Expansion of Downtown Development District program is good news for #netDE

Good news for downtown areas in Delaware: Gov. Jack Markell announced Wednesday that he’s expanding the Downtown Development District program, meaning local governments across the state can apply for the program, which would qualify them for various state and local incentives.
Such incentives include grant rebates to offset the costs of private investment, according to a release from the governor’s office.

I sincerely believe that the Downtown Development District program is the backbone for revitalization of downtowns throughout Delaware.

Gov. Markell initially proposed the program in 2014, the General Assembly passed it shortly afterward, and in January 2015, the governor designated Dover, Seaford and Wilmington as the first Downtown Development Districts.
“So far, $9.7 million in grant funding is leveraging more than $160 million of private investment in the current districts,” the release said.
The resulting projects:

• In Wilmington, a 355-space public parking garage at Ninth and Shipley streets with more than 200 apartments above, in addition to 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space
• In Dover, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity houses on vacant lots on New and Kirkwood streets
• In Seaford, apartment buildings on the Nanticoke River, with nearby boat docks

Local governments can apply at stateplanning.delaware.gov, and applications are due to the Office of State Planning Coordination by June 1.
Constance Holland, the state planning director at the Office of State Planning Coordination, said she is excited about the possibilities the program will bring.
“I sincerely believe that the Downtown Development District program is the backbone for revitalization of downtowns throughout Delaware,” she said.