PORT AUTHORITY TO INVEST $2 BILLION IN US PORTS
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced that it will invest $2 billion in seaport investments over the next decade to meet the demands of the continuing growth of cargo. The record growth is attributed to trade with the Far East, Southeast Asia and Northern Europe.

Cargo volumes in 2006 increased nearly 8 percent, while the dollar value of all cargo moving through the port rose by 13 percent to a new record of more than $149 billion.

The planned upgrades over the next 10 years will include improving off-port roads and railways, as well as the 50-foot harbor deepening project and improvements to the “ExpressRail,” the Port Authority’s rail terminal network in New Jersey. ExpressRail will handle 1.8 million shipping containers per year by 2011.

MAHER TERMINALS IS BEING ACQUIRED BY GERMAN BANK
In other port news, Maher Terminals, which handles the bulk of the region’s cargo, will be acquired by a real estate investment subsidiary of the giant German-owned Deutche Bank.

Maher Terminals, Inc., headquartered in Berkeley Heights, was founded in 1946 and is the nation’s last family-owned marine terminal operator. As the largest terminal operator at the Port of New York and New Jersey, Maher handled more than 1.2 million containers in 2006.

JACOBS ENGINEERING SET TO ACQUIRE EDWARDS AND KELCEY
Edwards and Kelcey has signed a letter of intent to be acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., a firm headquartered in Pasadena, California, with over 45,000 employees and revenue of nearly $8 billion.

Headquartered in Morristown, Edwards and Kelcey provides engineering, design, planning and construction management services to public and private clients. The firm has 1,000 employees and 25 regional offices.

NJIT ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL TO HOLD A DESIGN SHOWCASE
The New Jersey School of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology will hold Design Showcase 2007 on April 19 at the School. The showcase is a networking event, recruitment fair and exhibition for real estate and architecture professionals.

Approximately 300 working architects and students are expected to attend the half-day event, which will feature a presentation on smart-growth design and a digital
3-D presentation of a 30,000 square-foot house.

PINNACLE ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR $1.5 BILLION HOTEL-CASINO
Pinnacle-Atlantic City has announced plans to build a $1.5 billion casino-hotel on the site of the old Sands Casino in Atlantic City. The new building will feature a 7,000-seat showroom, a retail complex of up to 500,000 square feet and a vast spa.

Las Vegas-based Pinnacle plans to implode the 27-year-old Sands this fall and replace it by 2012 with the hotel-casino that will be twice the size. Construction is expected to begin next year on the 18-acre property adjacent to the boardwalk that Pinnacle acquired last year from financier Carl Ichan. The new hotel-casino is expected to provide as many as 2,000 hotel rooms and provide jobs for about 5,000 employees.

JOE BALZANO AND GEORGE HAND TO BE HONORED AT APRIL 18TH SOUTH JERSEY DINNER
Two of South Jersey’s most prominent leaders will be honored at the Alliance’s South Jersey Dinner on Wednesday, April 18 at Tavistock Country Club.

Joseph Balzano, Executive Director and CEO of the South Jersey Port Corporation, will receive the Walter Rand Award for Public Service in recognition for his contributions to the South Jersey port industry.

George Hand, President of Oldcastle’s Eastern Pipe Group, will be inducted into the Alliance for Action Hall of Fame. Mr. Hand is being recognized for contributions to New Jersey’s construction industry and economy.
To register Go Here.

BURLINGTON COUNTY AND MOUNT LAUREL’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO BE UNVEILED
The Burlington County Alliance for Action will meet this Friday, March 30th, 8:15 a.m. at the Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel in Mount Laurel. Former Mt. Laurel Mayor, Peter R. McCaffrey and Mark Remsa, Burlington County Director of Economic Development and Regional Planning will unveil plans for millions of dollars of public infrastructure investment also speaking at the meeting will be Dr. Mark Stout, NJDOT Assistant Commissioner.
To register Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-George Warrington, Executive Director of NJ Transit, Jamie Fox, Deputy Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ and Eric Shuffler former Policy Advisor to the Governor announced plans to form their own consulting firm.
-Kenneth J. Parker, President of Atlantic City Electric and Alliance for Action Board Member, has been nominated by Governor Corzine as a member of the State Board of Education.
-Susan L. Hayes has been named as a member of the New Jersey Transit Corporation Board.

SAVE THE DATE
04/23/07 Alliance for Action Golf Classic at Deal Country Club in Deal. To register Go Here.

04/27/07 Morris County Chapter Meeting at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. To register Go Here.

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 Go Here.

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