NJIT PART OF NATIONAL EFFORT TO SAVE ENERGY IN HOUSING
New Jersey Institute of Technology has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to help lead a team seeking to improve energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock.

NJIT will pair with Building Media, Inc., a DuPont subsidiary in Wilmington, DE, to form the Building American Retrofit Alliance.  It will be one of 15 teams nationally that will share $30 million from the Energy Department over 18 months to devise strategies and technologies to reduce residential energy consumption.

Dean Evans, Executive Director of NJIT's Center for Building Knowledge, will lead the project for NJIT.  His center has been working for the past five years on energy-effective ways to reduce carbon pollution and save money on energy bills, while creating new jobs.

GOVERNOR SIGNS OFFSHORE WIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT
Gov.  Chris Christie on Thursday signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, directing the Board of Public Utilities to establish an offshore-wind renewable-energy certificate program. The legislation is pitched as a way for the state to meet an energy master plan mandate to generate 3,000 megawatts of power from offshore wind by 2020. The state Economic Development Authority will provide up to $100 million in tax credits to support qualifying offshore wind projects, as well as related equipment makers and assemblers.

“We have a lot more we can be doing,” he said. “This is an important step” to protecting the environment, growing the economy and creating more jobs in the state.

The legislation is expected to encourage the development of manufacturing of turbines and rotors in New Jersey for use in offshore wind power.

TRENTON-MERCER AIRPORT TO GET $3.15 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT
The Federal Department of Transportation has awarded Trenton-Mercer Airport a $3.15 million grant to continue rehabilitation of three of its taxiways.  The first phase of the work on three taxiways --- A, C and J --- has been underway for several years, with 95 percent of the $5 million cost federally funded.

The second phase will include repair of pavement cracks, reconstruction of deteriorating portions of the taxiways, milling, repaving of other portions and removal of excessive pavement.  The project is designed to maneuver important taxiways more safely and will include replacement of an obsolete taxiway lighting system.

Rep. Rush Holt, who announced the grant, said:  "Funding for the airport is a wise investment that will lead to economic growth."

CHRISTIE SIGNS LEGISLATION FOR ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION OF FORT MONMOUTH
Governor Chris Christie signed legislation to create the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority to redevelop the 1,127 acres of real estate at Fort Monmouth following closure of the base.  The focus will be on technology-based industries.

The new entity will replace the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority, which developed a plan for the Fort's reuse and redevelopment.

Under the law signed by the Governor, the new Authority is given the abilities to undertake redevelopment projects, adopt development and design guidelines and land use regulations to provide the required utilities, streets, roads and infrastructure to implement the plans.  The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will staff the new Authority.  The EDA also can serve as the designated redeveloper. (This revitalization was first featured at the July 7, 2006 meeting of the Monmouth County Alliance for Action.)

NJ TRANSIT SEEKS $885 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS
New Jersey Transit is seeking $865 million in new federal funding for infrastructure improvements on the busy Northeast Corridor rail line.  Plans call for upgrading aging bridges, power supply and signal systems between Trenton and New York City.

NJ Transit said that replacement of Amtrak's 100-year-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River will be a critical component of the upgrades.  Amtrak supports the NJ Transit application.

The Portal Bridge is used by more than 300 NJ Transit trains each weekday.  Officials say replacing it and adding a third track would eliminate a major source of delays for rail commuters in New Jersey.  The money would come from the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program. (This project was a featured presentation at the February 27, 2009 Hudson County Alliance for Action Meeting.)

MORRIS COUNTY RAIL LINE TO RECEIVE $5 MILLION OVERHAUL
The Chester Branch, a four-mile 140-year-old rail line in Morris County, is undergoing a $5 million total rehabilitation.  It is the third rail short line owned by Morris County.

The project involves complete removal of rotted ties and obsolete tracks and installation of a stone ballast drainage bed.  One of the businesses which relies on the rail line, Holland Manufacturing said it could not remain competitive without the rail line to bring in commodities used to make its products.  The company, which dates back to 1958, has 90 employees.

Morris County Freeholder Director Gene Feyl stated:  "Since one rail car is approximately equivalent to four tractor trailers, efficient use of this rail line has potential to reduce truck traffic along major highways."

The other two rail lines owned by Morris County are former Conrail short lines, the High Bridge Branch and the Dover and Rockaway Railway.  All three are operated by the Morristown & Erie Railway under management agreements with the county.

FORMER ORGANON BUILDING REDEVELOPED INTO MEDICAL CENTER
The former Organon USA research and development building in West Orange has been redeveloped into a Class A medical center by The Hampshire Companies and Paragon Realty.

The 130,000-square-foot building occupies 11 acres a half mile from I-280 an Prospect Avenue.  It is named Mount Pleasant Medical.

NORTH BRUNSWICK TRANSIT VILLAGE RECEIVED PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
North Brunswick's proposed transit village project received a 20-year General Development Plan and preliminary approval from the North Brunswick Planning Board. The 212-acre project has been named "MainStreetNB."

Phase I would consist of 300 residential units and over 500,000 square-feet of mixed commercial space. After the proposed NJ Transit train station is built, the approval allows for a total of 1,875 residential units, 870,000 square-feet of retail stores, 375 hotel rooms and 195,000 square-feet of office space.

VETERANS CHAPEL TO BE CONSIDERED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Officials are considering a plan to build a Veterans chapel at the Cumberland County Veteran's cemetery at a price of just over a half million dollars. The plan would allow the Cumberland County Freeholders the ability to add an office and conference room to the 3,000 square foot chapel at a later date.

ATLANTIC ALLIANCE TO HEAR REPORTS ON THE FUTURES OF ATLANTIC CITY AND AVIATION PARK
Reports on the future of Atlantic City, the complex known as "The Walk" and the Aviation Research & Technology Park will highlight a meeting of the Atlantic County Alliance for Action on Friday, September 17.  The meeting at the Ram's Head Inn, Galloway, will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m.

The speakers will be:

• Mark Juliano, President of the Casino Association of New Jersey and CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, and Assemblyman John F. Amodeo of the 2nd District.  They will give an "Insiders' View of Atlantic City's Future."
• Kim Butler, General Manager-Atlantic City outlets on Phases 3 and 4 of expansion of "The Walk -- an Atlantic City Success Story."
• Dr. Herman J. Saatkamp, Ph.D., President of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aviation and Technology Park, on "The Future is Now for the Aviation Park."

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and Robert J. "Skip" Boyce, Assistant Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters, are Co-Chairs of the Atlantic Alliance.

UPCOMING EVENTS
9/17/10 - Atlantic County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here

10/1/10 - Somerset County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here

10/13/10 - 36th Annual Eagle Awards Dinner to register, Go Here

10/22/10 - Mercer County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here

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