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Archives
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Since 1968, SWED has worked diligently toward strengthening our local
economy through the preservation and creation of productive employment
opportunities. While our vision is forward, our past is not
forgotten. The following events have helped shape the economic
landscape of Wicomico County today. |
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2008-'09
Isotek Electronics, Inc., a
provider of wireless components to Original Equipment Manufacturers and
Network Operators began its business in Salisbury's Northwood Industrial
Park. Genevieve Holdings LP purchased the former 40,000 s.f. Americhem
plant with plans to lease much of the facility to Trinity Sterile, a local
manufacturer of medical kits for the health care industry. The Knowland
Group, having located here two years ago, continued its growth with the
addition of twenty-five additional jobs. |
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2007-'08
Hospital Billing and Collection
Services (HBCS), based in New Castle Delaware,
locates to a new facility on Northgate Drive in Salisbury. HBCS is a leader in the healthcare receivables management industry.
With 28,000 square feet, they anticipate at least 50 jobs by September,
and 175 - 200 jobs over the next few years.
HBCS was formed to provide a nationwide group of not-for-profit hospitals
with those billing and collection services that benefit from economies of
scale, advanced technology and specialized expertise. |
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2006-'07 The
Siesta Group, a sleep software development company, begins operations at the
airport, while The Knowland Group, an
internet-based "reader board" service targeting the hospitality industry,
relocates to Salisbury. SWED brokers a loan through the Southern
Eastern Shore Revolving Loan Fund (SES-RLF) to Navtrak, Inc., a GPS
product and service provider for fleet vehicles. With the help of
Wicomic County Public Works, SWED assists Ferguson Enterprises, a
plumbing/heating distributor, with their location to WestWood Commerce
Park. |
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2005-'06 SWED supports House Bill 399, allowing more
flexibility to local jurisdictions in creating and expanding enterprise
zones. With financing and permitting assistance from SWED, Harvard Custom Manufacturing
(HCM) announced plans to expand the company's current
facility and add approximately two hundred new jobs. In partnership with
the Wicomico County Airport
Commission,
SWED establishes a business incubator in the former terminal building and
helped
secure funding for the
renovation from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Maryland Aviation
Administration,
M d.'s Department of Business and Economic
Development and
the Airport Commission. SWED assists
Ameriscan, a "start-up" GPS
company founded by a recent graduate of Salisbury University, in locating to
the incubator at the
airport. SWED
assists the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County in efforts to expand the existing enterprise zone to
include WestWood Commerce Park and arranged a presentation from the
Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority
(MIDFA) to area bankers and loan officers. SWED assists
in the
establishment of an Arts and Entertainment District in Salisbury's Central
Business District. |
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2004-'05 SWED was instrumental in assisting Sklar
Instruments in its merger with Trinity Labs, creating Trinity Sterile
and retaining 55 jobs. SWED assists MaTech, Inc. in its site
search, permitting, and expansion into a 150,000 sq ft facility in
Northwood. SWED also assists Perdue Farms, Inc. in locating a site
for a new corporate hangar, developing lease terms, and assisting
throughout the permitting process. SWED accepts a lead role in
working with developers of the Salisbury Mall property toward a Tax
Increment Finance agreement. Perdue Farms renovates a manufacturing
plant in Northwood into an "Innovation Center," a state-of-the-art
research and development facility. |
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2003-'04
Germane Tool, a precision machine shop, relocates from West Chester, PA.
SWED assists Filter Networks in its site search and other related
"start-up" issues. SWED initiates and promotes a "Technology
Partnering Showcase" in conjunction with TEDCO at Salisbury
University. Through the Maryland Economic Adjustment Fund, SWED
capitalizes an additional $100,000 to the SWED Business Expansion Fund.
SWED assists Century Seals in the firm's acquisition of Finishing
Technologies, Inc. |
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2002-'03 Cambrex chooses Northwood for a bio-tech manufacturing facility.
SWED establishes a new $406,000 revolving loan fund for business
development. |
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2001-'02
Helvoet Pharma purchases Wheaton
PharmaTech, retaining two hundred
manufacturing jobs in the Northwood Industrial Park. Bar None, Inc.
purchas es
the local assets of The Order People, retaining one hundred fifty jobs.
Silverton Marine announces plans to purchase the former Webcraft plant creating one
hundred seventy-five new jobs. VPI Mirrex expands its Northwood
facility, adding thirty-five new jobs. In conjunction with the Airport
Commission and with the help of several SWED members, SWED creates a "schematic
vision" for future development of the Air Business Center. |
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2000-'01
K&L Microwave purchases and renovates
the former Eaton
facility. Lorch Mircrowave constructs an addition to its current facility.
Eastern Wireless TeleComm begins manufacturing microwave filters in the
Northwood Industrial Park. The former Chris Craft plant is sold
for the fourth time in 33
years. |
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1999-2000 Arcon Welding, LLC begins manufacturing portable arc welding machines in
Northwood. Rail service is retained along Mill Street thanks to a
creative financing package and a unique partnership between SWED, the
City of Salisbury, Norfolk-Southern, MDOT, and rail users. |
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1998-'99
Interactive Marketing Services, Inc. enters into a lease with Mountaire
Farms for a portion of the former Campbell Soup plant. Millenium
Microwave, LLC begins manufacturing operations in Fruitland, serving military
and commercial customers in the wireless communications industry |
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1997-'98 ThermoLyte Corporation of Waltham, Mass. begins manufacturing operations
in the former terminal building at the Salisbury/Ocean City: Wicomico
Regional Airport. SWED, along with eight Eastern Shore counties,
produces a CD-ROM, highlighting business attributes of the Eastern Shore
and each county. The Kiplinger Washington Letter mentions that
Salisbury is "drawing smaller, high-tech businesses" in its
February 20, 1998 edition. |
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1996-'97
ClearComm Technologies and Custom Cable Solutions begin new
manufacturing operations in Wicomico County. Cape May Foods
purchases Nanticoke Foods, retaining 75 jobs in Nanticoke, Maryland.
Tishcon Corporation relocates a New York division to Salisbury and
purchases the former Sears Warehouse building on Brown Street. |
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1995-'96
Filtronic Comtek moves into its new 80,000 sq. ft. U.S. man ufacturing
plant and headquarters and now employs over one hundred fifty personnel. Shoreland Freezers, Tishcon, and Trinity Labs commit millions of dollars
for new warehouse and manufacturing space. Piedmont/U.S.Air
Express opens its new engine testing facility at the Salisbury-Wicomico
Regional Airport generating new jobs and strengthening maintenance
operations. Rafael Correa, President of Machining Technologies,
wins Maryland's Small Businessman of the Year award. |
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1994-'95 Lorch Microwave relocates from Florida to Salisbury. Salisbury
Technologies (now Harvard Custom Manufacturing) purchases the former
Grumman plant, retaining eighty-two jobs while projecting one hundred
more in the next few years. MaTech turns a former sweet potato
warehouse into a state of the art machine shop in Hebron. |
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1993-'94
Field Container, a manufacturer of folding cartons, purchases Wicomico
County's 100,000 sq. ft. inventory building while Royal Quality Foods
begins a beef processing business in the former Campbell Soup plant. RelComm Technologies begins a new relay switch business in Northwood.
Data Services constructs a new facility in Winterplace Park and
CallCenter on its 42,000 sq. ft. telemarketing center. SWED, in conjunction
with Wicomico County, UMES, and the EDA establishes a $1 million
revolving loan fund for industrial development. |
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1992-'93
Campbell's Soup closes operations in Salisbury
eliminating ne arly
800 jobs. At the same time, Grumman Aerospace announces plans to close
its Salisbury plant eliminating over 500 jobs. Filtronic Comtek
locates in the former terminal building at the Salisbury-Wicomico
Regional Airport. |
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1991-'92
Nanticoke Homes, a manufacturer of modular housing purchases the former ConDiesel
plant, while
Wicomico County begins construction of its second inventory building.
The national economy enters a recession largely due
to defense
cutbacks
associated with changes in the
Soviet Union
and other foreign economies. |
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1990-'91
U.S. Marine builds its 1,000th yacht, MaTech doubles its workforce,
a nd 66,000 sq. ft. of office/ industrial/ warehouse space is built by
Northgate Development along Naylor Mill Road. CallCenter
Services reaches 200
associates while Eaton Corporation employs 300 people. |
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1989-'90
Tishcon Corporation, a manufacturer of vitamins and dietary supplements,
completes its 70,000 sq. ft. plant in Northwood. Under construction
is the Regional State Office Building. SWED proposes a second
inventory building of 100,000 sq. ft. |
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1988-'89
Salisbury welcomes Machining Technologies (precision machining), Toroid
Corporation (transformers) and CallCenter Services (telemarketing).
Foot Management opens a facility in Pittsville. |
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1987-'88
Imperial Cup Corporation purchases Wicomico County's 79,696 sq. ft.
"inventory" building, creating fifty new jobs, while Ford
Laboratories (Trinity Labs today) completes its 80,000 sq. ft. facility
along West Zion Road. The CPI percentage change from 1986-1987 was
1.9%. |
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1986-'87
Over 200,000 sq. ft. of industrial space is added by K&L Microwave,
U.S. Marine, and Coaxitube generating over 250 new jobs. Federal
Express constructs a plant in the new Air Business Center while a new
terminal building has been approved for funding at the Salisbury-Wicomico
Regional Airport. |
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1985-'86
Standard Register purchases Burroughs Corporation's business forms
division, while Mardelva News begins plant construction in Northwood.
SWED and local approval for funds to construct a 79,696 sq. ft.
inventory building. |
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1984-'85
Grumman Aerospace projects 300 new
manufacturing jobs as the company selects Salisbury for its new electronics
and cabling operations at the former Manhattan Shirt Factory. IPC Corporation (now Helvoet
Pharma) announces the construction of two new plants in Northwood.
Enterprise Zone
benefits are extended from five to ten years. |
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1983-'84
SWED links its office computer to a worldwide master industrial plant
location file operated by the IDRC (Industrial Development Research
Council). Work begins on the
establishment of the Air Business Center at the Salisbury-Wicomico
County Airport.
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1982-'83
Wicomico County, the City of Salisbury, and SWED team up to obtain
Maryland's largest enterprise zone, consisting of some 2,100 acres.
Heinemann triples its manufacturing space by building a new 48,000 sq. ft.
plant in Northwood. Governor Hughes announces
a new 90,000 sq. ft. state office building to be located in Salisbury's
central business district. |
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1981-'82
Perdue Farms, Wicomico County's largest manufacturing employer, doubles
its corporate headquarters and expands its processing plant adding
hundreds of new jobs. Henson Airlines adds ninety new jobs and is
recognized as the "Regional Airline of the Year" by
Air-Transport World. Viskon-Aire relocates from New Jersey to
Salisbury in a 70,000 sq. ft. plant in Northwood. |
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1980-'81
Chesapeake Shipbuilding purchases Roberts Shipyard on Fitzwater Street
and begins constructing the "America," a 180' cruise ship.
Plymouth Tube with headquarters in Michigan, begins construction on a
70,000 sq. ft. specialty tubing plant in Northwood. The Consumer
Price Index percentage change from 1979-'80 is 13.5%.
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1979-'80
SWED assists with the formation of Salisbury Pewter, helps Heinemann Electric
locate a manufacturing facility, and works with Chesapeake Corporation in the
establishment of a hardwood processing facility in Wicomico County. |
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1978-'79
Gregg Shirt Makers expands one of two plants in Fruitland while Delmar
Sportswear locates in Delmar. Richard Bernstein, founder of
K&L Microwave, wins Maryland's Small Businessman of the Year award. |
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1977-'78 Condec Corporation acquires the former Open Roads/Chris Craft plant for
its ConDiesel division. Duo Sofa, Inc., a
division of Maryland Bedding Corporation (better known as Sealy, and later
as Ellis Home Furnishings) announces plans to construct a 150,000 sq. ft.
factory in
Northwood.
Middle Atlantic Printing and Chilton Publishing begin
plant construction in Northwood. |
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1976-'77
K&L Microwave triples its manufacturing space to 16,000 s q.
ft. Roadway and AAA Trucking locate terminals in Salisbury. SWED
institutes a monthly newsletter, conducts a labor survey and produces a
community profile brochure. |
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1975-'76
D&F shirt factory opens on East Main Street as Wooten Welding completes
construction of its facility in Northwood. Marketing efforts begin in earnest to
fill the vacant Open Roads plant. Seven new firms open operations in
the Industrial Apartment Complex, including Good Electronic Company, Salisbury
Special Tools, and Maryland Clarklift, Inc. |
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1974-'75
"Energy-Economics-Environment-Inflation-Recession are terms that
were not well understood by many Americans just a few years ago" is
the opening line in SWED's seventh annual report. SWED assists the
Manhattan Shirt Company (350 employees) in the sale of the business to a
newly formed group called the Salisbury Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Open Roads Industries announces its plant closing. |
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1973-'74
Central Supply, Shaw Warehousing, and Hoffman LaRoche construct new
facilities in Northwood. The Industrial Apartment Complex is
completed and home to six companies employing one hundred people |
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1972-'73
"Business Week" publishes a feature article entitled
"Business Discovers a Tri-State Peninsula." Burroughs
Corp. and Georgia Pacific announce plans to construct a $6 million and
$2.5 million plant, respectively. |
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1971-'72
Open Roads Industries of Redondo Beach, California, a manufacturer of
recreational vehicles, purchases the former Chris Craft plant. SWED obtains a 001 designation from the SBA giving our community
priority on direct SBA loans under $25,000 and 10% instead of 20% down
on 502 local development corporation loans. |
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1970-'71
Crown, Cork & Seal expands its manufacturing plant as K&L
Microwave begins operations in Salisbury. A "three-phase" Industrial
Apartment concept is announced to provide start-up space for new industry. |
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1969-'70
Firestone announces plans to build a $2.5 million plastics factory in
Northwood. Chris Craft announces its impending plant closing at
Moss Hill Lane. |
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1968-'69
SWED opens corporate offices and prepares a thirty page brochure for the
Northwood Industrial Park. SWED places its first advertisement in
"Industrial Property Guide," July,1969. |
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