Area Development
Johnson Controls plans to invest approximately $43 million to expand its battery plant in Middletown, Delaware. The company will receive assistance from major state incentives by 2017.

Middletown, a city with a population of about 19,600 residents, is about 28.4 miles southwest of Wilmington. According to a report from Delaware Public Media, the state’s Council on Development Finance approved an incentive package that includes two grants, totaling about $1.6 million.”

One grant of nearly $1.3 million would be used by Johnson Controls to offset up to 3 percent of expansion construction costs. Another grant of over $300,000 would help hire 83 associates, bringing its total workforce at the plant to around 430 workers, the state’s NPR stations WDDE in Dover and WMPH in Wilmington reported.

“We are excited that Johnson Controls has reaffirmed its commitment to growing and expanding here in Delaware,” said Delaware Economic Development Office Director Bernice Whaley in an emailed statement to DPM.

“Although they had multiple options to choose from before deciding to bring operations to Middletown several years ago, Johnson Controls chose Delaware for a variety of reasons—not the least of which include our talented workforce and business-friendly environment,” she said.