Somerset Biz Partnership names award winners, officers and goals

At its annual holiday luncheon, Somerset County Business Partnership lauded four local entities for their impact on economic development, while sharing their efforts to do the same by working closely with county freeholders, an expanding membership, and the Opportunity NJ coalition.

Advance Realty, Edgewood Properties, Rutgers University and Raritan Valley Community College received the Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Vitality Award during the event conducted Monday at The Palace at Somerset Park in the Somerset section of Franklin.

“This award recognizes businesses that are at the forefront of creating jobs and contributing to economic vitality in Somerset County,” said new Partnership Chairwoman Catherine Ricker of Affinity Federal Credit Union in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards.

Advance Realty was recognized for the significant economic contribution that its multi- Bridgewater-based Center for Excellence has brought to the county. The former Sanofi campus is being reimagined with a combination of residential, hospitality and a state-of-the-art campus for established and emerging biotech companies.

Edgewood Properties’ award came for helping Somerville to grow into burgeoning a destination town with several developments, particularly The Edge, a mix of residential, retail, and dining.

Rutgers University was credited for working with the partnership in providing members access to valuable technological research, new entrants and interns.

Raritan Valley Community received a nod for creating a Workforce Training Center, a $11.5 million state-of-the-art facility that houses its career training programs under one roof.

“We have an entire team led by Dr. Chris Malloy at Rutgers University,” said Immediate Past Chairman Ed Seliga of Advance Solar Products in Flemington. “Rutgers is open for business. Our hometown team, Raritan Valley Community College, is the basis for a lot of the workforce training we are involved in.”

Seliga said he expects the Partnership to continue to grow, continue to work with the county freeholders on implementing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and support Opportunity NJ, as well as continue to promote tourism, sustainability and wellness.

Opportunity NJ aims to make the state more affordable and business-friendly through four major initiatives: tax reform and economic development, infrastructure improvement, workforce development and jobs, and regulatory and policy-making reform.

The county’s economic development strategy aims to support historic downtowns, reinvent stranded office complexes, and make the workforce more responsive to employer needs.

“We pride ourselves on being a public-private partnership, and that has been very effective for us,” Seliga said. “I appreciate the level of commitment that brings freeholders to our meetings at 8 o’clock in the morning to participate directly. It really is a close coordination that is unlike any other county in the state.

“While we support what’s happening in Somerset County, we can’t do that in isolation,” he added. “We know our elected officials depend on support to do the right things for us in that role. Opportunity NJ represents that support.”

Seliga announced the 2018 slate of Partnership officers, who, in addition to Ricker, are Vice Chairman Edward Dolan of EPIC Results in Somerville, Treasurer Joe Costello of Royal Alliance Associates in West Orange, Secretary Tom Elliott of Pfizer in Bridgewater.

State Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th), outgoing Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16th), his successor, Roy Frieman, and the entire Board of Somerset County Freeholders were among the many dignitaries in attendance.

Upcoming events for the partnership include:

• ELC Holiday Lunch honoring retiring Freeholder Director Peter Palmer, Dec. 29, Verve Bistro, Bar & Lounge, Somerville
• “Maximizing Your Membership,” Jan. 10, Partnership office, Bridgewater
• Business Builders Breakfast: “The Buying Patterns of Your Customers,” Jan. 12, Hampton Inn & Suites, Bridgewater
• Salute to Tourism Awards, Jan. 19, Bernards Inn, Bernardsville
• Cupid’s Chase Young Professionals 5K, Feb. 10, Duke Island Park, Bridgewater
• Networking Night, Feb. 15, Bridgewater Marriott.