SUPPORT FOR THE TUNNEL POURS IN
Strong words of support for construction of the Trans Hudson Expressway Tunnel (THE Tunnel) project were voiced from more than a dozen community groups at a pair of public hearings yesterday. Jerry Keenan, the Executive Vice President of the New Jersey Alliance for Action testified in Newark that construction of THE Tunnel would create 6,000 new construction jobs, 44,000 permanent jobs, and reduce congestion and pollution by removing 35,000 auto trips off our roads. Construction of the Trans Hudson Expressway project (THE Tunnel) continues to have strong momentum and has advanced into preliminary engineering. Another hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be held today (Wednesday) in North Bergen. For more details go to www.accesstotheregionscore.com.

PHARMACEUTICAL/MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS WILL CREATE NEW JOBS AND REVENUES
The planned two-year investment of $4.6 billion in capital construction projects by New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and medical technology industry will generate approximately 45,000 jobs, according to Carl Van Horn, Director of the John J. Heldrich Institute for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

Van Horn spoke at a conference on New Jersey’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Construction Program co-sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey attended by approximately 250 persons.

In addition to jobs, Van Horn estimated that the planned construction projects would result in over $100 million to state and local governments.

Details of planned projects were reported by representatives of pharmaceutical/medical technology companies located in New Jersey:
-Russell Lanzafame, Director of Corporate and Facilities Services for Bayer Phama US, said his firm will build a two level office facility in Wayne for more than 300 employees at a cost of $22 million.
-Patrick Lobdell, Director of Architecture, Engineering & Space Solutions for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, described comprehensive expansion and renovation plans for Novartis’ East Hanover North American Headquarters. Novartis intends to invest $130 million at the East Hanover site.
-Stephen McGill, Associate Director of Government Relations for Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals in North Brunswick, informed the audience that 60% of all biotechnology products are developed on the East Coast of the United States, with 25% of that total in New Jersey.

Angie McGuire, Deputy Director of Governor Corzine’s Office of Economic Growth, declared that public and private partnerships are critical to New Jersey’s economic future and that her Office stands ready to be an active participant.

A panel of business, labor and academic representatives stressed the importance of the pharmaceutical/medical technology projects to their respective members and constituencies. In addition to Van Horn, the panelists included Kevin O’Sullivan, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council; Ridgely Hutchinson, Business Representative of Local 781 of the Carpenters Union; Tom Manning, President of the New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades, and Robert Armistead, Vice President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and former President of its New Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association.

SMALL BUSINESSES AWARDED $22 MILLION FOR TURNPIKE WIDENING
The first contracts for design of the widening of the New Jersey Turnpike between Interchanges 6 and 9 totaling more than $22 million have been awarded. Turnpike Authority Executive Director Michael Lapolla said the awards to Medina Consulting of Hackettstown and Arora & Associates of Lawrenceville are part of the Turnpike’s small business enterprise set-aside program.

Medina’s contract of $11.35 million and Arora’s contract of $10.95 million are for design of two of the eight sections of the 20-mile widening project. That project will add a sixth lane between Interchange 9 in East Brunswick and 8A in Monroe Township and three lanes in each direction from 8A to Interchange 6, with construction to begin in 2009.

EXPANDED MERCER COURTHOUSE PLANS PRESENTED TO FREEHOLDERS
Plans for a new Mercer County criminal courthouse --- four stories tall and 111,000 square feet --- were presented to the County Freeholder Board by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

The plans respond to objections by Superior Court Assignment Judge Linda R. Feinberg that the original proposal called for only three stories to be expanded later. The revision would cost an additional $20 million on top of the $60 million the freeholders already have approved for the courthouse, which would be on South Warren Street. The Freeholders must decide whether to allow the revised project to move forward.

SMARTLINK PATH CARDS ON THE WAY THIS SUMMER
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the long-awaited PATH SmartLink card is scheduled to be unveiled this summer. Resembling credit cards and embedded with a microchip, SmartLink cards operate by touching a circular target on turnstiles and vending machines.

PATH turnstiles have been outfitted to handle the technology since October 2005 and a small-scale pilot test has been undertaken. The next step is to distribute cards to about 4,500 seniors registered in PATH’s reduced fare program for a phased roll-out.

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB TO RELOCATE PRODUCTION FROM CANADA TO NEW BURNSWICK
Bristol-Myers Squibb will close its plant in Candiac, Canada, and relocate production to New Brunswick of placebos and drugs for clinical trials.

The company is consolidating its operations from the Candiac plant, which represented 75 percent of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Canadian operations. Some positions in New Brunswick will be offered to the 115 staffers affected by the move.

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY OPENS OFF-CAMPUS SITE
New Jersey City University is offering graduate business courses at a new off-campus site on the Jersey City waterfront in the Haborside Financial Center, 286 Washington Street.

The courses will satisfy requirements for the Master’s Degree in Finance. They will concentrate in three specializations --- professional financial planning, financial analysis and portfolio management and financial management.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
TRANSPORTATION, COUNTY AND LOCAL ISSUES TO FEATURE BURLINGTON ALLIANCE MEETING
The Burlington County Alliance for Action will meet on Friday, March 20, for presentations on transportation, the county and the community of Mount Laurel.

Some 100 business, labor and government leaders are expected to attend the meeting at Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel, Mount Laurel. Registration and networking will begin at 8:15 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m.

The speakers will be:
-Dr. Mark Stout, PhD., Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation on the DOT’s program for Fiscal Year 2008.
-Mark Remsa, Director of Economic Development and Regional Planning, for “Reflections on Burlington County.”
-Councilman and former Mayor Peter R. McCaffrey of Mount Laurel Township for “Spotlight on Mount Laurel.”

Co-chairs of the Burlington Alliance are Freeholder Aubrey A. Fenton and Richard A. Alaimo, President of Alaimo Group Engineers. To register Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Diane Legreide has been appointed by Governor Corzine as Director of Atlantic City projects in the State Office of Economic Growth. Legreide has served on the Casino Control Commission, as Chief of Management and Operations for Governors Codey and McGreevey, and Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission. Most recently, she was Executive Director of the State Democratic Committee.
-Timothy Dacey has left his post as Bergen County Administrator to become Vice President of Administration Services at Bergen Community College.
-Sherrie Preische has resigned as Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology. She reportedly will take a position with Genmab, a Danish biotechnology company, at its Princeton domestic headquarters.

SAVE THE DATE
03/30/07 Burlington County Chapter Meeting at the Double Tree Suite Hotel in Mt. Laurel.
04/18/07 South Jersey Dinner at Tavistock Country Club in Tavistock.
04/23/07 Alliance for Action Golf Classic at Deal Country Club in Deal.
04/27/07 Morris County Chapter Meeting at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany.
5/24/07 N.J. Hospital Construction…Building Better Hospitals and Assuring a Healthier New Jersey at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center in Trenton.
To register for any of these events Go Here.

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