Our goal is to provide a wealth of information from a multitude of sources to help you turn your business vision into a reality. We strive to present you with vital information – from local, state, and federal government agencies, business organizations, and chambers of commerce – to help you shape important decisions for starting or growing a business.

Whether you’re starting a business, growing a business, or relocating a business, we want to work for you! That’s why we passionately advocate on behalf of the business by regularly partnering with local, state, federal, and private business resource providers. We promote and support economic development engines such as SEDAC’s Sussex County is Open for Business, a one-stop shop for business, our Chambers of Commerce, and Southern Delaware Tourism. We strategize with entrepreneurs and we proactively meet with companies of all sizes because Sussex County values the investment already made in our county.

large farm with a red barn and two silos

ECONOMY

Sussex County drives Delaware’s economy in a number of ways, from our nearly $1 billion agriculture industry – the leading sector in the county and the state – to the $850 million generated annually by tourism. There’s no doubt that agriculture and tourism are Sussex County’s bread and butter. But those alone don’t make a meal.

Sussex County enjoys a versatile economy, with healthcare, manufacturing, retail, real estate/construction, and education firmly planted here, providing tens of thousands of jobs for residents and fueling both the local and regional economies. And those jobs are only increasing, as Sussex County outpaced Delaware and the nation with a 2.6 percent job growth rate in 2014. Sussex County enjoys low taxes, low unemployment, and a lower cost of doing business – those combined equal a higher return on investment and spell success for anyone looking to grow a business in our community.

Sussex Demographic and Labor Market Trends

 

TALENT

The right workforce is crucial to the success of any business. The total population of Sussex County is 215,263 and has grown 6.15% since 2011. The median age is 45.96 and our unemployment rate is 5.4%. We offer an available talent pool of 101,483. Our average travel time to work is only 24 minutes. Plus, our strategic location allows us to pull talent from a bi-state workforce. The ability to attract, recruit and retain workers from two states adds to the existing bench strength of our labor shed pipeline. We have the talent you need to fill jobs today and well into the future.

Our regional educational institutions and workforce development agencies support ongoing innovative and applicable job training initiatives; all designed to build a robust and fully trained talent pool to contribute to the success of your business.

Resources:

Delaware Technical Community College Workforce Training
Sussex Tech Adult Education
Delaware Joblink
Delaware Department of Labor
Delaware Economic Development Office
United States Census Bureau

three men in a workshop examining parts of a car

EDUCATION

Quality schools and an educated workforce are the foundation for any community’s success. Sussex County is fortunate to have such a firm base, with seven public school districts, a charter school,  technical high school, faith-based private schools and four universities serving our residents. Home to 9 National Blue Ribbon Award schools, Sussex County’s students are put to the test with rigorous academic curricula and competitive programs that consistently show positive results. As those students transition into adulthood and move into the workplace environment, our economy is fortunate to have post-secondary education partners, such as Delaware Technical Community College, that can develop and offer career programs to satisfy local employers’ job-training needs.

Resources:

Delaware Technical Community College
Delaware State University
University of Delaware 
Wilmington University
Wesley College

five women working on computers in a classroom

CLIMATE

Like the lifestyle in Sussex County, the weather here is just right – not too hot, not too cold. Sussex County’s days are often sunny and mild year-round, a relatively temperate climate that makes our location an attractive destination whether you’re looking for a weekend summer visit or a place to permanently escape the brutal extremes of winter. Summertime temperatures average in the mid-80s, while wintertime temperatures usually average in the mid-40s. On average, Sussex County receives approximately 45 inches of rainfall per year – enough to keep our crops growing and our farmers happy. Don’t despair there, though – the sun shines on more than 200 days throughout the four seasons, making for great days at the beach and refreshing walks through the countryside.

Resources

National Weather Service
Delaware Environmental Observing System

Bethany Beach boardwalk on a sunny day

UTILITIES

Schagrin Gas truck and a freight train

TRANSPORTATION

 

Delaware Coastal Airport, formerly known as Sussex County Airport in Georgetown, is the major airport in Southern Delaware. It features a 5,500 ft. main runway and 175-acre industrial park. It is strategically located within a half day’s drive of the entire mid-Atlantic region. The New Castle County, Baltimore-Washington International, and Philadelphia International airports are less than two hours away from most locations in Sussex County.
Sussex County is served by Norfolk-Southern (Industrial Service), Delaware Coast Line Railroad – Shortline and by Maryland and Delaware Railroad – Shortline. Other rail services, such as Amtrak passenger service is available in Northern Delaware and is convenient for Sussex County. It has more than 80 trains per weekday that provides frequent service to Washington, DC, Richmond, New York, and Boston. Access to mass transit is available, with SEPTA commuter rail service connecting southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
The service is operated by Delaware Transit Corporation, a division of DelDOT. It provides a full range of fixed bus routes, paratransit, commuter rail, and related services. All DART buses are wheelchair accessible and bike rack equipped. Sussex County is also served by the Cape May-Lewes Ferry service.
The recent Nanticoke River dredging project restored the channel to a navigable depth of 12 feet, ensuring safe passage for barges out to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. The Mispillion River leads to the Delaware River/Atlantic Ocean. Sussex County is also relatively close to the Port of Wilmington, which is located at the mouth of the Christina River, approximately 65 miles from Atlantic shipping lanes. The Port offers 4,000’ marginal berthing with a 38-foot project depth. The Port is located within one-quarter mile of Interstate 495 for immediate access to East Coast markets and is 25 miles from I-76, one of the region’s major east/west arteries. Rail access to the Port is available via Norfolk Southern with railcar loading docks located next to terminal warehouses.

State Route 1, the largest project in the history of the Delaware Department of Transportation, is the primary N/S artery running through Eastern Sussex. Sussex County’s primary north/south roads are Routes 113, 13, and 5. The main east/west roadways are Routes 9, 24, 26, and 404. Delaware’s network of highways includes Interstates 95, 295, 495; U.S. Highways 13, 113, 301, 202, and 9 as well as well-maintained primary and secondary roads.


Resources

Amtrak – Wilmington
Cape May – Lewes Ferry
DART Bus
Delaware Coastal Airport
DelDOT
Maryland & Delaware Railroad
Norfolk Southern

small white airplane on the runway during the sunset