DAGSBORO, Del. – Chicken producer, Allen Harim, officially broke ground to begin construction on a new $22 million hatchery on Delmarva. Gov. John Carney attended the groundbreaking to thank the company for its investment in Delaware. Carney was joined by Sen. Gerald Hocker, Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, Rep. Rich Collins, Rep. Dave Wilson, and Rep. Ruth Briggs King. Sussex County Council President Michael Vincent and Councilman Rob Artlett also attended.
The hatchery will total 70,000 sq. ft. and be built on the company’s 19.84-acre site on Nine Foot Road in Dagsboro. By utilizing water reuse technology, the facility will recycle up to 80 percent of the water used and will have an egg-set capacity of 2.5 million eggs per week.
“This is an exciting moment for this company and a significant investment for our company on Delmarva,” said President and CEO Joe Moran in a statement. “Our No Antibiotic Ever chicken requires us to have the healthiest and strongest chicks right from the start, and this new hatchery will ensure that. This facility will be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and the most technologically-advanced hatchery on Delmarva.”
The new facility’s footprint will encompass an existing 38,000-sq.-ft. back-up hatchery originally purchased from Cargill in 1988. Expected completion of the new facility is about one year and will require new equipment and systems throughout. Once operational, the company will close its main hatchery in Seaford. Employees at both facilities will be offered jobs at the new hatchery or at other Allen Harim operations.
