Perdue AgriBusiness, one of Perdue Farms Inc.’s two main operating subsidiaries, said it has closed on the purchase of property just over the state line in Delmar to build new corporate offices.

The move does not affect Perdue’s main corporate headquarters in Salisbury.

The new office building will replace a 45-year-old facility at the Perdue AgriBusiness complex on Zion Church Road. The tract is off Route 13, across the highway from the Delmar Speedway, about 1 mile from Maryland.

Perdue has been mulling the move for the last five years; Seaford was originally expected to be the corporate park’s location.

No construction timetable was announced.

Perdue officials said they have signed an agreement with architects George, Miles & Buhr of Salisbury to design the new facility, which will be located on a 17-acre tract.

The Delmar location, officials said, is centrally located to the Perdue AgriBusiness Delmarva operations and will provide additional space and flexibility not available at the current location.

“Perdue AgriBusiness is an increasingly diversified business, but we are outgrowing our office facility. Delmar is centrally located to our Delmarva operations and will minimize the impact on the associates currently working in our Salisbury office,” said Dick Willey, president of Perdue AgriBusiness.

“We look forward to getting this project under way and will have an associate team working with the architect firm for design input. The state of Delaware has always been a true business partner to Perdue, and we are excited to support the local economy.”

Approximately 200 current and future executive and support positions will be housed at the new Delmar location.

All other Perdue AgriBusiness operations will continue in their current locations, including the soy processing, edible oil refining and grain operations at the Zion Church Road location.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, who helped orchestrate the move with tax considerations, said the news was important to both the state and Sussex County.

“With an annual impact estimated at $8 billion a year, Delaware’s agricultural community is one of the cornerstones of our state’s economy,” Markell said. “We know our future prosperity depends on a strong commitment to this industry. Perdue’s expansion is an important marker of the continued and growing strength of Delaware agriculture, particularly in our vital poultry sector. I am grateful to the company’s leadership for their robust partnership with us.”

Delmar, Del., Mayor Michael T. Houlihan said his town was excited to become Perdue AgriBusiness’ new home.

“An economic development of this magnitude coming to our town will have such a positive impact to our state, county and local economy, we are very excited to be a part of this opportunity.  I am confident that this business endeavor will be a great asset for the community of Delmar.”

Perdue AgriBusiness is a direct exporter of U.S. agricultural commodities through the company’s deepwater port in Chesapeake, Va.

Perdue AgriBusiness merchandises grain and oilseeds, processes soybeans, blends feed ingredients, trades a wide variety of agricultural commodities and refines edible oils. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Perdue AgriBusiness ventures touch such diverse opportunities as bio-energy, organic fertilizers and specialty livestock feeds.