PHARMACEUTICAL/MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY HAS $26.5 BILLION IMPACT
New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and medical technology industry produced an economic impact of $26.5 billion for New Jersey’s economy in 2006, according to a study released by the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.

Highlights of the survey of 25 Institute member companies are:
-The industry created 148,768 jobs with an average base salary of $97,501 and payroll impacts of $7.6 billion.
- Research and development investments of $7.5 billion and capital construction spending of $1.9 billion.
- Sales and income tax revenues in New Jersey of $671.4 million and charitable contributions in the state of $264 million.

NEWARK WANTS TO REDEVELOP AREAS AROUND THE AIRPORT AND SEAPORT
Newark City officials want to redevelop 182 acres of industrial property around Port Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport. They assert that most of the properties along Doremus and Frelinghuysen Avenues are not being used to the fullest.

Stefan Pryor, Newark’s Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, calls the area a “gold mine.” However, the plan faces opposition from property owners who insist their businesses are doing fine.

The challenge is finding new investors and developers wiling to redevelop the land, and at least six firms have expressed interest says Henry Mayer, Executive Director of the Rutgers National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfield Redevelopment.

NEWARK CREATES BRICK CITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
In another Newark initiative, Mayor Cory Booker has created a new non-profit called Brick City Development Corporation to attract new businesses to the city. The agency replaces the Newark Economic Development Corporation, which has been closed.

Brick City begins with funding of $14.4 million from Newark’s land trust and proceeds of the sales of city-owned properties.

STATE SENATE BILL COULD CREATE NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY
A bill introduced in the State Senate would abolish the New Jersey School Construction Corp. and reconstitute it as an agency in the State Treasury Department.

The new unit would be called the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. As an independent authority with a larger board of directors the new organization would be empowered to place a 180-day hold on property earmarked for future school projects, delegate construction jobs to qualified school districts and establish a system for ranking future projects as additional state funding becomes available.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Joseph Doria, D-Hudson, said it aims to correct management and operational problems experienced by the School Construction Corporation.

RAIL LINE PLANS FREIGHT CORRIDOR FROM NEWARK TO NEW ORLEANS
Plans for a $2 billion freight rail corridor from New Jersey to Louisiana have been announced by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The 1,400-mile corridor from Newark to New Orleans is intended to speed cargo shipments and reduce highway congestion and vehicle emissions by diverting truck traffic.

The “Crescent Corridor” project would run along Interstate Route 81, a major truck road, and could eliminate about 1 million truck trips a year, according to the railroad. Virginia has committed $40 million in seed money and Norfolk Southern is seeking additional state and federal funding. If funding is in place, the project could begin next year and be completed by 2013.

PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF FORT MONMOUTH
The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority is seeking public input for creating a redevelopment plan to revive the economic stability of the region. Fort Monmouth is scheduled to be closed by September 2011.

The Authority has held public meetings at Monmouth University and the Eatontown and Oceanport Municipal Buildings. The next is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, at the Tinton Falls Municipal Building. To contact the Authority, call (732) 982-8525 or on-line at www.nj.gov/fmerpa.

WINNERS OF ALLIANCE 2007 EAGLE AWARDS ARE ANNOUNCED
The winners of the Alliance for Action’s coveted Eagle Awards for 2007 have been announced and will be awarded at the Alliance’s annual dinner on Wednesday, October 17, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.

The winners are:
-Robert Binder, Chairman of Binder Machinery Company will receive the President’s Award.
-William Stavola, President of Trap Rock Industries will receive the Ellis S. Vieser, Lifetime Achievement Award .
-Tom Manning, President of the New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades and Business Manager of Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local 475 will receive the Sigurd Lucassen Labor Award.
- New Jersey Natural Gas will be presented with the Richard M. Hale Chairman’s Award ---.
- Richard Raczynski, Chief Engineer for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority will receive the Dr. John L. Buzzi Engineering Excellence Award.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
The Camden County Alliance for Action will meet on Friday, June 29, at The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees. Registration is at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9 a.m.

The 4th annual Golf Classic of the Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action will be held on Monday, August 20, at Eagle Oaks Golf Club, Farmingdale. To reserve places, call (732) 225-1180.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Former State Transportation Commissioner Louis Gambaccini has been honored by Governor Corzine by the dedication of the Newark headquarters of NJ Transit in his name.
-Lilo Stainton, Former State House reporter for the Gannett Newspaper Group, has been appointed by Governor Corzine as his new press secretary.
-Rick Mroz, former Chief Counsel to Governor Christie Whitman and current president of Salmon Ventures, was appointed by President Bush to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. Also named by the President to that Commission was former State Senator Leanna Brown.
-Dennis Doyle has been elected as President of Local 269 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

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