SPACE INVADERS.

• Author: Mildenberg, David
• Position: STATEWIDE: East

A Wilmington civil-engineering contractor is in line to get some work from NASA, where the coffers could grow because of the Trump administration's enthusiasm for sending humans into space. Civil Works Contracting is among 24 companies chosen to participate in an eight-year program estimated to total $3 billion. The work could double annual revenue at CWC, which employs more than 100 full-time workers for infrastructure construction, says Chief Financial Officer Jeff Cole. (He wouldn't disclose the company's revenue.) Vice President Mike Pence said in October that space travel to the moon and eventually visiting Mars are important national priorities.

Formed by President Chris Scerri seven years ago, CWC is one of four contractors designated in the "historically underutilized business zone," or HUBZone, category for the new NASA program. That reflects a Small Business Administration program encouraging large companies and institutions to work with small, minority- and women-owned businesses. The multiyear contract will pay for construction and improvements at NASA...