The South Atlantic States have enjoyed economic success during the past few years. However with the turn-down in markets, state economic development officers are renewing their efforts to keep their home economy's fires burning. State officials across the South Atlantic are regenerating programs geared toward local industries with work-force development programs and infrastructure investment.

      For a small state, Delaware continues to corner big results. The First State's per capita income and low unemployment rate rank 12th in the nation. The state also posts an income growth rate of 6 percent a year, the fifth-fastest growing state in the nation. Delaware has only three counties. Sussex County, the southernmost, is located along the Atlantic shore and is Delaware's fastest growing county. The population has risen 38.3 percent during the 1990's.
      Delaware's new Gov. Ruth Ann Minner has inaugurated her administration with smart growth in mind. Minner has proposed a program called "Livable Delaware." The program hopes to control sprawl within the First State by graduated impact fees to defray state infrastructure investment, and by using matching brownfield grants. State officials are also pushing for downtown redevelopment in Wilmington with mixed-use plans and historic preservation tax credits.
      In April, the new research facility of the Delaware Biotechnology Institute opened in Newark. The institute is a 72,000-sq.-ft. (6,688-sq.-m.) life-science research facility in partnership with state government, higher education and area business. The facility hopes to incubate new start-ups with research.
      "This partnership is sound," said University of Delaware president David P. Roselle at the Institute's dedication. "Each of the groups represented share equally in the goals of good science, quality education and enhanced job opportunities."
      Delaware continues to actively recruit high-tech talent with new marketing campaigns. IT=DE is a slogan pushed by state officials. The Delaware IT Initiative was created to actively seek young workers and also sponsors a learning center to train talent and give young job seekers information on companies. The First State has launched a web site www.ithink-delaware.com, to seek new IT talent.
      Dupont Dow Elastomers is expanding its research and development center in Newark. The firm produces semiconductors at this facility. Connective announced last fall that it will build a new power plant in Wilmington. Fraunhoger-Gesellschaft, a German-based company, recently announced an expansion in Wilmington. The firm will move into a new building in the Delaware Technology Park. The company employs 20 researchers and scientists, with plans to grow to a staff of 50 by 2004.