A ‘Hometown in the Heart of Sussex’

Growing quickly while retaining a small-town charm, this town is amidst a transformation

“It is an exciting time to be here,” Jamie Burk, Town Manager of the thriving yet quaint town of Millsboro, Delaware declares.

A statement that aptly describes a community where it is not uncommon to run into your neighbor while running errands. Friendly at heart, Millsboro is also on the precipice of residential, infrastructure, and commercial development that larger communities would be envious of.

Proud of its friendly roots, Burk describes a town that is also an eclectic community with a wide variety of socio-economic classes. Millsboro’s residents are a mix of young families, a considerable number of medical workers, police, and teachers that call the charming town home. Burk also describes a sizable retirement community geared towards an active lifestyle.

Boasting a population of 7,700 residents, Millsboro has been experiencing a population increase hovering around 15% over the last few years. The town is also amidst a bit of a renaissance marked by notable commercial projects, and a host of residential options for residents in addition to those who may want to relocate.

The town has also devoted quite a bit of time to ensuring that infrastructure in the downtown and surrounding area is addressed to accommodate its current and future growth needs.

“We have generations deep here in Millsboro and we are trying to create a community that is a hometown for all of them,” Burk notes. “We are even looking at new slogans, one of which is ‘Your Hometown in the Heart of Sussex’. I think it encompasses our mindset here.”

Investing in a robust future

Millsboro, Burk highlights, is hard at work creating an environment that is welcoming from a tourist perspective and viewed as a choice spot for new businesses that are thinking about relocating to the area and setting up operations.

“Several businesses are currently relocating and opening up a second and third location in Millsboro that were based in the Rehoboth Beach Resort area and the Lewes Historical area. Companies such as Lewes Dairy which is now located in Millsboro and a signature restaurant in Lewis that has now opened a second location in town.”

Adding to the list of new businesses dotting the downtown area, Burk points to a popular eatery, Kaisy’s Delights which has now also ventured into the Millsboro market.

“We are seeing new investment in the area to reflect the economic boom,” Burk says enthusiastically.

Pointing to other examples, Burk mentions that the Mid Sussex Shopping Center is also under renovation with large chain retail operations such as Planet Fitness opening their doors.

Helping with the influx of potential business and economic growth the town has found a valuable partner in the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce, particularly when it comes to the historic downtown core.

“The chamber has a resurgence and a new life with new leadership and a new board. We are working with them hand in hand to look at the downtown and we have also created an economic development group with the chamber,” Burk remarks.

“We have some amazing opportunities in our downtown area. New town restaurants have opened up and a third is in the fit-out process and a fourth has a letter of intent that outlines a complete redevelopment of an old restaurant building that sat vacant for a couple of years,” Burk expands.

The town also boasts a theater that dates back to the 1930s formally named the Ball Theater and since renamed the Millstone Theater.

“It is a hidden gem. An amazing property and it is just a matter of getting the private ownership to move forward to get it to the point where it is adding value to the downtown area,” Burk explains.

Also in the town’s favor is Delaware’s tax structure which has helped to draw retirees from the Mid-Atlantic area, from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, and have chosen Millsboro as their new home.

“It is exciting to watch that growth and to be a part of it,” Burk states.

Community outreach links to further growth

“We are poised for some great things in the downtown area.” “This year we have opened up a new police station which is a great opportunity for community outreach.”

Burk stresses the importance of community outreach as a top priority for the town. Residents benefit, he explains, by enjoying a safe place to live while events put on through the local police, the chamber, and the town, help to facilitate a feeling of belonging as well as aiding in the town’s overall growth potential.

“Our police department does a good job with community outreach which is what you need for downtown revitalization. You need to have a secure community and you need to have the opportunity for people to come in and explore new ideas for new businesses.”

“We pride ourselves on that,” Burk emphasizes.

“We like to sit down with potential investors and put all the costs out, all the town requirements on the table, and our fees are very reasonable. “We sit down with all the department heads and a potential investor at almost a moment’s notice.”

Burk notes that this gives Millsboro the edge over other communities. He adds that with the chamber’s generous support, the downtown area has limitless potential to correlate with the town’s vision and resident needs.

Infrastructure priorities and residential growth

It is not only commercial growth that is taking place in the town of Millsboro, residential growth is also on the town’s radar. With residential projects that suit both demographic and housing stock needs as well as tackling housing affordability.

“Plantation Lakes is a high-density residential community and at the end of the build-out, it will have double the population of Millsboro. There are various-sized townhomes, some duplex or carriage homes, and then single-family detached homes.

“We have opportunities for all demographics there.”

“We also have some newer housing and some affordable housing such as Foster Commons that has opened up on Old Landing Road. It is a beautiful community,” Burk describes.

With new residential projects in the works, the town also has a significant amount of medical opportunities that will bring in medical professionals looking for all types of housing.

“Beebe Healthcare System is making a major investment in the community by building an emergency room and hybrid walk-in facility here in town and then there is TidalHealth which is another medical conglomerate in the area. They are investing in a 150,000 square foot medical campus in Millsboro,” Burk expands.

Supporting this growth, Millsboro is investing in its critical infrastructure.

“We just brought online a second water treatment plant. It was an $18 million venture which doubled our capacity for water in the town with plenty of capacity moving into the future.”

“We are also looking to construct a $29 million wastewater facility. We are building it to be something that has the ability to grow without having to make major structural changes.”

Growth ahead

Preparing for the growth trajectory of the town, Burk relays that the town’s staff is expanding.

“We are looking to add some positions which include an Assistant Finance Director. We have just hired an industrial maintenance position because of the new facilities that have come online.”

Burk explains that there is value in having infrastructure issues handled internally rather than outsourcing some of the maintenance responsibilities.

“We are maintaining new infrastructure and making sure that we get the longest life out of it as possible.”

As for how the next few years look, Burk reflects before answering.

“We pride ourselves on customer service,” he begins. “It is internal and external in the way we talk to each other as co-workers and in the way we talk to the resident, business owner or potential investor.”

“Customer service drives all that we do here. I think that it is important that we take a moment to evaluate a situation, pause, and make sure we allocate the proper resources with the amount of growth that we are having and try to keep up with it,” Burk concludes.

AT A GLANCE

Millsboro, Delaware

What: A thriving town on the brink of significant improvements, with its residents at the top of the priority list.

Where: Sussex County, Delaware

Website: https://www.millsboro.org