University of Delaware Signs Agreement to Purchase Chrysler Property in Newark

The University of Delaware has signed a purchase agreement for the 272-acre site formerly occupied by the Chrysler Assembly Plant in Newark, UD President Patrick Harker has announced. The agreement, with a purchase price of $24.25 million, was submitted for approval by the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court in New York.

The Chrysler site presents a variety of unique advantages for economic growth and development including its physical location within the Mid-Atlantic region, access to transportation systems and road networks and its proximity to university programs, technical support and intellectual resources.

The initial objective for development at the site will be to create a research and technology campus adjacent to the University. The proximity of the site will allow University faculty to meet their teaching and basic research responsibilities while simultaneously exploiting their intellectual property to the benefit of the citizens of the state and the University. Similarly, participation in faculty research and creation of businesses promotes an entrepreneurial undergraduate and graduate student experience that will further foster economic growth. The University's preliminary analysis suggests the likely candidates for early inclusion in the park are the UD's emerging research partnerships with the Army, the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance, and several University research centers and institutes.

Additional benefits of the acquisition include enhancing public transportation in and around Newark through transit-oriented development, especially given the location of the Amtrak train station adjacent to the property. All decisions on the use of this property will be in the context of the University's academic, research and service mission, as well as the goals and values identified in UD's Path to Prominence ™ strategic plan and planning principles outlined in its Campus Capacity & Assessment Review.

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Fisker Automotive to build affordable plug-in hybrid vehicles

Gov. Jack Markell joined Vice President Joe Biden, and the state’s federal delegation last month to announce that Fisker Automotive has agreed to acquire the Boxwood auto assembly plant. The Boxwood Road facility will support Fisker Automotive’s Project NINA, the development and build of an affordable, family-oriented plug-in hybrid sedan.

The announcement caps months of work for the Markell Administration, which marshaled several state agencies to work with the federal government to find a replacement for General Motors, which closed the plant earlier this year.

Fisker Automotive is a green American premium sports car company with a mission to create a range of beautiful environmentally friendly cars that make environmental sense without compromise. The concept was created between two independent companies who wanted to make a difference in not only the automotive industry, but to the environment as well. Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies announced this joint venture partnership in September 2007. Fisker Coachbuild will provide exclusive design services for Fisker Automotive while Quantum Technologies (QTWW - a publicly traded company) will provide the latest technological advancements. Each car will feature cutting-edge plug-in hybrid penned as Q DRIVE exclusively for all Fisker Automotive vehicles.

A new segment is being created within the auto industry where people can really use their power of choice. They can choose to be environmentally friendly with their car purchase without compromising on the style and luxury that they are used to.

Below are the remarks Markell delivered at the announcement ceremony, which was also attended by Fisker Automotive executives CEO Henrik Fisker and COO Bernard Koehler, as well as representatives of the local United Auto Workers union.

“Thank you, Dr. Montgomery. Last June when we asked you to come to Delaware to learn more about how the closure of Delaware’s GM and Chrysler plants affected our workers and our communities, you responded immediately, including with a National Emergency Grant to serve our auto workers. We are grateful to you, the Vice President and the entire Obama Biden administration for your commitment to Delaware’s workers.

“Before Dr. Montgomery came to Delaware, and only one day after General Motors announced that the Boxwood plant would close, I came to this very place with a heavy heart to explain that we had done everything we could to make sure this plant would stay open – fought every fight, made every argument - but that General Motors had decided to consolidate plants in the Midwest and put an early end to Boxwood’s proud GM legacy.

“I entered the plant that day at an all time low. Two hours later, I left inspired because I found hundreds of people who were not done fighting and certainly not done working. “People who had built a reputation for some of the best relationships between management and labor in the U.S. automobile industry and some of the highest productivity levels in the nation. “People who said, quite clearly, they were ready to get to work writing a new chapter in this plant’s, and our state’s, history."

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Goya Food Opens Distribution Center in Salem County

Goya Foods, Inc. officially opened its new state-of-the-art distribution facility in Pedricktown, NJ last week. This adds to Goya's 14 other facilities in both the United States and abroad. The addition is part of the company's effort to enhance its presence in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.The facility spans about 2.6 acres of land in the Gateway Business Park and has the potential of expanding an additional 2.5 acres in the future.

Goya Foods is not only America 's largest Hispanic-owned food company, but has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures packages and distributes over 1,500 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico , Central and South America . Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table.

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Gloucester Terminals LLC Increases Cold Treatment and Storage Capacity

Last month, the final touches were put on the brand new racks in Box 11 at Gloucester Terminals LLC in South Jersey. In the past, Box 11 was un-racked, but recent demand for Cold Treatment Programs of fruit and demand for increased storage capacity for the Chilean fruit season has led to this timely investment. This move allows Gloucester Terminals to double their capacity for cold treatment programs and allows for increased storage capacity in the peak of the Chilean fruit season.

Tom Mastromarco, Director of Fruit Marketing at the terminal, says, “This extra capacity could not come at a better time. The terminal is right inthe middle of our Cold Treatment Program for the Brazilian Grapes and we are gearing up for what looks like another great Chilean Fruit season.” Gloucester Terminals LLC now has the flexibility to do single, multiple, or large capacities for Cold Treatment. Each treatment done at Gloucester Terminals is USDA supervised and certified with the quickest programs under USDA protocol lasting 14 days at 32 degrees F.

Leo Holt, President of Holt Logistics said, “These new racks fit into Holt Logistics long term goal and misson of being ‘The Strongest Link in the ColdChain'.”

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County Receives an Additional $7 Million For Port of Paulsboro

Gloucester County will receive an additional $7 million from the State's Transportation Trust Fund for the access road and bridge for the Port of Paulsboro.  The project, which will total $23 million for land acquisition, design and construction, will be completely funded by the State Department of Transportation.

The access road and ¾ mile overpass-like bridge are planned to directly connect the port to I-295 so that traffic does not disturb the areas neighborhoods.

"Since the day we broke ground on the Port of Paulsboro in September things have been moving along smoothly," stated Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney.  "The access road and the bridge are important to the quality of life for the residents who live in Paulsboro," Sweeney said.

"The state has committed funding for this access to the port and the county is in the permitting process.  We expect to have a contractor on board in spring of 2010 and then construction of the access road and bridge can begin at some point next year," said Sweeney.

Freeholder Director Sweeney stated that the county's goal is to build the road and bridge first so that materials to construct the port can go directly to the site.

"The Port is going to generate over 2,000 jobs and about $12 million a year in tax revenues.  We are anxious to get moving because people need those jobs now," said Sweeney.  "The funding commitment from the state is important because it means that we can continue to move forward and the county does not have to put up any funding," stated Sweeney.

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MontCo Commissioners Kick-Off Construction That Will Add 200 Jobs to Norristown

The Montgomery County Commissioners kicked off construction last month on the new national headquarters of USM, which will add 200 new middle-income jobs to Norristown. Montgomery County is providing a $1.9 million grant under the Countywide Strategic Economic Development Program to renovate the old Sears building in Studio Centre, formerly Logan Square Shopping Center.

When the new offices open, scheduled for late 2010, USM will move its existing workforce of 358 into the new facility and move approximately 100 more employees in from various other locations. It has also made commitments to hire an additional 100 people over the next five years.

The new jobs coming to Norristown carry salaries ranging from $40,000 to $105,000, with an average salary of $55,000. The grant is being funded under Montgomery County's new Countywide Strategic Economic Development Program, which has targeted $20 million for the revitalization of older communities in the county.

“The addition of these new jobs with substantial salaries will give Norristown a much needed boost and is exactly what we envisioned when we proposed this new economic development program,” Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews said. USM, formerly US Maintenance, will have approximately 80,000-square-feet of additional space when the renovations are complete.

The new building is being designed to achieve Silver LEED Certification for the Core & Shell and Commercial Interior.  It will offer features such as glass-front offices, spacious low-profile workstations, and plenty of natural light through skylights.  Additionally, the design will take advantage of the natural light and will adjust the light output accordingly, an energy conservation method known as daylight harvesting. 

A green roof will also help regulate the building temperature, while controlling waste water run-off. There are also plans to install solar panels on the roof, so that a portion of the building's energy consumption will be solar power.

“We are excited to have the support of the local community to grow our business here, and the opportunity to provide an environmentally-friendly facility that is also a great place to work,” said USM Chief Executive Officer George Spink. “We're also looking forward to working with local businesses, as we intend to source from local business and suppliers for as much of the refurbishment as possible.”

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