MILFORD — Milford and Harrington will focus heavily on economic development during the new year, in hopes of kindling further prosperity.
For the former, officials will try to strengthen the community by generating local jobs and attracting investment via the Milford Corporate Center, said Lauren Swain, the city’s economic development and community engagement administrator.
Mayor F. Todd Culotta agreed. “We have broken ground and are putting infrastructure in to help get those lots sold and have companies have a presence there,” he said, adding that the goal is to “create job growth and a better Milford overall.”
The municipality will also use a technical assistance grant to review zoning and land use regulations, plus identify opportunities to expand housing and address the cost of residency, Ms. Swain continued.
“A key objective of the city’s strategic plan is to ensure a diverse mix of housing across a range of affordability levels, allowing residents of all socioeconomic backgrounds to live in Milford,” she said.
At the same time, leaders will keep investing in infrastructure improvements that support safe, reliable and sustainable growth.
“Milford remains committed to supporting existing businesses, attracting employers that align with community values and engaging residents, to ensure growth reflects shared priorities, while preserving the city’s quality of life,” Ms. Swain added.
In the spring, an update to the city’s comprehensive plan will begin, a process that must be done every 10 years. It will include several opportunities for public input.
To help with the revision, on Dec. 8, 2025, City Council unanimously approved an up-to-$61,800 agreement with the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. Council is slated to adopt the plan in late 2027, so it will be in place by January 2028, as required by the state.
Meanwhile, to the west, Harrington leaders are trying to attract another grocery store to serve residents of several new neighborhoods, city manager Norman Barlow reported.
“We’re always looking for areas to grow,” he said. “We want to create jobs. We’ve had a lot of residential growth coming. We’re always putting feelers out for what we can do for commercial growth, also.
“Any business that can come, add jobs and get the community to grow, we will always have an open door and welcome them.”
On Jan. 20, Harrington City Council will vote on whether to allow data centers as conditional uses in manufacturing areas. One location could be the former Harrington Logistics site.
In addition, ground was broken last August on the Harrington Industrial Park on the city’s southeast side. Officials are waiting for some site studies to be completed before they install infrastructure there.
The two cities are also applying to the state for five-year extensions of their Downtown Development Districts, both of which expire in August. The programs offer financial incentives for downtown revitalization, including fee waivers and rebates of up to 20% on construction costs.
Since 2016, Milford’s DDD has supported 294 projects that resulted in more than $4.7 million in state rebates and more than $40.9 million in private investment, Ms. Swain said.