The Chemours Company has decided to remain in Wilmington, keeping more than 1,000 jobs from leaving the state.
Chemours had considered relocating its headquarters to either New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but announced Tuesday that it will stay in the First State.
"I know that Chemours leaders conducted a detailed search and looked at several locations, and I am pleased that they have chosen Wilmington as the best option to support the success of their company," said Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) in a statement. "This decision reflects the value of our top quality workforce, the ability to access key global markets from our state, and the responsiveness of government at all levels - all of which helps make Delaware a great place for employers to achieve long term growth.”
The Delaware Competes Act is also seen as a key factor in the company’s decision against relocation. That law, which was enacted in January, ensures companies don’t pay additional taxes for expanding payroll and property in the state.
The state also approved a nearly $8 million incentive package for the company in May that includes nearly $700,000 for upgrading its Wilmington headquarters. To receive the incentives the company would be required to keep 900 jobs at its headquarters in Wilmington until 2020.
Some state and city leaders were concerned the company’s departure would send a ripple effect through Delaware’s economy and potentially threaten Wilmington’s economic health.
Delaware's Congressional delegation was among those Tuesday morning that welcomed the news Chemours is staying put.
"The state passed landmark legislation to modernize our tax structure, and in Congress, we worked to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, giving businesses like Chemours the predictability they need," said Delaware's senior senator, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware) in a statement. "Keeping Chemours in Delaware, along with two of the three DuPont headquarters operations, is a major accomplishment, but this is no time to rest on our laurels. We have good paying, traditional manufacturing jobs at Chemours and other companies like it, and we must continue our tradition of working together to preserve and grow them.”
Chemours separated from DuPont in July 2015.
It shuttered its Edge Moor plant in North Wilmington last August, putting 200 employees and 150 contractors out of work. An additional 55 Chemours jobs in Delaware were lost in December when announced it was laying off 400 workers, or 5 percent of its global workforce.
