Looks like Markell has landed another company…
…as DEDO is looking for a large piece of land to hold a million square foot “employment center.” I can only hope the Markell Administration has lured the mysterious company here due to Delaware’s already existing structural advantages (i.e. favorable courts, liability laws, low taxes) rather than giving them another payout of taxpayer money. Because while we need jobs, corporations contemplating coming here are already awash with profits, and they don’t need out money too.
UPDATE: And just as pushed “publish” on this post, I saw this:
A maker of small wind turbines plans to move its operations from Arizona to Delaware, aided by a $1.2 million state grant, Delaware economic development officials say. It’s the latest in Delaware’s push to attract jobs to the state with generous incentive packages. The Delaware Economic Development Office proposed the grant for Southwest Windpower, based in Flagstaff, Ariz., to assemble small, “flagpole” style wind-power systems at a facility here. The grant will be reviewed Monday by the Delaware Council on Development Finance.
The company plans to invest $4.5 million of its own money on the facility and workforce, DEDO officials said. Delaware beat out Arizona and Massachusetts, reported Gary Smith, director of capital resources at DEDO. […]
[Southwest Windpower CEO Dixon] Thayer said he was looking to lease 6,500 square feet to begin with, and expand. He said he had no specific location in mind.
Southwest Windpower describes itself as the world’s largest producer of small, battery-charging wind generators.
[…]
The privately held company reported annual revenue of $24 million in 2008.
They could be connected, or we could have two companies coming here. Again, like I said, I am not pleased with the $1.2 million grant, but at least it is not $7 million with respect to Discover. At least in this case, new jobs are being added, rather than just preserved.
The jobs are nice, but I like the forward looking nature of this pick-up. You can only eliminate usury laws once.
Also, I wonder if racist craziness played into the company wanting to get out of Arizona.
WTF? Our Governor finally does something to earn his pay! Good on him.
“Also, I wonder if racist craziness played into the company wanting to get out of Arizona.”
Don’t worry. There are plenty of illegals they can hire in Delaware.
The irony is that Flagstaff is the one place in Arizona where I’d move a business.
My fantasy is that DE becomes the national center for alternative energy manufacturing companies.
I see this as a legit use of state economic development $$’s. Dana and I share the same fantasy which, on it’s surface, is kinda disturbing.
But virtually every state outside of those with climate deniers for governors seeks alternative energy manufacturing jobs, Delaware is achieving notable success thanks primarily to the Governor.
And, if you believe in the notion of synergy, as I do, I expect more to follow. The Governor has done great work on this since the beginning of his administration, and we’re seeing results. Even I can’t find anything to complain about.
Without a ton of government $$$ (taxpayer money) none of these businesses would have moved anywhere near this place. It is laughable to say the economic picture of the state is any better than the train wreck it really is.