Millsboro partners with a retail match-making firm to bring more businesses to the town

Millsboro is open for business!

The town has allocated $50,000 from their latest fiscal year budget to guarantee that businesses are coming in. 

We're told their biggest challenge is that they're growing 10% more a year in population, which is huge, but when a retailer looks at their demographic data, they are looking at the 2010 census. Data that is eight years old. 

Millsboro hopes to tackle that issue by joining forces with retail match-making firm, Buxton. A group that is like the business world's cupid, landing arrows that make companies fall in love. 

Town manager, Sheldon Hudson tells us, "So they go beyond demographics. They really drill down to the address level and say based on this data and these analytics, these are the retailers that would be best fit for your town. Buxton not only looks at the national retailers, they also provide tools for your current mom and pop local businesses to be successful. So they really address both side of the equation."

Just a few months back, Millsboro put out a survey to see what residents wanted in their neighborhood. With over 300 responses, town leaders got a better understanding of what they needed. 47 ABC spoke to several residents and many said they wanted another grocery store, a Target, more sit-down restaurants, and sports bars. They're also asking for hotels and restaurants.  

But a key element is to have everything in Millsboro, rather than driving to another town or city to get these necessities. Beyond that, this partnership is key because these businesses bring in revenue and it allows the town to reinvest.

As far as businesses coming to the area, we're told Taco Bell has their preliminary approval already.

Lewes Dairy is looking to relocate to Millsboro from Lewes and a Starbucks is also a possibility. 

Hudson says they are determining how many businesses would be an asset to the area but for now, the sky is the limit. We're told Buxton will create an analysis and a list of retailers within the next 60 days.