COAH FEE MORATORIUM SIGNED INTO LAW
Acting Governor Kim Guadagno signed legislation to provide relief from the Council of Affordable Housing (COAH) 2.5 percent non-residential impact fee which was reimposed in July 2010. Labor and commercial developers charge that the tax has stifled economic development and has killed job creation.

The new law places a two-year moratorium on the fee retroactively to July 2010. Projects that currently have, or in the future, receive preliminary or final site plan approval will be exempt from the fee if building permits are obtained by December 31, 2015. Developers and contractors who have already paid the fee over the last year will have 120 days to claim a refund.

STATE AWARDS $14 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS
Ninety-five grants totaling $14.65 million for infrastructure projects were announced by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. She declared that sustained private sector growth is reason to be optimistic, and added “That means infrastructure.”

The grants will go to municipalities, counties, and general aviation airports for infrastructure improvements and safety projects, Guadagno reported.

The announcements were made by Guadagno at the Park Avenue Bridge of South Plainfield, which will receive $3.5 million this year. She was accompanied by State Transportation Commissioner James Simpson.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR CHRISTIE
Governor Christie signed into law bills to enhance water quality and create infrastructure project opportunities throughout the state. The laws will provide $650 million in financing through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.

The Trust is an independent state financing authority that provides loans to governments and private entities for drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities and stormwater-runoff and pollution management projects.

ALLIANCE PRESIDENT FEATURED ON NJTV’S NJ BOARD ROOM
Watch the premier episode of “NJ Boardroom” a new half-hour series featuring NJ business and association leaders including:

• Philip K. Beachem, President, New Jersey Alliance for Action
• Dennis Bone, President, Verizon New Jersey
• Philip Kirchner, President, New Jersey Business and Industry
• Dean Paranicas, President & CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
• Hosted by Tom Bracken, President & CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES TO RECEIVE $10 MILLION
Legislation was signed by Governor Christie to provide $10 million in grants for dozens of New Jersey’s historic sites to develop education programs and minor construction improvements.

“Preserving these cultural and historic sites is critical to ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to learn about New Jersey’s place in history,” Christie asserted.

The funds will be administered through the New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the State Department of Community Affairs.

FERRY PROJECTS TO GET BULK OF STATE TRANSPORTATION GRANTS
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced grants totaling more than $4.5 million for New Jersey, with about three-quarters earmarked for ferry projects. The announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and New Jersey U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez.

The largest award was $2.54 million for replacement of the bulkhead retaining well at Bayshore Ferry terminal in Middletown. Other major ferry-related grants were $475,000 to design and build a ferry facility with boat service for Elizabeth and $300,000 for improvements to the Long Branch Pier and Ferry Terminal.

The remainder of grants were awarded through the Federal Highway Administration after a competitive process, led by $847,860 to improve intersections to help redevelop Bloomfield’s central business district.

HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS OF $158 MILLION COMING TO NEW JERSEY
Transportation agencies and urban areas in New Jersey will receive $158 million in federal homeland security grants. U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg announced that the grant money was set aside from the Department of Homeland Security’s 2011 budget.

The biggest part of New Jersey’s allocation will go for transit security. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the PATH system, will get $28.6 million. NJ Transit will receive $16.4 million to protect its trains and buses and the Delaware River Port Authority’s amount is $6.7 million.

Another $42 million will be for port security to help agencies and municipalities in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security plans and $37 million will assist Newark and Jersey City.

ALLIANCE FOR ACTION TO SALUTE NJ COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITIES
Join the members of the New Jersey Alliance for Action as they salute the work of New Jersey’s County Improvement Authorities.

In recognition of their work the New Jersey Alliance for Action will be presenting special recognition awards to each of New Jersey’s 16 County Improvement Authorities. The breakfast will be held on Tuesday, September 27 with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ. Click here to register, http://www.allianceforaction.com/sep2711reg.htm.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ON AGENDA FOR ATLANTIC COUNTY ALLIANCE
Presentations on renewable energy and environmental services will highlight a meeting of the Atlantic County Alliance for Action on Friday, September 9. The meeting at the Ram’s Head Inn in Galloway will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m.

Speakers will include:

• Richard S. Dovey, President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, on 33 years of environmental service.
• Rhonda Jackson, Director – Communications & Outreach, Fishermen’s Energy of New Jersey, on New Jersey’s off-shore wind farm, first in the nation.
• Robert M. Revelle, Vice President, Atlantic City Electric Region, on Solar Interconnection.

COLLEGE PLANS WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR SUPER BOWL AND AMERICAN DREAM MEGAMALL
Preparing for thousands of jobs expected to be generated by the 2014 Super Bowl at the meadowlands and the nearby American Dream Megamall (formerly Xanadu), Bergen Community College is gearing its Lyndhurst campus as a workforce training center.

Ronald A. Milon, Dean of external academic operations, said the College is working with the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce for partnerships to provide customer service and hospitality training.

With a federal training grant for the restaurant and hospitality industries, the College will roll out new training initiatives as 2014 draws closer, likely by June 2012. Milon said the College is expected to train 15,000 to 20,000 people “in all types of industries.”

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

• Stuart M. Lederman, a partner at Riker Danzig, Morristown, was elected President of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
• George Wittman joined Jones Lang LaSalle, Hackensack, as Senior Vice President.
• Richard S. Freeman was named CEO of Hackensack University Medical Center at Pascack Valley.
• Daniel J. O’Connell, United Transportation Union will receive the Peter F. Smith Labor Leader Award from NJ SEED.

9/27/11 – NJ Alliance for Action Salutes the County Improvement Authorities - Go Here

9/30/11 - Somerset County Chapter Meeting - Go Here  

10/12/11 - Eagle Awards Dinner - Go Here

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