“We think we will be successful in bringing cruise ships to Lewes,” Levin said, adding the state is one year into a two-year promotional effort that could bring small liners to Lewes in 2011. “We’ve been blanketing the region,” he said.

Levin, who joined members of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce for breakfast Jan. 28, said the state would focus on Sussex County as it plots its economic future.

“A lot of administrations have weighted things toward New Castle County,” he said. “I can tell you - we will do everything we can for Sussex County.” He mentioned a $4.4 million Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) loan to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, calling it the best money he’s spent as director.

“Nanticoke is, by far, the most important employer in the western side of this state,” he said.

Levin was silent on the issue of Del Pointe, a harness-racing track and casino proposed for a 370-acre tract just north of Millsboro. While the racino could be a boon to the Sussex economy, Levin later said its fate rested with the General Assembly.

“It’s not a question of Del Pointe so much as it’s a question of: Will there be another racino in Sussex County?” he said. “That’s the Legislature’s decision. Where will they approve additional venues.”

Levin discussed the state’s measures to aid small businesses, including the Limited Investment for Financial Traction (LIFT).

Through LIFT, business owners can apply for a $25,000 loan. Loans are repayable over seven years with no interest, he said. The program has helped 37 companies thus far, Levin said, including Rehoboth Toy & Kite Company.

“It’s an effort to get you from this point to the next,” he said.

Levin said DEDO is one year into a two-year push to promote Lewes as a port of call for smaller cruise lines.

“We think we will be successful in bringing cruise ships into Lewes,” he said. In August, the Delaware Tourism Office said cruise ship patronage could bring the town around $600,000 annually.

Levin, former CEO of Happy Harry’s, said he’s working to help Delaware entrepreneurs by making it easier to start a business.

“The one thing that Delaware needs to do is get rid of all the red tape,” he said. He said he’s working on imposing new time frames for permits issued by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources and Economic Control. Once a business owner applies for a permit, Levin said, it should be issued or denied in no more than 60 days.

“It’s like turning an aircraft carrier,” he said. “These things don’t turn on a dime.”

Levin later said his office was working with a number of Sussex companies, but he declined to elaborate, citing confidentiality issues.

Levin mentioned the closure of the Chrysler plant in Newark, the General Motors plant in Wilmington and the Valero oil refinery in Delaware City. While the job losses are considerable, Levin said the state is regaining lost ground.

The University of Delaware has plans to occupy the former Chrysler plant, he said, and Fisker Automotive is planning to use the General Motors facility to manufacture its electric cars. Delaware is in a position to grow, Levin said, and he invited chamber members offer their input.

“If we don’t have communications, we have nothing,” he said. “If you have issues, we want to hear them.”