A proposed Kent County sports complex is still on the minds of the local business community months after the plan stalled earlier this year.
When asked what project holds the greatest economic potential for the county in the future, attendees at Tuesday's Kent County Economic Summit in Dover selected the sports complex by a wide margin. Expansion of the Air Cargo Ramp at the Dover Air Force Base’s Civil Air Terminal came in second place.
Proponents of the $23 millionsports complex in Frederica vowed to push Gov. Jack Markell’s administration to prioritize construction of an interchange on Route 1 they say is necessary to build the complex.
Kent County Levy Court President Brooks Banta called the delay a huge economic development mistake...
"Somebody between the governor and the Secretary of Transportation put the kibosh on it and there is no reason for it. They can’t give us a reason they stopped it, but they did," said Banta "It is the greatest disaster the state of Delaware has had since the storm in 1962 that wiped out Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. It’s a disaster.”
The sports complex plan stalled earlier this year when proposed interchange that would replaces the intersection of Route 1 and Frederica Road was placed far down a list of proposed infrastructure projects released by DelDOT. That work isn’t scheduled to begin until 2017.
Supporters had hoped work on the facility would begin this year and it would open for use in Fall 2016
State Senator David Lawson (R-Marydel), who represents a large part of Kent County, says the facility would represent an economic engine for the region, but he adds that as a small businessman, a healthy business community is necessary to attract big ticket projects like the sports complex.
"We have a good solid base, and we take care of our own," said Lawson. "I use the analogy of a hunter and fisherman: when you have a lot of bait fish, the big fish will come. No bait fish, no big fish."
Central Delaware business leaders at the summit also heard from panels discussing a wide variety of issues and ideas ranging from energy costs to workforce readiness.