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County economic development office details workforce study, small-business supports and Claymont site planning
Summary
Jeff Berman and Helen Foster updated the New Castle County subcommittee on a workforce study with the county chamber, Grow NCC loan referrals (one application underwriting at about $250,000), and SBE registration progress (135 firms toward a 150 goal). They discussed Claymont Steel redevelopment planning and questions about Chamber membership use of county resources.
Jeff Berman, director of economic development for County Executive Marcus Henry, and Helen Foster, the county's Small Business Enterprise coordinator, briefed the New Castle County Economic Development Subcommittee on Dec. 2 about the office's recent work on workforce planning, small-business assistance and corridor revitalization.
Berman said the county is building a workforce study in collaboration with the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce to estimate current and future needs in key sectors. "Early findings point to significant current future demand for RNs, PCAs, personal care assistants, and nursing assistants in New Castle County," he said, and identified innovative manufacturing as another sector of focus.
On small-business supports, Berman described roundtables held with early-stage firms and a county program that will provide 10 small businesses with a one-year Chamber membership; more than 70 applications were received. He also said the economic development office submitted 12 referrals to the Grow NCC loan program and that one application is in underwriting for a loan amount "in the $250,000 range." "One of the eligible uses for Grow funds is working capital," he said when asked about businesses facing short-term cash pressure.
Berman outlined corridor revitalization work and said the executive office is conducting strategic planning for a 425-acre redevelopment opportunity at the former Claymont Steel site with the Claymont Renaissance Development Organization and industry experts to create community-focused economic growth.
Foster described the SBE program to diversify county contracting and said the county is targeting 150 certified small-business enterprises in the vendor portal by the end of the fiscal year. "The results were at 135 and counting," she said, adding that outreach includes library-based office hours, pre-bid meetings with Public Works and coordinated procurement support.
Council members pressed staff on several items. Councilman Kaneko questioned whether the Chamber of Commerce is a lobbying organization and whether county money should purchase memberships in groups that take public positions; Berman said the chamber plays multiple roles, including operating a small-business incubator, and that he was not familiar with the lobbying specifics. Councilman Toole said he obtained an ethics decision regarding council members' membership in the chamber and offered to share it with colleagues.
Councilman Carter raised a series of small-business referrals tied to a new school tax distribution; Berman encouraged council members to connect affected firms to the Grow program for a consultative review and possible loan support.
The subcommittee recorded no formal votes on the office's initiatives during the meeting. A procedural motion to adjourn closed the session.
What happens next: Economic development staff will continue the workforce study, pursue Grow referrals, advance Claymont planning with stakeholder partners and report back to council at future meetings.
Sources: Briefings and Q&A with Jeff Berman and Helen Foster; New Castle County Economic Development Subcommittee meeting, Dec. 2, 2025.
