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Pharmaceutical giant Merck received a $30.2 million grant from the state in an effort to sway the company to build its $900 million manufacturing facility in the Wilmington area.

The taxpayer-funded grant is the highest amount that has been doled out to a company since Bloom Energy’s approval in 2011.

Merck & Co. has not confirmed whether or not it will choose Delaware as its place to expand, but business leaders in Delaware are optimistic about what the potential move could mean for the state.

Merck's potential $900 million investment

Merck & Co. is a global health care company that specializes in the production and distribution of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and animal health care products.

Merck has been looking for a location to set up their newest manufacturing facility, which will produce drug substances and products with a targeted operational start date of 2030.

According to plans shared with Delaware Online/The News Journal via a Freedom of Information Act request, the company is considering constructing a $900 million multi-building complex for labs, manufacturing and distribution operations at the Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park near Greenville.

Under the conservative estimates listed in the plans, the facility would bring roughly 375 full-time jobs to the area.

The company is reportedly still considering other locations, but is bound by nondisclosure agreements to reveal more about the other possibilities, as reported by the Delaware Business Times.

If Merck chooses the Delaware site, the company would be locked into a 20-year lease at the CRISP campus.

This wouldn’t be Merck’s first venture into the First State, however. The company already has an animal health facility in Millsboro.

$30.2 million approved for the company

The Delaware Council on Development Finance unanimously approved the grant application on Monday, Feb. 24.

The grant was divided into $4.7 million worth in job performance grants and $25.5 million in capital expenditure grants. The performance grants are dispersed after the company makes its investments into the facility and workforce.

Although nothing is promised yet, Michael Fleming, president and CEO of the Delaware Bioscience Association, remains optimistic and said that this deal could cement Delaware as a winner in the area in terms of attracting industrial and scientific investment.

“This new facility would be a tremendous boost for and validation of the growth and momentum of our dynamic life science industry,” Fleming said. “We look forward to welcoming Merck and applaud their interest in strengthening U.S. manufacturing and our supply chain right here in Delaware.

Susan Colby, senior manager of communications for the Delaware Prosperity Partnership echoed that the move would boost Delaware’s portfolio.

“This project would reinforce Delaware’s standing in the global biopharmaceutical ecosystem, and we are excited by the potential opportunities it would provide Delaware residents and businesses,” Colby said.

As for what Merck has to say about the grant, Ned Ehrbar, associate director of Merck’s global media relations kept it vague, stating via email: Merck is considering Delaware as a potential location to develop a new commercialization and launch facility.

What is the CRISP Campus?

The CRISP campus, located at 984 Centre Road just outside of Greenville, has long been a mainstay in the state’s evolving life sciences investment.

Formerly a site for DuPont research, the 164-acre site was purchased by MRA Group in 2021 with hopes of transforming the site into the leading campus for Delaware’s life science laboratories and research facilities.

Amenities for the campus will include a hotel, childcare and fitness centers, an outdoor amphitheater and accommodations for restaurants.

Chemical manufacturing company Solenis expanded its research and development facilities into the CRISP campus in late 2022 and precision oncology company Prelude Therapeutics cut the ribbon on their new headquarters at CRISP in February, 2024. DuPont is also leasing 190,000 square-feet of space at its former space.

Last month, the developer group broke ground on the Marriott Residence Inn, which will feature 127 rooms with both short- and long-term stay options, food services, a full-service bar, meeting spaces and outdoor patios

MRA Group declined to comment on the recently approved grant for Merck.

How do these grants get approved?

Awarding these grants worth tens of millions of dollars involves a process that is relatively new, with various “checks and balances” in place, but limited transparency at times.

The Delaware Economic Development Authority was created by the General Assembly under former Gov. John Carney, intended to promote economic activity in Delaware. It is chaired by CJ Bell, the director of the Delaware Division of Small Business.

The Council on Development Finance is an advisor to the Delaware Economic Development Authority, and is responsible for conducting public hearings before the authority issues any financial support to potential projects.

The Delaware Prosperity Partnership, a nonprofit state economic development agency, often vets applications or potential investment opportunities and brings them to the Council. As previously reported by DelawareOnline, since DPP is not technically a part of the state government, it is not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

In the seven years of its existence, the Council on Development Finance has approved every Strategic Funds application that has been brought to it by the Delaware Prosperity Partnership.

The $30 million grant offered to Merck will be reimbursed after the company makes its investment – in this case, a nearly $1 billion one.

In 2021, the Council on Development Finance approved $19 million for WuXi AppTec, a Shanghai-based company that develops and manufactures drugs for pharmaceutical clients, to build its manufacturing campus near Middletown’s Amazon fulfillment center.

Gov. Matt Meyer has gone on record against these types of taxpayer-funded grants, announcing during a Delaware State Chamber of Commerce annual dinner that his administration will see “the use of cash assistance de-emphasized,” as reported by Spotlight Delaware.

Meyer’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the most recent grant funding.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

Avelo Airlines will suspend two flight routes out of the Wilmington Airport, according to its booking website.

After this week, flights to Atlanta, Georgia, and Concord/Charlotte, North Carolina, will no longer be serviced from the Wilmington Airport in New Castle.

A number of routes will be available less frequently, and other routes will return have this fall after being reevaluated.

Customers also have one more day to redeem a promotion for their next round-trip booking.

Here are the details.

What routes were cancelled?

According to Courtney Goff, communications manager for Avelo Airlines, the company will pull out of a few markets along the east coast.

Citing low demand, the Wilmington Airport’s sole commercial airline announced that flights to Atlanta, Georgia, and Concord/Charlotte, North Carolina, will be suspended after the end of this week.

Both routes typically flew out on Mondays and Thursdays. Following Thursday, Feb. 27, flights to and from these destinations will not be available.

Some routes originally under evaluation will return to the airline’s November lineup, it was announced. Those flights are Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB); Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida (SRQ), and West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI).

Avelo also revealed to Travel+Leisure it would cease routes to Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM). However, flights from ILG to Wilmington, North Carolina, remain available for booking online through early September.

According to Goff, the airline plans on replacing these canceled routes with increasing frequencies to other markets.

Customers who are or may be impacted by these changes can reach out to Avelo Customer Support Center at 346-616-9500.

Updated flight routes and how to get an Avelo discount

With the announcement that some routes will be discontinued out of ILG, other frequency changes were made public on the Avelo website.

There also is one more day to get a 30% discount on your next round-trip base fares with Avelo.

If you book a round trip before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and use the promo code SPRING30 at checkout, you can save 30% on your base fares. Bookings can be made online at aveloair.com.

Here are the updated flight routes available to and from ILG.

Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)

Flights to Daytona Beach will be available on Sundays and Thursdays through the end of April.

According to the Avelo Airlines website, these flights will return in November after being reevaluated by the company.

Fort Lauderdale / Miami, Florida (FLL)

Flights to Fort Lauderdale will take off from ILG on Fridays and Mondays between now and the end of April. At the beginning of May, these flights will take off on Sundays and Thursdays until the end of August.

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Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)

Flights to Fort Myers will take off Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of April.

Beginning May 2, flights will take off on Fridays and Mondays until the week of June 9. Flights will then be serviced on Sundays the Thursdays until the end of August.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)

Flights to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will take off on Sundays and Thursdays starting in the beginning of May until mid-June. Starting June 13, flights will take off Fridays and Mondays until early September.

Nashville, Tennessee (BNA)

Flights to Nashville, Tennessee, will take off from ILG from the beginning of May to the end of August.

Orlando/Lakeland, Florida (LAL)

Flights will fly from ILG to LAL on Sundays and Thurdays between now and the end of August.

Orlando, Florida (MCO)

Flights are available to MCO on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the end of April. Beginning May 2, the flights will reduce in frequency to Mondays and Fridays until early June.

Starting June 9, the Monday, Wednesday and Friday frequency will return until Sept. 1.

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San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

Flights to San Juan Puerto Rico will shift to a once-a-week schedule from now until Aug. 27. Flights will now only take off to SJU on Wednesdays.

Sarasota / Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)

Flights to Sarasota will take off only on Wednesdays from now until April 23.

This flight will officially return in November after it was under evaluation by Avelo.

Tampa, Florida (TPA)

Flights to Tampa, Florida, will take off Mondays and Fridays between now and Sept. 1.

West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI)

Flights to West Palm Beach, Florida, will take off on Mondays and Fridays until April 28.

West Palm Beach flights will return in November, after being reevaluated by Avelo.

Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)

Despite reports that the airline will pull out of the Wilmington, North Carolina, market, for now flights are still available for booking from ILG.

Flights take off to ILM on Thursdays and Sundays until June 8, and then on Fridays and Mondays until Sept. 1.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

For most, an appearance on HGTV's "House Hunters" is their one big moment in the national television spotlight.

But for Wilmington's Cheyney Treherne, it will be cause for déjà vu this weekend.

Treherne, 27, will be the subject of a new episode of the popular reality program on Sunday at 10 p.m. as he searches to buy his first home in the city.

But here's the twist: Treherne is a Wilmington Realtor who appeared on an episode of "House Hunters" in 2023, helping a friend find her first home in his role as an agent with Madison Real Estate.

"[The producers] said they have had agents on more than once with different clients, but it's rare to come back in the other role. It's pretty unique," Treherne tells DelawareOnline/The News Journal, previewing his "Home Hunters" return.

Due to a confidentially agreement, Treherne could not discuss details of the episode before it airs.

He did mention, however, that he tours the homes with his younger brother Brayden and Traci Madison, owner of his Wilmington Riverfront-based firm, who acts as his agent.

Madison previously had assisted "House Hunters" in 2022 with an episode of the show, landing a home for a client in Dover for the program. After they reached out to her again the next year looking for a new subject, Treherne stepped in for his first episode.

'Picky agent in Delaware'

The description released by the network for this weekend's episode, "Picky Agent in Delaware," reads, "A real estate agent is moving out of his family's home and buying his first place in Wilmington, Delaware. He's looking for a historic home downtown, but his carpenter brother thinks something updated and just outside the city would be a better option."

Treherne, who has not seen the episode prior to airing per show rules, admits he's not a fan of the title.

"I hate it. I think it gives a glimpse into what to expect," he says. "I don't know what is going to be put out there or the edits. I guess we'll all have to see together."

Inside Treherne's first time on 'House Hunters'

When HGTV's "House Hunters" contacted Treherne about two years ago looking for a home buyer for the long-running reality television series, he just happened to have the perfect person with a built-in storyline.

Treherne already had been house-hunting with an old high school friend, Alyssa Tarantino, who graduated with him from St. Georges Technical High School in 2015.

"I feel like we're back on a field trip," Treherne joked on the show as he drove Tarantino around from house to house.

They looked at historic Wilmington homes in a trio of neighborhoods ― Triangle, Trinity Vicinity and along Bancroft Parkway.

Tarantino settled on a 1,400-square-foot, 118-year-old home in the Triangle neighborhood for $310,000 near Salesianum School.

At the time, Treherne said it was a stressful search even before Hollywood arrived.

"I want to make sure all my clients are happy, but when you're working with someone you're so close to, there's extra pressure to make sure she's happy. She's one of my best friends," he said. "So the fact that they came and filmed it all as well: That definitely was a lot of pressure."

So did he feel less pressure this time around? Even more, it turns out.

"I was thinking the whole time, 'What are people going to think of what I end up choosing when my house is shown on TV?'" he now says. "I know I shouldn't really care, but that just kept going through my mind. You want people to like your house. You don't want to hear people trash it.

"I just kept thinking, 'Not only are my friends and family going to see this, people across the country may see this episode and pass judgement.' But I feel like I made the right decision for me."

Other recent First State-themed 'House Hunter" episodes

Less than a month ago, "House Hunters" aired another installment of the long-running show focusing on a house search in Delaware.

It featured Gaby Salvat, 31, whose job brought the Puerto Rico native to Delaware, where she works as an operations manager for a Dover manufacturing company that makes baby wipes.

After examining three possible homes, she decided on a $314,00 Smyrna townhouse, a 1,831-square-foot three-bedroom, 2½-bath home that is only 20 minutes from work.

Last January, another episode featured former school teacher and stay-at-home mom Michelle Mallard-Reaves and her husband, Robert, who found a $482,000, 2,925-square-foot home in Townsend for their growing family of six.

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Newark-based real state agent Oliver Millwood II of The Millwood Team at Keller Williams Realty helped them find their home sweet home.

And in January 2019, Brandywine Hundred couple Matt and Jessica Farina settled on a home on the television program with the help of Long & Foster agent Meredith Rosenthal, a childhood friend of Matt.

"House Hunters'' airs Sunday at 10 p.m. on HGTV. Visit hgtv.com/search/house-hunters.

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at [email protected] or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

Port Wilmington officials say their port remained a premier destination for a wide array of cargo in 2024 and is looking forward to a strong 2025.

Perishables helped build Port Wilmington, but rapid diversification of the port’s cargo portfolio is now taking place.

“Our valuable longstanding perishable partnerships are the backbone of Enstructure Wilmington,” said Port Wilmington spokesperson Justin May. “In addition to maintaining and growing this line of business, Enstructure Wilmington is working to expand its forest products, auto Ro/ Ro, bulk and breakbulk, and container cargo operations.”

Port Wilmington is a full-service port and marine terminal located in Wilmington, DE on 308 acres at the confluence of the Delaware and Christina Rivers. Port Wilmington touts itself as the first deep-water terminal on the Delaware River.

Last year marked Enstructure’s first full year as operator after taking over from GT USA Wilmington, a US division of UAE-headquartered Gulftainer. The new operators got a boost in early 2024 when Dole Ocean Cargo Express announced it was adding a second weekly service call to the port with a 1,200 FEU container vessel with direct service between Port Wilmington and Central and South America.

The Mayan Express

Dole’s “Mayan Express” boasts direct service to Santa Marta, Colombia; Puerto Castilla, Honduras; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala and Port Wilmington. There is also indirect service to El Salvador available. Dole Ocean Cargo Express’ East Coast line offers direct service to and from Puerto Moin, Costa Rica; Puerto Castilla, Honduras and Port Wilmington while Dole expects additional growth of the Mayan Express.

“With the recommencement of the Mayan Express to a weekly service we anticipate growth in the volumes we currently carry,” said John Trummel, Vice President & General Manager of Dole Ocean Cargo Express. “The expected increase is both from perishable cargo - vegetables, melons, and fruits - and dry cargo such as frozen meats, autos, FAK, and consumer goods.”

Trummel reinforced the diverse cargo Dole ships north and south from Port Wilmington.

“Dole Ocean Cargo Express is among the most established, reliable, and consistent carriers servicing the Central America trade for the past 30 years,” he said. “Like all containerized freight, the volumes have grown to include frozen foodstuffs, non-refrigerated foodstuffs, autos, consumer goods, construction materials, paper materials as well as other commodities.”

Port Grant

In October, the Port Wilmington and elected officials announced a $127.5 million grant as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Program’s Emission Technology Deployment Competition. The Port said it would use the grant to attain electric cargo handling equipment and charging infrastructure.

“Enstructure is a proud recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports Grant Program. This investment will advance terminal infrastructure and equipment to keep ahead of our sustainability goals, maintain resiliency, and enhance efficiency,” May said. “We are dedicated to integrating sustainable practices throughout our operations at Enstructure Wilmington, and this will accelerate our efforts. The grant will be used to electrify container handling operations at Enstructure and support the procurement of electric container handling equipment at the future Enstructure Delaware Container Terminal. We are grateful for the support of our state and federal partners throughout this process.”

The development of a world-class container terminal at the Edgemoor site north of Port Wilmington remains up in the air. In late October, a U.S. district judge in Philadelphia vacated permits for the project ruling the Army Corps of Engineers acted arbitrarily and capriciously in approving them. The decision has temporarily halted the plans.

Officials with the Port declined to comment on the issue but the most recent Diamond State Port Corp. (DSPC) financials mention it is actively working with the USACE to restore and/or issue new permits in accord with the recent court decision. The DSPC oversees Port Wilmington.

The Cher Show comes to Wilmington

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'The Cher Show' tells the story of the singer, actor and icon.

"I'm playing 'Star,' which is the, basically the Cher as you know her now," says Morgan Scott. "I start the show off and kind of basically tell you that we're gonna 'Turn Back Time.'"

Three actors portray Cher through six decades of her life.

"We all still interact with each other," says Scott. "So you get this benefit of, what if your older self could tell your younger self, hey, you're gonna be okay if you make this decision."

It starts with the 10-year-old Cher, known as 'Babe,' played by Ella Perez.

"She's very determined," says Perez. "So I kind of take you through her rise to fame, meeting Sonny, putting out that first single."

Audiences will hear the duo sing 'I Got You Babe.'

"And it's really magical for her," says Perez.

By the 1970s, 'Lady' is bringing the glam. This part of Cher's life is played by Catherine Ariale.

"I pop up mainly in the quintessential 'Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour' time," says Ariale. "Lots of the Bob Mackie gowns."

"We have the Tony Award-winning Broadway costumes," says Perez. "Exact replicas of the real things that Cher wore."

"And you feel just like a goddess walking around in them," says Scott.

The show covers Cher's struggles with Sonny.

"Is she gonna continue on her own or is she going to stay with Sonny?" says Ariale. "She really takes agency over her career, over who she is."

As she moves into 'Star' status, she navigates other relationships too. You see Cher with her second husband, Gregg Allman, as well as 'Bagel Boy.'

And you'll hear 35 hits from her iconic career, including 'The Beat Goes On,' 'Just Like Jesse James,' and 'Believe.'

"There's a lot of heart in the show," says Ariale.

"It's really just about overcoming fear," says Perez. "And I think it can really inspire people to chase their dreams."

'The Cher Show' has a limited run with three performances January 31 and February 1 at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington, Delaware.

Link to Tickets for 'The Cher Show' at The Playhouse on Rodney Square

The Playhouse on Rodney Square1007 N. Market StreetWilmington, DE 19801

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