26A — January 27 - February 9, 2012 — Economic Development — Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
MARE journal.com
E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT
s the Capital County of New Jersey, Mer- cer County boasts By Brian M. Hughes, Office Of Economic Development And Sustainability Message From Mercer County Executive: Spotlight On Mercer County, New Jersey A Mercer County jobs were cre- ated or retained and 76% of those businesses were either women- or minority-owned.
Mercer County possesses one of the most skilled work- forces in the United States, is home to some of the lead- ing Fortune 500 companies, and has an unemployment rate that is well below the national average, making it a great place for businesses and residents to locate here. For business owners, fi- nancial assistance might be available to you. Through our Loan Fund, we provide up to $125,000 to start or expand a business. Since the Loan Fund’s inception in 2000, 639
While the nation continues to cope with escalating costs and weakened financial mar- kets, we are moving forward with planned projects because of the confidence we have in our private sector employers and our workforce. Recently, several of our higher educa- tion institutions—Princeton University, Rider Univer- sity, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State College and Mercer County Community College—have undergone expansions or announced plans to expand. The institutions together
represent not only our pride in education, but a flourish- ing employment sector that creates jobs, encourages tour- ism, and brings stability to our economy. In the burgeoning field of health care, Mercer County saw explosive growth with the recent grand opening of Capital Health’s new state- of-the-art hospital and the expanded Pediatrics Emer- gency Services at Robert Wood Johnson at Hamilton. Mercer County constitutes an ideal location for business and real estate development alike because of our proximity to the NewYork and Philadel- phia metropolitan areas and also because of our excellent transportation infrastruc- ture, boasting transportation options for commuters that fit with every lifestyle. Mer- cer County has three major train stations along the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line; easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike and many major expressways; an exten- sive bus system; and special transportation resources for senior citizens and people with physical disabilities. Trenton-Mercer Airport also allows for convenient corpo- rate travel for visitors to the Tri-State area. Job creation and enhanc- ing our workforce is our top priority. Our small business loans and One-Stop Career Center have put people back to work or re-trained work- ers with new skills. In fact, certain industry sectors have even demonstrated growth: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services andWare- housing and Transporta- tion. Current trends indicate the economic base in Mer- cer County will be stable this year, which makes now an ideal time to look into investing in New Jersey’s Capital County. For more information about econom- ic development in Mercer County, contact our Office of Economic Development and Sustainability at (609) 989- 6555 or visit our website at www.mercercounty.org. Brian M. Hughes serves as Mercer County, NJ Ex- ecutive. ■
one o f the s t r o n g e s t and most di- verse econo- mies in the nation. We continue to b u i l d o u r reputat i on as a top loca-
We know that employers are eager to give unskilled workers a chance but don’t al- ways have the resources to do so. Our On the Job Training (OJT) grant program offers a six-month 50% reimburse- ment of a new employee’s wages. Through the program, employers are able to take a chance on a new employee with the goal of offering per- manent placement.
Brian Hughes
tion for new businesses and pride ourselves on our eco- nomic stability and growth against state and national trends.
Board of Chosen Freeholders Ann M. Cannon Anthony P. Carabelli John A. Cimino Pasquale Colavita, Jr.
Samuel T. Frisby Andrew Koontz Lucylle R.S. Walter
Brian M. Hughes County Executive
Mercer County
A Place to Build and Grow Your Business One of the most skilled workforces in the United States
Home to some of the leading Fortune 500 companies
Abundant business resources that include the Mercer County Loan Fund, free and informative business seminars, on the job training incentives and the Mercer County Foreign Trade Zone.
Mercer County Office on Economic Development & Sustainability Elizabeth Maher Muoio, Director (609) 989-6555 www.mercercounty.org
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