The State of Delaware offers a nearly $400,000 incentive package for a freight carrier seeking to expand operations in Northern Delaware.
North Carolina-based Old Dominion Freight Line invests more than $13.6 million in a new 40,000 to the 50,000-square-foot service center in Northern Delaware.
Old Dominion Freight Line is one of the nation’s largest less than truckload carriers and operates terminals throughout the nation.
It is one of the survivors of deregulation of the trucking industry that was once characterized by a large number of regional carriers and a smaller number of national haulers. Old Dominion expanded nationwide and snapped up regional motor freight carriers in building its national footprint.
The company has two Delaware service centers, one in New Castle in Northern Delaware that employs 64 people and one in Bridgeville in southern Delaware that employs 21.
According to a release from the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the carrier has outgrown its New Castle service center and is considering a site in Bear.
Once the new, larger service center is built, the company will relocate its New Castle operations and employees to the new site. In addition, the company expects to add 20 additional jobs over the next three years. Bridgeville operations will be unaffected.
“Old Dominion Freight Line’s continued investment in Delaware demonstrates the value of the state’s strategic location on the eastern seaboard,” said Gov. John Carney. “The company’s decision to stay and grow their operations in Delaware will ensure good-paying jobs remain in the state and will provide new employment opportunities for Delawareans. Old Dominion Freight Line’s investment in Delaware will support the continued growth of our state’s economy and the role it plays as a vital hub in the national and continental supply chain network.”
“We’re very excited that Old Dominion has chosen New Castle County to invest in our county and expand their operations right here,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “What’s most exciting is the opportunity for more good-paying jobs coming to our community. I look forward to working with Old Dominion and their team on ways to grow their footprint in New Castle County further.”
Two grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund totaling up to $394,500, which the state Council on Development Finance approved. This funding includes a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $121,500 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $273,000.
Old Dominion Freight Line has served the state of Delaware from its New Castle and Bridgeville facilities since 1999.
In addition to less-than-truckload services, Old Dominion Freight Line offers a range of services.
It now offers household moving services, with customers packing the boxes and OD moving the items to their final destination.
Old Dominion joins another Southern nonunion motor freight company in expanding or setting up operations in Northern Delaware.
Georgia-based Saia earlier this year opened a terminal in the New Castle area.
The stepped-up activity in the freight business comes as online giant Amazon adds two distribution centers in Northern Delaware and a facility in Seaford.
Grocery redistribution DOT and Solo Cup have also added centers in the Bear-Delaware City area.
