Sussex County leaders announced today the purchase of King Farm, an expansive property just off Park Avenue east of Georgetown. The 74-acre plot will be added to the footprint of the adjacent Sussex County Industrial Park, which currently hosts 20 businesses with a total of 900 employees.
The purchase cost $2.2 million, according to County Administrator Todd F. Lawson. It is the biggest addition to the industrial park since it was built within the Delaware Coastal Airport complex in the early 1970s. A total of 30 acres of new space will be available for leasing.
Another owner was set to develop the site, but the county stepped in and bought the property after that plan stalled.
A number of improvements, including the installation of streets, drainage, natural gas, fiber communications, water and wastewater infrastructure, are necessary to make the new site ready for tenants.
Atlantic Industries of Milton already plans to set up manufacturing operations within the new site.
“This is more than just adding acreage – this is an expansion of economic development opportunities for businesses and the economy here in Sussex County,” Lawson said. ‘We’re excited to be able to grow the park and provide a base of operations for new businesses that want to employ our residents, to make a quality product and call Sussex County home.”