ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Burlington County
Burlington County was the focus for the first of five Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey events during 2024 that are looking at economic development in the region. Keynote speaker, Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson, offered a decidedly optimistic look at economic-related initiatives, services and programs being offered throughout the county.
“We have done some amazing things in Burlington County,” Hopson said.
Burlington County now has a military and veteran-owned business grant program.
Grants up to $30,000 will be available to help such businesses grow and thrive. The program sends a message to thousands of military veterans and their families that Burlington County continues to value them and their service to the United States.
The county has also helped feed thousands of families since starting a food distribution program in 2020. Now, Hopson said, a $1 million grant program will allow the county to reach more in need by providing money to individual food pantries and nonprofits for their work on the frontlines in the fight against hunger.
Hopson touted the success of Restaurant Week in Burlington County. Started just five years ago, the effort has grown to feature 125 restaurants and at least one eatery in each of the 40 towns in the county. In fact, the county now holds two Restaurant Weeks, one in summer and one in the spring.
Toward promoting businesses that Burlington County has to offer, Hopson said county officials have been and will continue to tour downtowns and other central business districts, learning about hidden gems in the process.
The county also now provides a small business portal on its website. The portal offers information on how to start a business, financing and grants, Hopson said.
The county has also partnered with the Burlington County Bridge Commission and its Council on Economic Development to offer a series of small business workshops.
All told, Hopson said that in 2023, more than 150 new businesses registered with the Burlington County Clerk’s Office.
“Local businesses are the foundation of our community,” Hopson said.
Hopson also mentioned several other Burlington County efforts that help the local economy.
Those include the county government’s free recycling program, which collected more than 69 million pounds of materials in 2023. That saved towns $3.2 million, she said.
The county helped military veterans obtain more than $15 million in benefits, Hopson said. And Burlington County made free wifi available in all the parks it maintains.
OTHER COMMUNITIES
The event was held on Feb. 2, at the Westin Mount Laurel. It also featured comments from four local mayors and a town council member within the county. Below is a summary of what each had to say.
Gary Catrambone,
Mayor, Township of Delran
Cartrambone said that between the population growth Delran is experiencing and being business-friendly, the town is taking an open minded approach to economic development.
Delran has four housing developments in various stages, he said. Once done, they will collectively add close to 1,000 new residences to the 6,400 homes the town currently has.
New businesses that opened in 2023 or are set to open this year include: Grocery Outlet, a West Coast chain’s first location on the East Coast; a new 7-Eleven; a new Vietnamese restaurant, Anise; the town’s first-ever Chipotle; a drive-in storage facility; Millside, a community diner; Top Pot, an all-you-can eat buffet; and, coming soon, Soz, an upscale Mediterranean grill.
Delran has embraced having cannabis businesses in town, and eventually, will have four licensed dispensaries.
Helping the growth is that energy company PSEG has made a tremendous commitment of resources and money to add a substation to Delran, improving the quality of local service.
Kaya McIntosh,
Mayor, Township of Willingboro
McIntosh mentioned that Willingboro has seen less growth than surrounding communities.
During the last few years, the town of 32,000 residents, predominantly African Americans, has seen a growing Muslim and Turkish population. It’s also seeing people move to town from New York, Philadelphia and Trenton.
The town has added a community development manager to its staff, McIntosh said, and is working with property owners to develop commercial sites. It is being deliberative in its approach to development, and doesn’t want to rely upon warehouse space.
Willingboro has streamlined its permit process and is ramping up its business outreach efforts, she said. The town also offers its businesses the opportunity to target the market through Willingboro’s social media.
Willingboro will be getting a Starbucks back sometime soon, and a new bbq restaurant, 1911 Smokehouse BBQ, McIntosh said. The town also now has The Supreme Sweets Dessert Shop and is investing in its performing arts center.
Like other New Jersey towns, Willingboro has expanded the number of cannabis and liquor licenses it has, she said. That includes a unique operation, a drive-thru dispensary.
“We’re fertile ground for economic development,” McIntosh said.
Steve Schmidt
Mayor Township of Maple Shade
Schmidt said Maple Shade made remarkable strides during 2023 in terms of economic development.
It began a search for a director of business and economic development, he said.
The town also restructured the Maple Shade Advisory Board of Commerce into the Business and Economic Development Commission, which came into being in November. The change meant going from a volunteer approach to economic development to a government-led effort that works closely with the business community.
Maple Shade has prioritized business advancement through strategic collaboration and resource allocation, Schmidt said. It’s addressing job creation by attracting new businesses, and the town’s infrastructure enhancement provides the backbone for a thriving business ecosystem, he said.
Down the road, Maple Shade will be looking at updating ordinances and coming up with policies that facilitate growth. And for the December holiday season, Maple Shade put out new seasonal welcome flags and held a town wide holiday lights initiative.
“Maple Shade is not only open for business, it is dedicated to supporting and celebrating our local businesses,” Schmidt said.
Jaclyn Veasy
Mayor Township of Evesham
Veasy pointed out that Evesham’s economic growth is tied to the county’s other towns and the relationships between the municipalities.
“We grow because each other is growing,” Veasy said.
Toward that point, Veasy said Evesham now has more than 2,000 businesses. On top of that, remodeling and rehab projects are underway at several Evesham shopping centers, Veasy said.
Veasy said Evesham opened its first cannabis dispensary in December and two more are set to open this year.
Evesham prides itself on its sustainability efforts. Those include adding electric car parking stations and coming up with a community-wide energy plan. Evesham is also working on its master plan open for space and recreation as well as a downtown bike and pedestrian action plan.
Supporting these efforts is Evesham’s Economic Advisory Committee, which formed during COVID-19 pandemic to support the business community, she said.
“We invest in our town to make sure it’s a good town to own and operate a business,” Veasy said.
Councilman Stephen Steglik
Township of Mount Laurel
Steglik said Mount Laurel has continued to grow and move forward in a post-pandemic economy. The town is looking for ways to navigate the new landscape in the most financially beneficial way, while maintaining the standard of living so many have come to know and love.
Mount Laurel is taking action to revitalize vast dilapidated office spaces by turning them into warehouses, he said.
The Mount Laurel business community is thriving, with a record number of small businesses opening in 2023, Steglik said.
Mount Laurel has the third biggest number of hotels in New Jersey, Steglik said. Those businesses took a hit during the pandemic but are steadily coming back.
The town works with the Rancocas Woods Business Association, as that area serves as a de facto downtown for Mount Laurel.
As with the other towns, Steglik noted that Mount Laurel has embraced the cannabis industry. It holds seven licensed dispensaries along with two labs for testing cannabis quality, he said.
The local economy is such that Mount Laurel has seen no tax increase and no cuts in services for four years, Steglik said.
And he mentioned an article from NJ.com that provided insight into the town’s housing market.
“We’re one of the hottest real estate markets in the United States,” Steglik said.
![“[Delran] is taking an open minded approach to economic development.](assets/images/item_62485.png)
