its new home as a place that welcomes all people, inviting them to discover what they have in common with the Jewish experience in America, and to explore the features that make this history distinctive.

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Morphotek, Inc. Receives Additional $1.6M in Funding to Develop Therapeutic Antibodies Against Microbial Bioweapons

Morphotek ® , Inc., located in Exton, PA and a subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, just announced that the company has received notice of $1.6M in additional funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the continuing development of biologic-based monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies against staphylococcal-derived toxins. In June 2008, Morphotek received $1.7M of funding to support the initial development of this project.

The proceeds will be used to continue research and development of lead mAbs targeting staphylococcal toxins as well as pathogenic staphylococcal strains directly, for the treatment of infectious diseases. By employing Morphotek's proprietary antibody technologies, the company has developed multiple mAbs that are able to bind and neutralize the toxic effects elicited by microbial pathogens and is applying its technology to generate potent therapeutic mAbs to treat diseases caused by potential biowarfare pathogens.

“We are extremely pleased to receive continued funding from the Department of Defense for these important programs to support our National Security initiatives,” said Nicholas Nicolaides, Ph.D., President and CEO of Morphotek, Inc. “The renewed funding recognizes the excellent progress we are making and our continued commitment to achieve the ultimate program goal to derive potent anti-infective therapies.”

These programs are made possible through a collaborative effort between scientists at Morphotek and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), at Fort Detrick, MD.

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