On July 1, 1995, the New Castle Airport officially joined the DRBA family of transportation facilities. Taking over the airport from New Castle County, the DRBA set out to make the airport a world-class facility. The DRBA recognized a shortage of adequate hangars in the region to support the area’s growing business aviation fleet. The DRBA upgraded the airport with state-of-the-art technology, a new air traffic control tower, additional corporate business hangars, and customized services.
In March 1998, the DRBA initiated its second economic development project, Salem County Business Center located at exit 4 on Interstate 295 in Carneys Point, New Jersey. Conectiv, the company formed from the merger of Delmarva Power & Light and Atlantic Energy, became the anchor tenant. The 71-acre campus provides tenants the opportunity to design and build their own customized facilities on parcels of up to 10 acres.
The DRBA signed agreements in 1999 to operate three additional airport facilities: the Civil Air Terminal at Dover (Del.) Air Force Base, the Millville (N.J.) Airport and the Cape May (N.J.) Airport. In the fall of 2000 the DRBA added the Delaware Airpark in Kent County, Del., to its fold. The operation of these airports allows the DRBA to encourage corporate flight department relocations and recreational flier visits. Expansions of services have taken place at each facility, making them more user friendly and bringing in revenue for the area. The DRBA also looks for opportunities to attract businesses to the airports and the adjacent properties.
In March of 1995, the DRBA closed on a parcel of land located in Cape May County, New Jersey, contiguous to the Cape May ferry terminal. The 131-acre property has approximately 50 acres available for development. Rutgers University has leased some land for an aquaculture program. Rutgers will be responsible for financing, developing, operating, and maintaining the aquaculture facility. The DRBA may one day utilize a portion of the land for additional parking, a water tower, and other facilities for the Cape May ferry operation.
The DRBA also owns the building housing the Riverfront Market along the Christina Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. The DRBA, in conjunction with the State of Delaware and the Riverfront Development Corporation, is interested in promoting the economic revitalization of the Wilmington Riverfront. The DRBA commission has approved $800,000 for capital investments to attract a local restaurateur who intends to establish an upscale restaurant facility in the Riverfront Market.