Year in Review - 2018
Welcome to the Hunterdon County Economic Development E-Newsletter - Final 2018 Edition!
2018 Closing Note from the Economic Development Director
 
2018 truly highlighted the strength and diversity of Hunterdon County’s economy, in addition to showing how active the business and economic development environment is, and will be, for years to come.
 
Global companies such as ExxonMobil and UNICOM Global expanded and established, respectively, their presence in the county. Hunterdon’s innovation entrepreneurs continued to grow the county’s reputation as a tech hub, and the county freeholders continued to drive economic development initiatives and programs that are laying the base for continued future success.
 
Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this effort and to all who have chosen to invest in Hunterdon…have a terrific holiday and we look forward to working with you all, plus hopefully plenty of new partners, in the new year!!
 
Marc & Mary  
County Economic Development in the News
Buyer Emerges For Merck's Former Readington Headquarters

"A technology company founded in 1981 is under contract to purchase the former Merck & Co. headquarters complex here."
 
Wonderful to Welcome UNICOM Global to the Hunterdon Community!
Hunterdon County and Readington Township were both excited and honored to welcome UNICOM Global to the community in November. The presence of an IT giant of UNICOM’s stature will serve to cement Hunterdon’s distinction as a technology and innovation hub, along with the recent expansion of ExxonMobil’s R & D facility in Clinton Township and the county’s growing Innovation Initiative. Most importantly, UNICOM Global’s commitment to community and entrepreneurialism bodes well for the future of the county. Click below to learn more about the welcoming event and this exceptional company :
   Click here for Media                                      Click here for Photo Book link

ExxonMobil Expands in Clinton
      
"ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company announced today that it will
consolidate research activities and laboratories at its facility in Clinton, N.J. and will begin relocating activities and personnel from its Paulsboro, N.J. site beginning in mid-2018." 
Hunterdon plans first county park along Delaware River
"The proposed riverfront park along the Delaware River in Milford, with a potential hiking trail and rail line connections, is a serious and unique opportunity for Hunterdon County," Freeholder Director Matt Holt said in a statement. "It unites open space preservation with tourism and economic development, and will put Milford on the must do map for Hunterdon County tourism.”
Flemington designated as a Opportunity Zone.
Governor Murphy Submits Recommended Opportunity Zones to U.S. Treasury : "New Jersey is committed to using every tool at our disposal to develop our communities and grow our economy,” Governor Murphy said. “This program provides real opportunity for our state that has the potential to create significant, long-term economic development in the communities that need it the most ."

Pilot Study to Drive Hunterdon's Economic Growth
      
"The planner will examine “policies, procedures and ordinances” in each of the two municipalities to “make recommendations to better align those processes to support economic goals,” he said. The planner would also produce a “toolkit” for that other county municipalities could consider for themselves"

Pilot Study to Drive Hunterdon's Economic Growth:Update
" Consultants have now completed review of the ordinances and processes in both municipalities and met with officials in both towns. Businesses are scheduled to be interviewed over the next two weeks ."
 

Tourism is Big Business in Hunterdon, Study Shows
"

" The impact study is positive and heartening news about tourism as an economic driver in the county and, most importantly, demonstrates that there is tremendous room to grow the tourism element of the local economy,” said Freeholder Board Director Matt Holt ."


Hunterdon Freeholders Award Entrepreneurial Study

"The study will help determine what programs and initiatives are most likely to support and encourage local entrepreneurial endeavors. One of its goals will be to “determine the feasibility of a business incubator network that would support the growth of startups. 
  
County Launches Economic Development Grant Program
The county Freeholders have taken another step toward promoting economic development in Hunterdon.

Under a plan approved by the Freeholders last week, Hunterdon municipalities can now apply for economic development grants.

“Establishing a grant program, where the county can provide our municipalities with resources needed to partner in achieving our joint economic development goals, has always been anticipated as a key step on the road to economic growth,” said Freeholder Board Director Matt Holt in a press release."


The 2nd Annual HackHunterdon Hackathon is a Success!
For a second year in a row, Hunterdon’s hackathon shined a spotlight on local innovators, their creative ideas, and their ability to work together to bring new product ideas forward. With sponsorship from companies like Cisco and personnel from companies like Facebook involved in the effort, the HackHunterdon Hackathon will continue to be a key component of the county’s tech initiative for years’ to come.
 
Winner of the 2018 HackHunterdon Hackathon is a Hunterdon Central Student!
A 15-year-old high school student, Lorenzo Sanelli of Three Bridges, won first place and $5,000 in the second annual HackHunterdon Hackathon competition for creating a messaging app called "Communique"..
Regus Continues U.S. Expansion with the Opening of Its First Center in Flemington Borough
" Regus , the world’s largest provider of flexible workspaces, has opened its first location in Flemington, NJ. Located in the former Spice Factory building, Regus’ expansion in New Jersey comes as businesses of all sizes are increasingly interested in co-working workspaces ."

Clinton Launches First EDC
The town’s newly established Economic Development Committee held a launch party in June and discussed with the public plans to keep Clinton’s business community thriving. Through this initiative, Clinton joins a growing movement in Hunterdon (joining communities such as High Bridge, Frenchtown, and Flemington) where towns are establishing new entities that focus on sustainable development while better partnering with the County’s efforts to do the same.  Hunterdon continues, in an ever-more coordinated fashion, to be open for business. For more info on Clinton’s EDC, contact Riley Karsh at [email protected]  or Sherry Dineen at [email protected]
   
ArtYard to invest $10M on Frenchtown Expansion
Work on ArtYard’s new $10 million theater and gallery in downtown Frenchtown will begin in late November.  Click below to learn more about how ArtYard continues to enrich the cultural scene in Hunterdon County.

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