Our Business Ecosystem is unprecedented. It’s one of the reasons why Sussex County is the fastest growing county in the fastest growing state in the Northeast.

Economic Development organizations across the country promote a skilled workforce, low taxes, unparalleled quality of life, and similar targeted industries. In addition to these vitally important metrics, what does Sussex County, Delaware offer to business that you won’t find anywhere?  We call it the Power of “X”  – Susse-X: leadership accessibility, entrepreneur and small business support, and economic development advocacy.

LEADERSHIP ACCESSIBILITY

Sussex County’s leadership accessibility extends to the Governor’s Office, State agencies and our elected legislators, the federal delegation as well as our federal business partners including the Small Business Administration (SBA) and USDA Rural Development. Sussex County works closely with municipal leaders in each of our 25 eclectic cities and towns and with every infrastructure supplier in our county.

ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT

Sussex County touts agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, retail and healthcare as its major industries, but prides its economic base on workforce, culture and the ability to innovate. We embrace the unhindered entrepreneurial spirit and our community partners proudly boast a myriad of programs that assist small businesses throughout Sussex County.

Sussex Open for Business

We support our local small businesses, and their important role that they play to strengthen the economic performance of Sussex County. The Economic Development Office and our business partners fuel the innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs and small business owners of the area.

Our goal is to give you the tools and resources you need to be Open for Business! We work with you to:

  • Put your innovative ideas into action
  • Support existing small business growth
  • Boost business expertise through customized programs and workshops designed to help small businesses succeed
  • One-on-One business counseling, ranging from best industry practices to marketing and finance
  • Business Wellness Assessments for existing businesses to strategize on improvement and expansion opportunities

No pre-registration is needed. Sussex County Open for Business is held the third Thursday of every month next to Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown.

Business Retention and Expansion

Our local existing businesses are the strength and vitality of Sussex County’s economy. Our key focus is to retain and grow primary employers in our area. We work closely with businesses, are aware of their challenges, opportunities, and connect them with the appropriate tools and resources to help them grow here, and keep the jobs here.

Our services are focused on the promotion of business growth, we can help directly and/or provide referrals with:

  • Workforce Training
  • Incentive and Financial Assistance Discovery
  • Access to Capital
  • Site Selection
  • Business Acceleration Workshops and Seminars

Contact our business development team to get started on your next project.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY

Sussex County is a tightly woven business community that works together in every aspect of Economic Development: business attraction, retention and expansion. From the Delaware Division of Small Business and Delaware’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – to the Convention and Visitors Bureau for Sussex County – Southern Delaware Tourism and our dynamic Chambers of Commerce, it’s no wonder why Sussex County is home to almost 10,000 businesses!

Lastly, public and private sector leaders formed an organization called SEDAC – the Sussex Economic Development Action Committee. This committee actively works with the Sussex County Economic Development Office to leverage the experience, intellect, and creativity of the Sussex County community to inform, develop, recommend, and communicate strategies for creating sustainable economic prosperity.