Gloucester Township | Economic Development

Economic Development News

TOWNSHIP ANNOUNCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW $7 MILLION REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX

(Gloucester Township, NJ) Mayor David Mayer is today announcing the development of a new $7 Million private sports complex to be constructed at the Nike Redevelopment Site located on Williamstown-Chews Landing Road near Cross Keys Road in the southern area of the township. The project will include the construction of four AstroTurf© fields with lights, a clubhouse, grandstands, parking and all other amenities which will make this complex one of the finest venues in the nation to host local and national amateur baseball tournaments.

Gloucester Township Sports Complex Urban Renewal Partners, LP, a private firm controlled by Joe Barth, “The Hit Doctor”, will be purchasing the 27-acre site from the Township and will finance the construction of the project privately. The Hit Doctor has signed an agreement with Ripken Design for design and construction management assistance on the project and is working with Ripken Baseball on ways to bring Ripken tournament programming to the site. Ripken Baseball and Ripken Design are businesses owned by National Baseball Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken, Jr. and his brother, 12-year Major League Baseball veteran, Bill Ripken.

Mayor Dave Mayer stated that “this project is a homerun for Gloucester Township in many ways. The new baseball complex, which can accommodate all levels of baseball, softball, football, soccer and other sports, will bring major regional tournaments to the township. The teams traveling to Gloucester Township
from throughout the country will shop and dine in our
local stores and restaurants, generating additional
jobs and revenue for
township businesses.”

The Mayor added, “The project will also provide a significant financial boost to the Township’s budget through the purchase of this Township-owned parcel. In addition, the annual private tax payments from the project will help the Township keep our taxes down.” The current site has not paid taxes to the Township since the property was purchased by the US Government in the 1950s to be operated as a Nike missile radar site. The Township purchased the land from the federal government and has been marketing it to private developers. The project also includes a hotel and restaurant as a second phase of the project, which will create additional jobs and ratables for the Township. The Township is also seeking a major entertainment complex, which will include a movie theatre, at the 19-acre Nike missile launch site located on Cross Keys Road, which the Township also purchased from the federal government for private redevelopment. “I envision these complexes working in tandem to create a unique experience in Gloucester Township, while creating new jobs for local residents and tax ratable for the Township” said Mayor Mayer.

“This state-of-the-art baseball complex will become the hotbed for baseball on the East Coast” said Joe Barth, who will own and direct operations of the facility. “I want to make South Jersey one of the nation’s top recruiting grounds for college and professional teams. We will be sharing our success financially with local teams thereby helping them travel to other tournaments and defray their expenses. As the host of numerous state and national tournaments, we will be bringing tremendous economic activity to Gloucester Township. We have enjoyed working relationship with Mayor David Mayer, Township Council and the Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation in turning my lifelong dream into a reality. We plan to host our first tournament in June of this year.”

Courier-Post Article "Planned sports complex inspires grand visions"

Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation Business Breakfast

The 10th Annual Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation, Inc. (GTEDC) breakfast was held on March 11, 2010 at 8:30am at the Palace Catering Hall, 109 North Black Horse Pike, Blackwood West. This year’s breakfast was recognized as the most successful ever held.

The following businesses sponsored this year’s Economic Development Breakfast event.
Newman Development Group, Camden County College, Stanker & Galetto, Aqua New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric, Bach Associates, Beneficial Bank, Bryn Mawr Investments, Camden County Improvement Authority, Camden County Workforce Investment Board, Consulting Engineer Services, Gloucester Township Chamber of Commerce, Matteo Equities, and TD Bank.

The Mayor welcomed the business owners and other attendees and informed them of the exciting Economic Development activities within Gloucester Township.
“We are moving forward with Discussion of the new Branding Effort of the Township. This program is designed to get the word out on the Township as an attractive place to bring and/or expand your business.”

The Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation, Inc. is focusing on the following key areas in our Economic Development efforts:

Downtown Blackwood, Blackwood-Clementon Road, College Drive/Route 42 Area, The Cross Keys Road Area, Nike Base development Area, Downtown Blackwood Façade Program Announcement, Down Town Blackwood Streetscape Improvements, Creation of new shopper parking lots, Approval of New Age Targeted housing, Supplement the Farmer’s Market and the Pumpkin Festival, Cooper Medical Center and Camden County Lakeland Complex, New Park and Ride Station, Road Widening of Cross Keys at Atlantic City Expressway, Continued fitting-out and leasing of Shoppes @ Cross Keys, New Restaurants at Shoppes @ Cross Keys, New Texas Road House at Shoppes @ Cross Keys, Nike Missile Base Redevelopment, and New Flow Diagrams for Township construction approval Processes.

The following recognition awards were presented:

2009 Small Business Award
presented by Jim Forte, Vice President GTEDC to:
Techniques Salon & Spa

2009 Mayor’s Award for Economic Development
presented by David Mayer, Mayor of Gloucester Township to:
The County of Camden for College Drive & the Route 42 Interchange

2009 Economic Development Award
presented by Glen Bianchini, Gloucester Township Council President to:
Camden County College

Special Economic Development Award
presented by Glen Bianchini, Gloucester Township Council President to:
Blackwood West Development Corp., for the Farmers Market

Former New Jersey Governor James J. Florio (1990 - 94) was the keynote guest Speaker. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of New Jersey from 1974 through 1990. He authored the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act known as the SUPERFUND Law for cleaning up hazardous waste sites.
As Governor he was responsible for signing into law the Clean Air Act (1990). It was one of the strongest laws of its type in the Nation. While Governor, Governor Florio served on the United States Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board.
Governor Florio addressed the attendees on “The Green Economy & Economic Development.”

A major part of Governor Florio’s speech emphasized the fact that the business climate of today is one that is rapidly changing. Any business owner not aware of the new business environment, and choosing to ignore these changes most likely will NOT be around long…

This event is held the second week in March every year. Check the website in January 2011 for information on next years Gloucester Township’s Economic Development Business Breakfast.

Contact Phil Rowan

856-985-5008 ( econdevelopment.net )