By Craig Anderson

DOVER — The news figures to keep getting better as the latest manufacturing company arrives and expands in Kent County.

While Shore Industries is currently in a lease agreement with property owner Kent County Levy Court, the plan is to purchase the 2.8-acre site by the end of 2021 and significantly grow operations at 26 Starlifter Ave. in the Kent County AeroPark.

The 10,000-square-foot building leaves the company and its three other businesses cramped, and owner Mike Pugh envisions building another 20,000-square-foot facility and increasing the overall work force from 15 to 80 over the next five years.

The Shore Canvas, Shore Outdoor Living and Porch Enclosures businesses combined with parent company Shore Industries to make around $5 million in sales last year. The companies were previously based in Denton, Maryland before beginning work in Kent County at the start of March. They occupy the space formerly utilized by Monster Racing.

“Fortunately for us, COVID has had a positive effect on our business and we quickly outgrew our facility in Maryland,” Mr. Pugh said. “Central Delaware quickly mobilized to find us a site that could fit our current and future needs.”

Mr. Pugh described Shore Industries as a “sewing manufacturing company that specializes in outdoor living products, anything from awnings, to umbrellas, shade shell structures, restaurant and patio enclosures, and some marine canvas work as well.”

Following a facility tour led by Mr. Pugh, state Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, envisioned what comes next for Shore Industries in Kent County.

“What jumps out at me it the potential here and that from talking to the management it’s very clear that this is just the beginning and they have very big plans. They’re already talking about expanding this facility, increasing production, adding more jobs, so as great as it is to see this here today, I think the potential to see growth and expansion should be exciting for everyone in Kent County,” he said.

Levy Court Commissioner Allan Angel joined the senator on the tour and was similarly impressed.

“First of all it’s a ‘Class A’ process, all made in the United States and very quality orientated,” he said. “It’s a win-win not only for them but for Kent County too.

“The dynamics of the people they’re bringing in here (is a great addition.)”

Sen. Paradee, vice chair of the Senate Banking, Business and Insurance Committee lauded the Kent Economic Partnership and its executive director Linda Parkowski for its “impressive track record of bringing good manufacturing jobs to central Delaware.

“Each of these small- and medium-sized companies are huge wins that will provide stable, good-paying jobs to Kent County residents for years to come.

“Each one of these companies relocating here also proves to other manufacturers that, even in a pandemic, Kent County is open for business.”

Ms. Parkowski described the arrival as “another win for Kent County and it just raises the visibility again that Central Delaware is a great place for manufacturing firms to relocate.”

A 2018 Rockport Economic Analysis Study that showed Kent County was ripe for small-to-medium sized manufacturing companies has proved accurate, Ms. Parkowski said.

“Central Delaware has all the right components for manufacturing success in the region,” she said.

Kent County also owns the nearby land that housed Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security operations before being recently vacated, The Commonwealth Group owns the building.