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Alan Levin out as DEDO director

Delaware Public Media

State economic development director Alan Levin announced he’s stepping down at the end of June.

Levin has served as a member of the Markell Administration cabinet since 2009 and will be joining SoDel Concepts, the company formerly lead by the late restaurateur and philanthropist Matt Haley, as a senior advisor in July.

Gov. Jack Markell (D) credits him with helping shepherd Delaware’s economy through the financial crisis and for helping the state adapt to a rapidly changing global market.

Levin, the former owner and CEO of the Happy Harry’s pharmacy chain, says he’s been thankful for the opportunity to serve the state, despite working through "some very bad times".

"We’re in better times now and I think I owe [the governor] an awful lot for giving us the opportunity to do this," he said. "For me, this was giving back in so many different ways and I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed this and it’s time for me to move on.”

He played a large role in re-opening the shuttered Delaware City oil refinery and oversaw businesses relocating to the state or expanding their operations, like Amazon, several banking groups, ILC Dover and Kraft Foods.

One of the biggest black marks during his time on the job came when Delaware tried to lure Fisker Automotive to the state with $21 million in grants and loans incentives.

The company eventually went bankrupt, with the state yet to recoup its losses from the deal.

Levin notes it’s possible that Delaware could eventually regain some auto manufacturing jobs that it lost in the downturn, but that it’d be an uphill effort.

“You never say never. We have a facility there that is still a viable auto production facility. We always talk about the paint shop. It is properly mothballed and could fire up tomorrow if it had to. I think it’s viable," Levin said.

"Do I think it’ll happen? I don’t know. I would like to see it happen, but I don’t know that it could.”

As a board member of the Diamond State Port Corporation that runs the Port of Wilmington, Levin also pushed for a public-private partnership with energy juggernaut Kinder Morgan.

The goal was to help modernize the port’s infrastructure and create a deeper channel for larger ships to be able to dock.

As those negotiations became more public and labor unions at the port began to speak out against any deal with Kinder Morgan, the General Assembly scuttled the plan with legislation requiring them to sign off on any such deal.

Levin says it’s unfortunate, but that the port is still growing its business.

“We moved on. We’ve secured long-term contracts with our two biggest customers, Dole and Chiquita, something we didn’t have before, but we still have capital needs there that are greater than our ability to fund," he said.

"The key to this whole thing, and I think the governor agrees, is we’ve got to get out to [the Delaware River] and right now, we don’t have the money or the ability to do that.”

"I'm shocked," said House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach). "I did not know this."

"With his means, he can go do anything he wants to do and he chose to come and work with [Gov. Jack Markell] and try to bring business to our state and I think together they've been very successful."

House Minority Leader Danny Short (R-Seaford) says Levin has been "a great asset" to Delaware.

"I can see him leading that company to a different level and making that legacy of Matt Haley's continue on for many years to come," Short said.

Markell says his goal when seeking someone to head the economic development office was to find someone that could immediately work with Delaware businesses and have an air of credibility around them.

“We all had the same person in mind and we just never really thought that we’d be able to get him and so I’m very grateful.”

The governor says he will announce his plans about a replacement in the coming days. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates throughout the day.

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