June 15, 2015 - On Line News

Sponsored By:                                                  June 15, 2015 STRONG COLLEGE CONSTRUCTION REPORTED AT ALLIANCE CONFERENCE  Billions of dollars in new facilities were described at a special higher education capital construction conference hosted by the New Jersey Alliance for Action. Speakers credited the $750 million higher education bond issue for the impetus of many of the public and private construction projects.  The Alliance was a key supporter of the bond issue. Alliance President Philip K. Beachem said it took ten years to get the $750 million bonds passed --- "but we should begin to talk to Trenton now about the next higher education bond issue." Highlights of the presentations by higher education leaders were: New Jersey City University President Sue Henderson outlined some $400 million of upcoming and ongoing construction projects --- creating a larger urban development role on the west side of Jersey City. Rowan University Senior Vice President for Facilities & Operations Donald Moore discussed expansion of its Glassboro and Camden campuses with projects totaling over $500 million.  He stressed that Rowan now has two medical schools. Saint Peter's University President Eugene Cornacchia reported on the $277 million McGinley Square project, which would include a new student center and 400 new market rate housing units. New Jersey Institute of Technology Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Fedi Deek provided details on a number of major projects totaling over $270 million --- including building for Life Sciences and Technology, Wellness and Events Center and a renovation of Newark's historic Central King High School.  Rutgers University Executive Director for Facilities Planning and Development Frank Wong said the State University has $807.5 million in the pipeline for its New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses.  He pointed particularly to the "heart of the campus" under construction on College Avenue in New Brunswick. Passaic County Community College President Steven Rose celebrated the projects throughout New Jersey, including the ten community colleges he was representing.  ALLIANCE FOR ACTION ANNOUNCES 2015 EAGLE AWARD WINNERS Six leaders of New Jersey's economic life will receive prized Eagle Awards at the New Jersey Alliance for Action's 41st annual dinner on October 22.  The dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick.               Alliance Chairman George Laufenberg and President Philip K. Beachem announced the members of Eagle Awards Class of 2015.  They are: Michael Capelli, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, Sigurd Luccassen Labor Award. Veronique Hakim, Executive Director of NJ Transit, Richard M. Hale Chairman's Award. Robert Fischer, Chief Engineer of the NJ Turnpike Authority, John L. Buzzi Engineering Excellence Award. Sister Rosemary Jeffries, President of Georgian Court University, President's Award. Frank F. Criscola, Chairman and CEO of Crisdel Group, Inc., Ellis S. Vieser Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard Alaimo, President of Alaimo Group. Walter Rand South Jersey Award. Click here to register.  SOUTH JERSEY GAS REAPPLIES FOR NATURAL GAS PIPELINE South Jersey Gas has applied again to build a 22-mile natural gas pipeline to the B.L. England Generating Station in Upper Township.  The reapplication received the strong endorsement of the region's large daily newspaper, the Press of Atlantic City, for air quality and the economy.  The last time South Jersey Gas applied to build the pipeline, the staff of the Pinelands Commission recommended approval but the Commission voted 7-7 and the pipeline failed. The new effort is a private development application that shows the project meets Pinelands National Reserve standards. Alliance for Action Executive Vice President Jerry Keenan spoke at the Press Conference.  EDA APPROVED MAJOR AWARDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A ten-year $39.3 million Grow New Jersey Award to Audible, Inc., to create a new technology center in Newark topped the list of awards announced by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA).  Audible, a provider of spoken, audio information and entertainment, said the Center would be located on James Street in downtown Newark.  It is a subsidiary of Amazon and the center would house an engineering and development hub, retaining 50 jobs and creating an additional 350. The EDA also approved a ten-year $33.9 million award for Pennsauken-based Contemporary Graphics and Bindery, Inc., to relocate to a 124,000-square-foot facility in Camden.  A ten-year $16.5 award was approved to Fidelity Global Brokerage Group to locate a new facility in Jersey City with 200 new full-time jobs.  NEW MARRIOTT HOTEL COMING TO WATERFRONT IN HARRISON  Advance Realty announced plans to develop a hotel in Harrison as part of Harrison's mixed-use Riverbend District waterfront redevelopment efforts.  The Bridgewater-based developer reported that the 85,000 square-feet AC Hotel By Marriott will include 150 suites as well as a restaurant, retail and office space to supplement development in the 35-acre district.  RUTGERS GETS $500,000 FEDERAL GRANT TO STATE TECHNOLOGY PARK  Rutgers University will receive a $500,000 Federal Economic Development Grant to help plan an Innovation Park at Rutgers on 30 acres at the Livingston campus. The project will seek to break down barriers between academia and industry.  Christopher Molloy, a Senior Rutgers Vice President for Research and Economic Development said: "Ultimately, we expect the park to be a stakeholder-driven, model for technological innovation, industry growth and workforce development.  It will ensure a true community of innovation in Central Jersey between New York and Philadelphia." The park will also be funded by $10 million from the State's Building Our Future Bond.   STOCKTON GETS LEASE FOR NEXT GEN AVIATION PARK A lawsuit settled between the South Jersey Economic Development District and its former executive director paved the way for a land lease transfer to Stockton University's Aviation Research & Technology Park. The lease transfer of 58 acres in Egg Harbor Township, Stockton now plans development to begin on the first building in the park by year-end. Construction is scheduled to include a total of seven buildings with 400,000 square feet of office and research space. The first building will offer 66,000 square feet, with 7,000 square feet of it set aside for the FAA.

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