New Business Developments in New Jersey’s Heartland

New Jersey’s Heartland is home to small family owned businesses that have been passed on through many generations, as well as businesses that turned into nationally recognized and beloved brands. Big and small, these businesses are symbols of New Jersey’s Heartland. Whether “farm to table” restaurants, manufacturing plants, or Main Street businesses, they have provided goods and services, as well as jobs for the communities in which we live.

Like most regions, over the past few years New Jersey’s Heartland experienced its share of downturns and challenges. What wasn’t affected was the sense of community and pride that has always existed within the Heartland of New Jersey. The counties that comprise the region we call New Jersey’s Heartland – Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, and western Atlantic Counties – are once again creating new business and job opportunities. The following are just a few examples of the kinds of economic developments that are bringing prosperity back to New Jersey’s Heartland and fortifying our communities.

Economic and Educational Development

Cumberland County opened its much-anticipated “campus of success” building on the Cumberland County College campus in October. Also known as the workforce and economic building, it is part of an educational initiative the county set about to create three years ago. Its goal is to focus college students on their career so that they can successfully transition into the workplace.

The mission of the Cumberland County Technical Education Center (CCTEC), which will open in 2016, is to “provide students with the opportunity to enter the global workforce with advanced educational options.” By blending educational and vocational training, CCTEC will strive to be a “global leader in educating exceptional career and college ready students.”

In addition to these projects, in September, the Cumberland County College opened STEAMWorks, which provides science, technology, engineering and arts in a technology oriented campus. Some of their programs include three-dimensional printing, robotics and a full recording studio. The facility is not limited to students, with courses and memberships also open to individuals and businesses. College officials refer to STEAMWorks as a “platform for entrepreneurs and a place where hobbyists and inventors can go to work on projects”.

On October 22, the Vineland YMCA opened two new facilities to transform its center into a greater asset to the community. The Milam Family Multipurpose center is a 4,000-square-foot facility that will have space for birthday parties, meetings, and sports. The Family Health and Adventure Center is an exercise facility for adults and children. It will be equipped with exercise and rock-climbing equipment, which will serve to promote families to exercise together.

Manufacturing

Northeast Precast, LLC. of Millville is going to be expanding its business by adding a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing building. The expansion was planned in conjunction with the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, which demonstrates how local businesses and county entities are working together to help bring jobs and tax ratables to Cumberland County. The new manufacturing facility will add 30 jobs to the Northeast Precast workforce.

Nature Labs originated four years ago in California, and has chosen to relocate their cosmetics manufacturing company to New Jersey’s Heartland. The 20,000-square-foot reconverted warehouse will employ a few dozen employees to contract the manufacture of fine cosmetics, personal care products, and private label formulations. The company had their ribbon cutting on October 26, 2015, and will be up and running within a few weeks.

The long vacant Lenox Plant on Tilton Road in Galloway Township has been taken over by Barrette Outdoor Living. The new business plans to hire 150 new employees by year’s end and a total of 250 new employees by the middle of 2016. At that junction, it will become Atlantic County’s largest manufacturing business.

Barrette is self described as “one of the largest manufacturers of vinyl fencing, aluminum fencing and wood fence products for the construction industry and outdoor living products customers in North America.”

Restaurants

By April of 2016, Vineland will be home to the popular breakfast franchise, IHOP. The project, which is estimated to cost $650,000, will serve as a prototype of IHOPs throughout the U.S. The new restaurant design includes a communal table, as well as laptop and smartphone charging stations.

This addition to the Vineland community will add about 80 full and part-time jobs. It will also be the first solar-powered IHOP in the country.

Economically, New Jersey’s Heartland is moving in a positive direction, and we hope to continue sharing more good news about the progress of new economic and business development in our communities. If you would like to submit your business to our website for listing, please visit our contact page.