News Across the Region  |
Bucks County:CoreStates Capital Advisors, LLC, Announces Alliance with Eagle National BankCoreStates Capital Advisors, LLC, a wealth-management firm headquartered in Newtown, PA, announced today a strategic affiliation with Eagle National Bank. The new affiliation will bring an Eagle branch location to the CoreStates Newtown office complex. With extensive banking and wealth management experience Maryanna Schmidt, Assistant Vice President and Client Relationship Manager for Eagle National Bank, will oversee the Newtown operations and manage the Eagle-CoreStates client relationships. Burlington County:COUNTY SAVES 50 ACRES FROM FUTURE DREDGING Last Month, Burlington County Bridge Commissioners John B. Comegno II, Priscilla B. Anderson, and James E. Fletcher approved a resolution authorizing execution of the amendment to the “Management Rights Agreement” for Palmyra Cove Nature Park that saves 50 acres from disposal of dredge materials. The finalized agreement between the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Tidelands Resource Council and Bridge Commission reflects modifications to the original 1998 agreement, which authorized the use of up to 70 of the park’s 250 acres as a dredge deposit site. “Cementing this commitment is crucial to Palmyra Cove’s future as an outdoor environmental classroom,” Clara Ruvolo, park Executive Director said. “And extending the term of the original agreement extends the life of the park as well,” added Ruvolo, referring to the amendment to the Management Rights Agreement which restarts the 30-year term of the original agreement, effectively extending the new agreement to 2038. The amendment to the agreement needs the approval of the Burlington County Freeholders, memorializes promises made in August 2007 by NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson, to limit the disposal of dredge materials to an existing 20-acre cell in the Nature Park. That was followed by unanimous approval by the Tidelands Resource Council last December. Camden County:Black Horse Pike Economic Development Project HOLDS Visioning WorkshopsThe Camden County Improvement Authority is looking for community input and ideas for improving the corridor across the eight municipalities including: Audubon Borough, Audubon Park Borough, Bellmawr Borough, Brooklawn Borough, Haddon Heights Borough, Haddon Township, Mount Ephraim Borough, and Runnemede Borough. Project consultants are currently drafting the Black Horse Pike Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Broad and diverse participation at the workshops will lead to strategies that are most appropriate and relevant to the needs and interests of the people who live, work, shop, and travel along the Black Horse Pike. This will help ensure long-term success as these strategies are advanced. The
purpose of the workshops is to visualize the feedback and ideas received so far about Saturday, September 27, 2008, 9 a.m. to noon CHESTER County:WORK BEGINS AT 89-ACRE BUSINESS PARKValley View Business Park, Chester County's newest business park, located in Valley and Sadsbury Townships, has begun construction on its first of several speculative flex office/industrial buildings. Developed by All County Partnership, the 89.4 acre master-planned commercial and residential development is located near Coatesville, PA off Business Rt. 30, and just west of the Chester County Airport. Within a Keystone Enterprise Zone, a designated zone in selected parts of Pennsylvania receiving priority treatment in an effort to secure business investment and job creation, Valley View Business Park first kicked off development in May of this year with a 20-acre land sale to Keystone Foods. Keystone Foods, who is set for occupancy in second quarter of 2009, is currently constructing a 160,000 square foot cross-dock distribution facility on the site. Delaware County:Ardmore Company to build $115 million multi-use complex in ChesterT.N. Ward Company has been selected by Keystone Sports and Entertainment, the Major League Soccer (MLS) Philadelphia 2010 ownership group, to build its $115 million multi-use stadium and entertainment complex in Chester. In addition to Major League Soccer and high-profile international games, the stadium will host other sporting events, concerts, festivals and numerous community gatherings. “At the end of a long and rigorous process that included more than 20 companies, we went with the Home Team. There were a number of well-qualified companies but T.N. Ward's proposal rose to the top,” said Nick Sakiewicz , CEO and operating partner of Keystone Sports and Entertainment. “We were impressed by T.N. Ward's credentials and track record of outstanding projects. In choosing T.N. Ward, we not only picked a great builder, but also held true to our commitment of staying local and reinvesting in our community. For them, this is going to be a groundbreaking project in the truest sense of the word.” “We are honored to be selected to construct the stadium that will be home to MLS Philadelphia and host a variety of other events for the community to enjoy,” said Tom Falvey, President, T.N. Ward Company. “This stadium and the even larger development project along the waterfront will bring new life to the City of Chester and create hundreds of valuable construction jobs. We are excited to be a part of this project.” The stadium is part of The Buccini/Pollin Group's $500 million Chester waterfront development project which will include office, retail and residential space, as well as an exposition center. As announced last month, T.N. Ward will be working in coordination with Rossetti Architects, an international design firm, and ICON Venue Group, the owner's representative that will lead the design and construction efforts. Gloucester County:GloUcester completes major bridge replacementThe County of Gloucester has completed a major bridge replacement project at the Route 553 Alternate over Chestnut Branch in Mantua Township. After a total replacement of the bridge, the roadway was opened. "The Main Street Bridge project was taken on to address the deterioration of the bridge which dates back to the early 1900s. The bridge had declined to a point that complete replacement was necessary," said Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney. Sweeney further explained that the new bridge and roadway have several safety components such as wider lanes and shoulders, and better markings. The bridge is located above Chestnut Branch of the Mantua Creek and spans a 20 foot deep ravine. The bridge also crosses over the former site of Tyler's Mill Lake. The ruins of the former dam and mill are located just downstream of the bridge. The bridge reconstruction project did disturb these ruins. The old bridge was a single span concrete arch built in 1915; this has been replaced with a 20 foot precast concrete arch. The new bridge was constructed at approximately the same location with a wider roadway width. The old bridge roadway was approximately 29 feet wide; whereas, the new roadway is 40 feet wide. The widening of the roadway provides, in each direction, a twelve (12) foot wide travel lane and an eight (8) foot wide shoulder. "The entire project has been a major undertaking, and the end result is a benefit to the residents of the township and the county," stated Freeholder Deputy Director Damminger. Damminger also indicated his relief in knowing that the bridge makes for safer travels now. The profile of the roadway remains essentially the same, with minor modifications to bring the vertical curve within current design standards. Roadway safety improvements included such items as new signing, striping, guiderail and parapet fencing. "With the school year starting, this bridge opening couldn't be more welcome. Fortunately, the work was completed on schedule and hopefully local residents and travelers will now find the commute easier and quicker," stated Freeholder Frank J. DiMarco. Due to the nature of the construction activity, the bridge was closed and a detour was in place from January until September 5th. The total cost of the project was 2 million dollars and was funded through State Aid. The contractor is the JPC Group of Blackwood, NJ. A project plaque from the original 1915 bridge construction was preserved and is archived with the County and a new plaque for the current bridge was installed. Mercer County:Mercer County Tennis Facility Earns National EXCELLENCE AwardMercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility has received the 2008 United States Tennis Association Outstanding Facility Award. The award was presented as part of the Technical Committee meeting at the USTA Semi-Annual meeting in New York City on September 1. The facility has had a positive impact on the quality life in the region. The USTA's Outstanding Facility Award Program was established to encourage high standards in tennis facilities and to respond to and recognize those facilities whose efforts make a positive statement about the vitality of the game. Mercer County Park Commission Tennis Facility, located in Mercer County Park in West Windsor, has been in operation since 1981. Since it opened, it has been recognized by the USTA with a myriad of other awards including the USTA's National Facility of the Year in 1981 and 1996, Sectional Member of the Year in 1984, the New Jersey District Club of the Year in 1990, Middle States Organization of the Year in 2005, and it was selected as one of the Top 25 U.S. Municipal Facilities by Tennis Magazine. Montgomery County:CENTRAL MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER TO JOIN ABINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITALAbington Memorial Hospital and Universal Health Services, Inc. announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement that sets the stage for Abington's acquisition of Central Montgomery Medical Center (CMMC) this fall, according to officials. The signing, which was approved by the Abington board at a special meeting on Tuesday, September 2, begins a due diligence and regulatory approval process to transition 125-bed CMMC into the Abington network of providers. CMMC is the only UHS-owned acute care hospital in the Philadelphia area. The growing challenges of operating a stand-alone hospital in today's healthcare environment led Universal to explore new relationships for the hospital to ensure it continues to prosper as part of a larger healthcare community. "Abington has served North Penn area for many years and knows this community well. We are confident Abington will welcome this hospital's leadership, physicians and staff and will continue to provide this community compassionate, excellent care in the years to come," said Marc D. Miller, UHS senior vice president. CMMC's emergency department currently serves more than 20,000 patients annually and the hospital handles over 80,000 outpatient visits each year. NEW CASTLE County:Wilmington Company Receives Tech-Based Seed Fund Loan The Delaware Economic Development Office is pleased to announce that Abacalab, Inc., a technology-based start-up company, was recently awarded a Delaware Technology-based Seed Fund loan in the amount of $50,000. “This company is a welcome addition to our business community, and we appreciate the contributions
Abacalab has made and will continue to make in the First State.” “We are helping scientists more efficiently and accurately use modern electronic recordkeeping tools by filling a critical gap in the laboratory information workflow,” said Abacalab CEO Dr. J. Christopher Phelan. “This funding from DEDO will assist us in reaching and serving a broader group of scientists. In fact, it has already helped us to place a Labacus® unit at Yale University, to reach scientists in Canada and Norway, and to complete Version 2.2 of the Chemistry Labacus® software, that was released on Aug. 15, 2008.” Abacalab was established in 2003 and released its first product, the Chemistry Labacus®, in 2006. The Labacus® is a digital laboratory assistant that provides a modern electronic method for pharmaceutical and agrochemical researchers to perform everyday tasks such as note taking, calculations, looking up reference data and experiment write-ups, all without leaving the lab. The Labacus® has been purchased by large pharmaceutical and chemical companies and several academic institutions. “It is a pleasure to work with Dr. Phelan and the staff at Abacalab,” said Judy McKinney-Cherry, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. “This innovative company is a welcome addition to our Chemistry and Advanced Materials Cluster and the Delaware Emerging Technology Center. Their product, the Labacus, is unique to the industry and will definitely help scientists in their respective laboratories. We are excited with the prospects of Abacalab growing their business in Delaware.” <Back to main page> SALEM COUNTY:SALEM OFFICALS CONVENE TO DISCUSS BRANDING THE COUNTY The County Tourism Advisory Council held a meeting to discuss branding the County through a logo and slogan and the timetable for rolling out to the public. “Our goal is to enact a thoughtful and well-timed plan of action that focuses on a holistic approach to tourism,” said Freeholder Timberman. “I am very pleased with the foresight and proactive stance that the Council has taken early on. We are looking to roll out the County slogan and logo by mid-fall so that we can launch the campaign in January.” The purpose of the Tourism Advisory Council is to work with business, industry, municipalities, and other groups interested in encouraging the growth of tourism in Salem County. The logo and slogan will focus on branding the County, not just in terms of tourism, but for other sectors as well, including economic development. Ideas should be submitted to tourism@salemcountynj.gov. “Although we will not be able to respond to the suggestions, we encourage and welcome the public’s ideas. Our objective is to launch a first-rate tourism campaign that showcases our attributes, brings additional revenue to Salem County, and preserves our quality of life,” Duffy concluded. <Back to main page> |
