Mayor Chris Bollwage w w w. e l i z a b e t h n j . o r g facebook.com/cityofelizabethnjcityhall t w i t t e r. c o m / E x p l o r e E l i z N J w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / u s e r / C i t y o f E l i z a b e t h
MAYOR’S LETTER
CHAMBER LETTER
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF ELIZABETH
WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY
elcome to Elizabeth, New Jersey, a city with a proud history dating back to the founding of our country, with an even more exciting future! I am once again pleased to present to you this Elizabeth, New Jersey, Community Profile, which highlights Elizabeth’s revitalized neighborhoods and renovated business districts that have made us the most prosperous major city in New Jersey.
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Elizabeth is New Jersey’s fourth-largest municipality and is located only minutes from Manhattan. As a true regional transportation hub for the East Coast, Elizabeth is accessible by land, sea, rail and air. Our city also contains Terminal A of Newark Liberty International Airport and enjoys a unique proximity to major highways such as the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and Routes 1 & 9.
Dear Friends, The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce (GECC) is proud to present the 2013–2014 Elizabeth, New Jersey, Community Profile. In it you can read about the city of Elizabeth and all the exciting things going on in New Jersey’s fourth-largest city. Since our founding in 1997, the GECC continues to impact our city in many positive ways. The GECC continues to promote the city’s revitalization at every level including TV and radio, airline video, newspapers and this publication. We are partnered with Newark in the formation of a joint Convention and Visitor’s Bureau that is playing an important role in the 2014 Super Bowl. We are involved in the planning & implementation of the celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the founding of Elizabeth & the State of New Jersey. For the latest information on our CVB activities go to www.goelizabethnj.com
Our 2,463-acre Port Elizabeth/Newark marine terminal is the world’s largest containership port and the largest Foreign Trade Zone in the U.S. This powerful transportation network also includes two NJ Transit stations with connections to New York City in 30 minutes. Our city also received the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Transit Village designation, which has complemented and contributed to the renewal of our historic Midtown area. Elizabeth boasts the area’s most exciting retail and entertainment opportunities, including New Jersey Turnpike Exit 13A, which has brought countless visitors and shoppers. At Exit 13A, you’ll find The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens, the state’s largest outlet mall, a state-of-the-art 20-screen AMC movie theater, great restaurants and terrific hotels. With an array of activities and amenities at your fingertips, you can shop, play and even stay at Exit 13A. The Outlet Collection - Jersey Gardens is also home to our award-winning Retail Skills Training Center, which has provided training to numerous residents. The nearby Elizabeth Center at 13A is home to the nation’s topperforming IKEA store and the largest Toys-R-Us Kidsworld. Furthermore, several new hotels are flourishing in this area, with more than 2,000 additional rooms. Our award-winning Urban Enterprise Zone program, which offers reduced sales tax, has been a key partner in transforming our neighborhoods and business districts, as well as acting as a catalyst for economic development. Increasing marketability and solidifying our municipality as a premier place to live, work and raise a family, our exciting initiatives have laid the foreground for attracting new businesses and state-of-the-art industries to our city. I invite you to go out and spend some time in our city. Find out why we are great. Visit our parks. Shop our business districts. Sample our wide variety of foods. Visit our numerous historic sites. Meet our people and sample the diversity of our great city. We welcome you and invite you to learn more about why your success starts here in Elizabeth! Sincerely, J. Christian Bollwage Mayor
The city of Elizabeth continues its remarkable renaissance with plans for more new housing, increased employment opportunities, an expanded airport and seaport, many new businesses, world-class office space, great new roadways and bridges and more. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, I can truly say that it is an exciting time to do business here, as well as a remarkable time to live here. If you are thinking of moving here or doing business here, now is the time. For more information, we invite you to visit or call the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce at 908-355-7600. Sincerely, Gordon Haas Chief Executive Officer WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM | 1
Demographics MAYOR J. CHRISTIAN BOLLWAGE Highest-elected official .................................................(908) 820-4170 CITY COUNCIL Councilman-at-Large Frank Cuesta Councilman-at-Large Manny Grova, Jr. Councilwoman-at-Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste First Ward Carlos Torres Second Ward Nelson Gonzalez Third Ward Joseph Keenan, Jr. Fourth Ward Carlos Cedeño Fifth Ward William Gallman, Jr. Sixth Ward Frank Mazza City Clerk’s Office ...........................................................908-820-4131 Size .........................................................................11.69 square miles Water area ................................................................1.43 square miles Population...............................................................................124,969 County Seat of Union ..........................Fourth-Largest City in New Jersey Form of Government..............................................Mayor & City Council Equalization Rate .............................................................9.72% - 2008 (Source: City of Elizabeth Tax Assessor) Tax Rate $18.2222 per 100 - 2008 (Source: City of Elizabeth Tax Assessor) Police Department...........................................................................329 Fire Department .............................................................................250 Miles to Manhattan ...........................................................................13 Miles to Philadelphia.........................................................................85 Miles to Atlantic City........................................................................115 UTILITIES TELEPHONE: Verizon .......................................................................1-800-837-4966 AT&T ...........................................................................1 800-222-0300
CONTENTS Mayor’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Chamber Letter . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
This is a Village Profile® Publication created and produced for the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce 456 North Broad Street • Elizabeth, NJ 07208 Phone: (908) 355-7600 • Fax: (908) 436-2054 Website: www.elizabethchamber.com Email: gecc@juno.com Copyright© 2013 VillageProfile.com, inc.® 33 N. Geneva St., Elgin, IL 60120 • 800-600-0134 www.villageprofile.com® Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and VillageProfile.com® assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and VillageProfile.com® is prohibited.
GAS: AGL Elizabethtown Gas ................................................1-800-492-4009 ELECTRIC: PSE&G ........................................................................1-800-436-7734 CABLE: Optimum of Elizabeth .....................................................908-353-0404 WATER: Liberty Water Company ...............................................1-800-652-6987 GARBAGE COLLECTION: Curbside Pickup Twice Weekly Visit www.elizabethnj.org for schedule
CEO/President Daniel M. Nugara
RECYCLING: Regional Industries 908-436-1966 HOSPITAL Trinitas Regional Medical Center 908-994-5000 MEDIA Daily newspaper............................................................The Star-Ledger Others that cover Elizabeth: The New York Times publishes a New Jersey section and NY Major media SPANISH LANGUAGE Bi-Weekly..........................................................La Voz/Vistazo Hispano Weekly..............................................................................El Especialito Portuguese .....................................................Luso Americano/24Horas TV Major NY Media and local access through Optimum, as well as news specific to Elizabeth every hour called “The Elizabeth Edition” PUBLIC SCHOOLS High School ........................................................................................1 K-8th................................................................................................28 Non-Public Schools ............................................................................16 Local School Enrollment...........................................(K-12) Over 22,000 Average Expense per Pupil .......................................................$16,242
Executive Vice President Joseph C. Nugara, Sr.
History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Director of Business Operations Michael D. Nugara
Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Acquisition Manager Patrick McGranaghan
Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Director of Production Joseph C. Nugara, Jr.
Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Graphic Designer Melissa Loureiro
Important Phone Numbers . . .9
Directories Coordinator Michael Sumrak
Project Coordinator Stefanie Mikutis Production Manager Nick Olah Graphic Production Stacey R. Cordero
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Ad Design Coordinator Kerri Reaves
Business & Economic Development . . . .14
Photographer Darren Bryden
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Writer Gordon Haas
Follow us on
Social Services . . . . . . . . . . .18
POPULATION STATS 2010.......................................................................................124,969
Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
LABOR FORCE Total Labor Force 66,871 (Source: 2007 - NJ Dept. of Labor)
Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . .21
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Vice President Gordy Swinehart
This publication is printed with eco-friendly criteria including use of 30% post consumer recycled content paper and soy based inks.
Serving businesses, individuals & homeowners! We accept residential and industrial scrap metal including: Wire • Car and truck batteries • Copper Catalytic converters • Aluminum Appliances • Radiators • Stainless steel Iron • Motors • Brass • Lead Wheels • Rims • Rotors
We accept vehicles, trucks, trailers, and all types of scrap metals We accept scrap from obsolete and dismantled tech centers, manufacturing facilities, call and network centers, warehouses We will do the dismantling and clean-outs with our team We offer container service
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THANK YOU Elizabeth Truck Center M & M Construction
Gordon & Wolgin, PC Infineum USA L.P. Kean University Law Office of Leah E. Capece, Esq. Marriott Newark Airport NA-VET Printers Newark Airport Hilton Hotel Sonic Drive-in Spencer Savings Bank Star-Ledger
eCocktail Hour Sponsor
ePatrons
ARCO Construction Group Prologis/Portview Commerce Center LLC
A & R Bulk Pak Andril & Espinosa, Esq Angel Rodriguez State Farm Agency Brand New Day Corrections Corporation of America Country Inn & Suites by Carlson David Carrubba State Farm Agency Elizabeth Packers Elmora Hills Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center Larry’s Generators Provident Bank SDS Global Logistics Tropicana Diner & Restaurant Tomasso Brothers UCEDC Union County Clerk’s Office Zack Painting Company
The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce wishes to express its gratitude to the following for their generous support of our Fourteenth Annual Dinner Cruise.
eEvent Sponsors
eCruise Sponsors AGL Elizabethtown Gas BJ & M Auto Trinitas Regional Medical Center
eReception Sponsor Atalanta Corporation YMCA of Eastern Union County
eDinner Sponsor Harbor Consultants Merck
eDessert Sponsor Elberon Development Company PSE&G
ePrinting Sponsor Elegant Headwear Company Laundry Warehouses of Elmora & Bayway New Jersey American WaterLiberty Water Company Tumino’s Towing Union County College Waste Management
eDiamond Sponsors
The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce wishes to express its gratitude to the following for their generous support of our Fifteenth Annual Dinner.
eEvent Sponsors Elizabeth Truck Center M & M Construction
Investors Savings Bank Las Palmas Restaurant Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel
eCocktail Hour Sponsor
ePlatinum Sponsors
eCruise Sponsors
Brick City Development Company/ Greater Newark CVB Brushfire Inc. Elizabeth Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott Hehl & Hehl Highway Services Jersey Gardens Mall LOCON Properties, LLC M. Miller & Sons Medesco LLC New York Terminals Preferred Freezer Regional Industries TD Bank Wells Fargo Bank Workforce Advantage
eGold Sponsors Atlantic Central Logistics Attitudes In Dressing B.B. Miller & Company Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County Construction & Marine EDC/Elizabeth’s Urban Enterprise Zone Program Elizabeth Industrial Center Elizabeth PBA Local # 4 F & G Construction 4 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
ARCO Construction Group AMB/Portview Commerce Center LLC BJ & M Auto Elberon Development Company Trinitas Regional Medical Center
eReception Sponsor Atalanta Corporation Sovereign/Santander Bank YMCA of Eastern Union County
eDinner Sponsor Harbor Consultants Prologis
eDessert Sponsor Merck PSE&G
ePrinting Sponsor ABG/Elegant Headwear Company Laundry Warehouses of Elmora & Bayway New Jersey American Water-Liberty Water Company Union County College Waste Management
eDiamond Sponsors New York Terminals TD Bank The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens Regional Industries
ePlatinum Sponsors Absolutely Energized Solar Atlantic Central Logistics Brick City Development Company/Greater Newark CVB Brushfire Inc. Crowne Plaza Hotel East Coast Warehouse & Distribution Corp Elizabeth Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott AGL Elizabethtown Gas Hehl & Hehl Highway Service Las Palmas Restaurant & Lounge M. Miller & Sons Medesco LLC Preferred Freezer Wells Fargo Bank Workforce Advantage
eGold Sponsors AVE Living - Union B.B. Miller & Company Balance Point Payroll Service Chemiclene, Inc Dr. Sam Muthusamy, MD EDC Elizabeth Industrial Center Elizabeth PBA Local # 4 F & G Construction FSI Merchant Services Hilton Newark Airport Hotel Infineum USA L.P. Investors Bank Kean University Law Office of Leah E. Capece, Esq. LOCON Properties, LLC Omega Maintenance S & L Contractors Sonic Drive-in Spencer Savings Bank Suplee Clooney & Company The Leaguers Tumino Towing Worldwide Holdings & Logistics
ePatrons A & R Bulk Pak Andril & Espinosa, Esq Complete Physical Rehabilitation Construction & Marine Corrections Corporation of America Country Inn & Suites Hotel David Carrubba State Farm Agency Elizabeth Packers Elmora Hills Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center Fish Window Cleaning Hamlett Management, LLC Hub Truck Leasing & Rental Tropicana Diner & Restaurant Tomasso Brothers UCEDC Union County Clerk’s Office
eGreater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce 456 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208 Tel 908-355-7600 • Fax 908-436-2054 Email: gecc@juno.com Web: elizabethchamber.com Web: goelizabethnj.com Chief Executive Officer, Gordon F. Haas
OVERVIEW
HISTORY
ELIZABETH AT A GLANCE
BUILDING ON THE PAST ur City is celebrating its 350th Anniversary in 2014; there will be many exciting events to commemorate this milestone. You can see what is planned and sign up for a monthly update at www.goelizabethnj.com/registration.
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As a City, we have always treasured the past and learned from it. Our City played an important part in American History during the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution and continues to lead in many revolutionary projects. So we will begin with a short history of our city.
ELIZABETH MILESTONES
ith a population of 124,969, the city of Elizabeth is New Jersey’s fourth-largest city. As the Union County seat, it contains most major governmental offices and courts servicing the County. Nationally recognized fifth-term Mayor Chris Bollwage, a lifelong resident of the city, leads Elizabeth. Since 1990, Elizabeth’s population has grown 10 percent. Since 1993, the current administration has worked to jumpstart $1.5 billion in economic development that has created 7,000 new jobs and brought to life retailers such as The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens and the AMC Jersey Gardens Theatre, the largest mall and movie theatre on the East Coast.
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The city is also home to the largest industrial seaport in North America and the Newark/Elizabeth Liberty International Airport. Elizabeth’s two NJ Transit train stations provide quick access to New York City and point westward and south through New Jersey. Its many transit buses also complement this
complex transportation network and provides convenient access to all corners of the city and beyond. Elizabeth also boasts marvelous diversity, resulting in a wide range of culture and heritage for all to enjoy. Its people represent more than 50 countries and 37 language groups. Elizabeth, at its core, has always been a city that has worked: from its roots in the industrial era in our country, to its later years as the current county seat for Union, and now a retail and transportation center for the Metropolitan area. From the days of its founding when great men such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton walked its streets, and as the first state capital of New Jersey, Elizabeth has been blessed with generations of residents who have defended the values of this country. This bold, pioneering spirit lives on today in its residents and is part of what makes Elizabeth a great American city that many are proud to call home, and many more love to visit.
• The first English speaking community in New Jersey • The first capitol of New Jersey • The first home of Princeton University • The home of New Jersey’s first Colonial Governor, Phillip Carteret • Home to Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr • The home of the first Colonial Assembly and Council Meeting • The home of the first Governor of the State after the Declaration of Independence, William Livingston • The site where the first British ship was sunk by Americans after the Declaration of Independence • The home of the first President of Congress after the Peace Treaty with the English, Elias Boudinot • The Singer sewing machine • The first ice cream soda • The first submarine • The first assembly line automobile producer in the state • The home of one of the country’s great military leaders, Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey • The home of James P. Mitchell, the Secretary of Labor under President Eisenhower, after whom our Board of Education Administrative Building is named • The home of the creator of “Tom Swift” and the “Bobsey Twins,” as well as authors Judy Blume and “Mickey” Spillane
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TOURISM STAY A WHILE rom the shores of the port to the beautiful greenery of Elmora, there are plenty of exciting things to do in Elizabeth—one of America’s most ethnically diverse and exciting cities.
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MIDTOWN AND MORE Now it is time to explore more of Elizabeth’s history and sample the diversity that makes this city so great. Wander up to historic Midtown Elizabeth, where you can enjoy more than a dozen historical sites and markers, which recount the days leading up to the founding of the U.S. You can also stop and shop, have a quick bite to eat in the Midtown shopping district or explore the history in this area with a walking tour. Start your walking tour at the historic Elizabeth Public Library and check out an ongoing exhibit there. This elegant building was a gift from Andrew Carnegie in the early part of the past century. Make your way past the grand Union County Courthouse and take some time to admire the historic monuments and fine architecture. Follow the road along Broad Street to the First Presbyterian Church, which was also an important battleground during the Revolutionary War, and check out its fascinating cemetery. Going north on Broad Street, you will find St. John’s Episcopal Church, a brooding masterpiece. The church has a beautiful interior with elegant stained glass, fabulous woodwork and another fascinating cemetery to boot. Located further north on Broad Street is the historic Art Deco Hersh Tower, built during the height of the depression as the tallest building in Union County. Across the street is the old “United County” bank building built in the early 1900s— an example of that time period’s style of bank. Just up West Grand Street is the city’s main NJ Transit train station, with its Plaza, a focal point of outdoor events. The city’s 9/11 Monument is located here.
Back on East Jersey Street, there is the historic Ritz Theatre, an Art Deco masterpiece. With 2,772 seats, the theatre is one of the largest—and oldest—operating theatres in the state dating back to 1926. The Ritz has been magnificently restored. Further down East Jersey Street is historic Boxwood Hall, the home of Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress; and Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer of the Constitution. Across the street is a rare treasure— the last remaining original Royal Governor’s mansion in the U.S., the Belcher Ogden Mansion, the residence of Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher. The Bonnell House is also nearby. The residence stands as Elizabeth’s oldest building, as well as one of the oldest in the state. The 17th Century house was home to owner/builder Nathaniel Bonnell, who arrived in Elizabeth around the time of its establishment. Elizabeth is a city of many statues and monuments as well, something that will become apparent as you make your way through it—some of the finest examples are in Midtown and the Elizabeth Avenue corridor. Just off East Jersey Street is Winfield Scott Park, named after an important military figure. In this park, you will find a huge Veterans’ monument, as well as monuments to Martin Luther King Jr., the crew of the Challenger and the extraordinarily impressive Vietnam Memorial. Proceed south to Elizabeth Avenue and you begin to get a sense of the kaleidoscope of ethnicities that is Elizabeth today. Elizabeth Avenue is known as “The Market” because anything you could ever want is located on these blocks. Also an important portal during the Revolutionary War, history buffs can find a marker and statue of a Minuteman at historic Union Square, where a key battle was fought.
GRAND REOPENING FALL 2013 Over 200 Stores All Under One Roof www.jerseygardens.com 6 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
SHOPPING Elizabeth is the state of New Jersey’s largest Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), a very important fact to shoppers. Participating stores are eligible to charge a sales tax rate that is half the normal sales tax throughout the rest of New Jersey. Another important sales tax fact is that in New Jersey there is no sales tax on clothing. Armed with these facts, you now will understand why Elizabeth has such a wealth of retail opportunity for shoppers. You can start your day with a stop in the eastern end of the city at IKEA, the Swedish chain’s bestselling furniture store in Northern America. In between shopping for furniture, you can also enjoy a taste of Swedish foods and great cinnamon buns in their cafeteria. From IKEA, you can stop and admire the sweeping views of one of America’s most well known roadways, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the spectacular view of Newark-Elizabeth Airport. Approximately 32 million passengers come through the airport every year. Drive across Center Drive from IKEA to the newly renovated The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens, the state’s largest mall, and enjoy a wide selection of shopping opportunities. The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens is completing a major renovation and remerchandising in 2013. New stores include Tommy Hilfiger, Seiko, The Lego Store and Banana Republic. The mall offers visitors from around the world over 200 premium outlet stores and restaurants. You will revel in the bargains you will find in the mall’s stores. More than 22 million people visited the mall last year, including a large international contingent due to its proximity to the airport. This figure is continuously on the rise. Once you have tired of the dizzying shopping opportunities, you can stop for a movie and some popcorn and ice cream in the AMC Movie Theatre,
which has 20 screens, also the state’s largest. The theatre is designed in the same vein as an oldfashioned movie palace.
International Airport, are convenient to IKEA and The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens shopping district, with shuttle service to these locations.
From the eastern side of the mall, you will enjoy wonderful views of the Bayonne Bridge and the Newark/Elizabeth Seaport, which is one of the nation’s largest import/export facilities. If you look south from the mall parking lot, you can also see the massive red brick Singer Sewing Building, which for years employed tens of thousands of people, fueling Elizabeth’s inner-city economy. Further inland is historic St. Patrick’s Church— with its majestic soaring twin spires. The park adjacent to St. Patrick’s has many wonderful statues, including one of Cuban Patriot Jose Marti and one of a former Monsignor of the Church.
DINING
LODGING With its proximity to Newark Liberty Airport, Elizabeth is home to New Jersey’s finest hotels. The city ranks second only to Atlantic City in total hotel rooms in New Jersey. Among its many choices, the city is home to a Hilton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza, along with a Marriott Renaissance, a Courtyard, a Residence Inn by Marriott and the Country Inn and Suites by Carlson. Joining that list is the new Embassy Suites Hotel. In addition, several further hotel sites are either in the planning stages or are currently under construction in Elizabeth. All these hotels, plus many others close to the Newark-Elizabeth Liberty
Elizabeth is well known for its many different varieties of food. Everything from American to Italian to Portuguese to a wide variety of Latin American culinary delights is accessible in Elizabeth. A host of produce stores and meat markets hold court around the historic Union Square area. The Elizabeth Avenue area features a farmers’ market, an annual tradition since 1890, throughout the spring, summer and fall, and free concerts during the summer months.
FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS The city’s ethnic diversity is reflected in its special ethnic days, festivals and parades. The Elizabeth Latin Carnival is held in early September, drawing crowds in excess of 250,000 people, as does the Elizabeth Latin Waterfront Festival, which is held in the spring. Colombians, Cubans, Haitians, Dominicans and Portuguese show their pride and culture with festivals and parades throughout the year. The Mayor’s Office and the Elizabeth Public Library celebrate various flag raisings for Colombians, Peruvians, Italians, Polish, Irish and more. Elizabethport Day, Julyfest and Unity Day are special festival days. African-American History and Hispanic Heritage Months are also widely celebrated at many of the city’s institutions.
The city introduced the Tour De Elizabeth, an annual bike tour of the entire city, in 2003. Since its inception, the event has grown from 100 riders to over 750 riders. Held the third Sunday in May, this is an event not to be missed.
REGIONAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce and the city of Elizabeth, in conjunction with the Newark Regional Business Partnership and the city of Newark, have created a Convention and Visitors Bureau to represent the burgeoning hotel industry, retail opportunities and entertainment venues in the Newark area, such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Center, which is home to the New Jersey Devils NHL team. The Bureau has been successful in the past in attracting several major events including the 2011 NCAA Eastern Regional “Sweet 16” and “Elite 8.” The CVB continues playing an integral part as an organizing arm of the NY NJ Host Committee for the 2014 NFL Super Bowl. It is also working with the 350th Anniversary Committee to help celebrate and market its yearlong celebration.
Come experience the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Newark Airport The Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel is the perfect place to stay whether you are traveling on business or pleasure. We have accommodations and facilities to meet all your travel needs. Our exceptionally friendly and accommodating staff is always here to serve you. While at the Crowne Plaza be sure to take advantage of our great amenities like our "state of the art" fitness center, heated indoor pool, and free Wi-Fi. Our newly implemented concierge service is a great place to stop for suggestions on activities in the area including NYC, which is only 25 minutes away by car. You can also take our complimentary 5 mile radius shuttle to Newark Penn Station where you can take the train directly to NY Penn Station.
901 Spring Street • Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(877) 2-CROWNE • (908) 527-1600 www.crowneplaza.com/newarkairport WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM | 7
RECREATION A WORLD TO EXPLORE ith approximately 46 parks, there is always a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy in Elizabeth. Its main parks include Warinanco and Mattano parks, both belonging to the county system, and the majestic Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront Park. The city’s most extensive park is Warinanco Park, a county park designed by the noted landscape architect Frederick Olmstead, who also designed New York’s Central Park. It is truly a park for all seasons, with winding trails, huge trees, flower gardens, an ice skating rink, track, fitness course, tennis courts and football, soccer and baseball fields. In the spring, cherry blossoms sprout and turn the park into a colorful place that must be seen. Azaleas, tulips and magnolias surround the park. Also, a winding waterway with various birds and waterfowl crosses through the park.
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fields and the Elizabeth River. Union County’s Phil Rizzuto Park borders Elizabeth/Union/Hillside in honor of the late New York Yankee Hall-of-Fame baseball player. The park is a 10.4-acre multi-use facility that also contains a “Boundless Playground” area, which allows children with disabilities to play alongside their peers.
At the eastern end of town is the Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront Park, which Mayor Bollwage dedicated in 1993. The park fronts the Kill Van Kull waterway, which flows into the New York Harbor. The boardwalk recreation area contains a fishing pier, tables for chess, bike racks and benches. There is a city-run marina that has slips and dry-docking facilities for more than 60 privately owned pleasure and fishing boats. At Mattano Park, there are more ball fields, playgrounds and a water spray feature for children in the summer. There are beautiful views of green
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The city has a number of recreation centers open to the public throughout Elizabeth, including the Thomas G. Dunn Sports Center and the YMCA on Madison Avenue. Elizabeth is within easy driving distance of several public golf courses in Union County, including Ash Brook and Galloping Hill. During the off-season, Galloping Hill is transformed into a winter wonderland, offering sledding, cross-country skiing and iceskating. The city of Elizabeth has served as a backdrop for a number of famous movie productions, including “The Wrestler,” with Academy Award Nominee Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Many music videos have used the city as a backdrop. TV shows such as “The Sopranos” have used the city for filming episodes.
Elizabeth’s Department of Recreation boasts a wide-array of programs that makes it one of the best in the state. Every kind of sport imaginable is offered: from youth sports leagues to tennis instruction, to basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, swimming and boxing. There are also day camps and ceramic and flower classes. The department runs two in-ground pools and six fountain sprinkler systems from July 4th until Labor Day.
Important Phone Numbers
TRANSPORTATION AROUND ELIZABETH & BEYOND he city of Elizabeth is at the center of an air, land and sea regional transportation network that is continuing to see upgrades during the city’s current boom in commerce.
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NEWARK AIRPORT Newark has long been on the forefront of aviation history. Opening in 1928, it is the nation’s oldest airfield and home to the nation’s first commercial airline terminal. In fact, in 1935, Amelia Earhart led the dedication of this landmark terminal building. (Only London’s Croydon Aerodrome predates the Newark terminal.) Located partly in Newark and partly in Elizabeth, Newark is located only 14 miles from Manhattan, serving a critical role for the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. Newark Liberty continues to build on its heritage of innovation with leadership roles in congestion mitigation and the campaign for NextGen technology.
strong proponent of noise-abatement programs in local schools, a leader in the use of alternativefueled vehicles and a major funder of the Council for Airport Opportunity and Air Service Development Office. Each year, we host a number of educational and community events, which range from career days that help students explore aviation career opportunities to an annual 5K Run at Teterboro Airport. Many of our airport staff meet regularly with local community boards, participate in community forums and serve in community organizations during their spare time. We live here, too, and do all we can to make a difference.
(All area codes 908) CITY CLERK ...................................................................820-4130 CITY HALL (Main)..........................................................820-4000 ELIZABETH BOARD OF EDUCATION .................................436-5000 ELIZABETH HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM...................352-8450 ELIZABETH OFFICE ON AGING ........................................820-4044 ELIZABETH PUBLIC LIBRARY...........................................354-6060 EMERGENCY...........................................................................911 FIRE HEADQUARTERS ....................................................820-2800 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF ELIZABETH..............................965-2400 INFOLINE......................................................................820-4243 LIBERTY WATER COMPANY...................................1-800-652-6987 PARKING AUTHORITY ....................................................353-0949 POLICE HEADQUARTERS.................................................558-2000 POST OFFICE (MAIN BRANCH)........................................820-8540 PUBLIC INFORMATION...................................................820-4124 RECYCLING INFORMATION .............................................820-4154 VITAL STATISTICS (licenses, etc) ......................................820-4082 VIOLATIONS BUREAU.....................................................527-6575 COMMERCE GREATER ELIZABETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ...............355-7600 ELIZABETH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY .............................289-0262 ELIZABETH AVENUE PARTNERSHIP..................................965-0660 HISTORIC MIDTOWN ELIZABETH (SID) ............................355-9600
The Port Authority takes its role as a community leader very seriously. This includes everything from investing in the infrastructure that keeps the region moving to investing in the people and places that make it all work.
UNION COUNTY MAIN LINE ....................................................................527-4000 OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER.................................527-4200 CLERK OF THE BOARD ...................................................527-4787 INFOLINE ...........................................................1-877-424-1234 OTHERS NJ TRANSIT (bus and rail) ......................................973-275-5555 NJ MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION ...........................609-292-6500
We work closely with communities and elected officials throughout the region on a variety of community-based initiatives. We continue to be a
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EDUCATION LIFE-LONG LEARING UNION COUNTY COLLEGE Union County College is a public comprehensive community college providing quality, affordable, accessible educational programs that serve the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 19 community colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The college enrolls almost 30,000 credit, noncredit and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Union County College provides opportunities for higher education for people of diverse ethnic, racial, cultural, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds in a multi-campus setting. The college has four campuses, which are located in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield and Scotch Plains. It strives to promote in students a sense of responsibility for their own development and an understanding of their obligations as members of a democratic society. The college fosters in its students the desire to learn, the ability to think clearly and express themselves effectively, the habit of analytical and reflective thought and an awareness of themselves, their heritage, other cultures and their environment. Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin serves as the college’s eighth president. The college offers more than 75 programs of study, many of which lead to the Associate’s in Arts and the Associate’s in Science degrees. Students who satisfactorily complete these two-year programs may transfer to four-year institutions for their junior and senior years.
in the fall of 2009. It is located approximately one block south of the college’s existing Sidney F. Lessner Building and adds 132,000 square feet of library and instructional space to the Elizabeth campus. The building was developed by the Union County Improvement Authority and houses degree programs, continuing education offerings, a lecture hall, state-of-the-art information commons and library, and serves as a new home for the Trinitas School of Nursing. The top floor houses the headquarters of the college’s Industry Business Institute (IBI) along with a conference center. The Union County Improvement Authority financed the project, and the state of New Jersey contributed $19 million through the County College Capital Projects Fund. In addition, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has established the Freeholder Scholars Program for Union County students who have attained a record of academic success in high school. The scholarship will cover two free years of college in pursuit of an associate’s degree. Distance learning opportunities, such as courses by DVD, are increasing with each semester. Through the college’s Industry Business Institute, educational training programs can be designed for any company or organization. The Division of Economic Development and Continuing Education provides professional development and personal enrichment opportunities for individuals who live or work in Union County. Classes offered through this division include career certificate programs. Union County College offers a wide range of activities for students, including the honor society Phi Theta Kappa (a five-star chapter), an awardwinning newspaper and various athletic programs. Union County College has an unparalleled commitment to strategic planning, to student success and to diversity. At the college, students are number one.
KEAN UNIVERSITY
In addition, Union County College confers the Associate’s in Science degree upon graduates of the Trinitas School of Nursing in Elizabeth. The Elizabeth campus also houses the Institute for Intensive English, providing English instruction for those wishing to learn English as a second language. Thanks to funding from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey County College Capital Project Fund, the Elizabeth I. Kellogg building opened on the Elizabeth campus 12 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become a comprehensive, metropolitan institution of higher education, boasting a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean’s five undergraduate colleges and its Nathan Weiss Graduate College now serve more than 16,000 students. While Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers, it is also a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment. More than 50 undergraduate degrees and more than 35 options leading to a doctoral or master’s degree, professional diploma or state certification are
offered. Among these are Kean’s first doctoral programs, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Urban Leadership and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in School Psychology. The university also offers an opportunity for students wishing to pursue a career in medicine through a partnership between Kean, Drexel University College of Medicine and Saint Peter’s University Hospital. In 2007, the university acquired the historic Liberty Hall Museum. Built in 1772, this valuable historic resource now serves as a venue for classes, lectures and special presentations in a wide variety of disciplines. The campus recently completed several extensive construction and renovation projects, including two new residence halls. Kean’s eight residence halls now accommodate nearly 2,000 students in apartment-style suites and traditional dormitories. One of the signature projects of this academic year is a new, mixed-use building that will serve as an entryway to the Kean campus at the corner of Morris Avenue and Green Lane. The six-story building will feature a café and retail space on the first floor, classrooms and administrative space on floors two through five, and a conference center and rooftop terrace on the sixth floor. The new building will be home to Kean’s Robert Busch School of Design, as well as the university’s everexpanding business programs. The New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics, founded in 2003, is housed in the STEM building. LEED Gold Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, STEM features six stories of technology-oriented classrooms, laboratories and auditorium space that enhance student learning. Continuing its role as a leader in environmentally friendly practices, Kean pioneered the state’s first undergraduate program in Sustainability Studies. The university also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committing to reduce waste and boost recycling on campus, as well as to decrease the university’s carbon footprint. Kean’s aerobic in-vessel digester recycles all food waste on campus as part of its Blue Goes Green campaign. Kean’s Human Rights Institute (HRI) offers a broad range of activities, conferences and curricula that aim to raise awareness of human rights violations worldwide and to inspire action
among students, teachers and the general public, in an effort to combat social injustices. Kean also offers an interdisciplinary M.A. in Holocaust & Genocide Studies degree that explores the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and other genocides and atrocities. As part of its rich campus life, Kean also offers more than 130 academic, professional interest and philanthropic student groups, as well as competitive Division III sports programs and an array of visual and performing arts. Kean’s East Campus, home to the Nathan Weiss Graduate College, also houses the Institute for Adults Living with Communication Disabilities, as well as the Department of Psychology and the Community Psychology Clinic. It features enhanced classrooms and the Gene & Shelley Enlow Recital Hall, a premiere 332-seat performance space. In addition to the Union campus, Kean and Ocean County College (OCC) have established Kean Ocean, a partnership that enables residents in the region to complete the upper division courses required for certain Kean University undergraduate and graduate degree programs on the OCC campus. For more information, please visit us online at www.kean.edu or call (908) 737-KEAN.
ELIZABETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS There are more than 22,000 students in 31 public schools and two early childhood centers, making the Elizabeth Schools System among the largest in the state, with a professional and support staff numbering just about 3,000. The children in attendance represent more than 50 countries and 37 language groups. The system’s Pre-K, elementary and middle schools are located in the city’s neighborhoods. There is one central high school, the largest in the state, located in the city’s Midtown district. A variety of educational offerings are available in the public schools, including honors and advanced programs, bilingual and English as a Second Language programs, a Gifted and Talented track and special education programs. The high school’s track, baseball, basketball and football programs are among the best in the state, and the school has spawned many professional athletes who have gone onto successful careers. The school’s marching band has also won many state competitions. Educational programs initiated under Mayor Bollwage’s administration include the LEAP (Linking Educational After-School Programs) and SOAR (Special Opportunity for Achievement and Reawakening) programs, which provide afterschool programs and activities centering on building leadership skills and health education,
including workshops for children about alcohol, tobacco control, drug and violence prevention. The Mayor created the Office on Youth, and, as part of this function, created a Youth Advisory Board to consult on the needs of children.
ELIZABETH PUBLIC LIBRARY The Elizabeth Public Library is a modern library system meeting the needs of Elizabeth residents, businesses and students for both traditional and innovative library services. The library provides services both on the Internet and at its four locations. By accessing the library’s web page, persons with valid library cards have access to our virtual library 24/7, which includes e-books and online reference resources. The library produces several hundred programs a year for children and adults. There are magic, craft and storytelling programs for children, as well as cultural and ethnic programming reflecting the many heritages of the residents of Elizabeth. Many staff members are fluent in Spanish and some in Portuguese and Creole.
PRIVATE EDUCATION Elizabeth also offers many options for private and parochial education. There are more than a dozen private schools offering educational opportunities, including Catholic, Christian and Jewish. There are also a number of options for daycare, preschool and nursery schools.
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BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS & PROSPERITY BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The city of Elizabeth is at the economic epicenter of New Jersey, a hub of transportation, shipping, industrial and retail opportunities. Businesses looking to invest in the city will discover an established and reliable network of public and private partners ready to assist with financial needs. The city’s lead development agency is the Elizabeth Development Company (EDC), a powerful and effective partner that is a “one-stop” shopping center for business development.
ELIZABETH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Doing business in the city of Elizabeth is easier and more profitable than ever. Opportunities for success are driven in large part by the skills and the vision of the Elizabeth Development Company. The EDC, a nonprofit economic development corporation with an independent Board of Trustees, was established in 1977 to help meet Elizabeth’s economic development needs. The EDC serves as a catalyst for economic advancement; it has earned state and national acclaim for both its highly successful Urban Enterprise Zone and its innovative community development initiatives. Working in cooperation with Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, the EDC and its Urban Enterprise Zone program are driving the city’s economic resurgence. Since its inception, the EDC has helped generate more than $2 billion in new economic investments in the city that have put thousands of area residents to work. For more than 35 years, the EDC has helped businesses and entrepreneurs succeed by connecting them with the financing and development tools needed to make projects move quickly and efficiently from proposal to reality. The EDC and its staff are well-equipped to support businesses—both large and small—with virtually all of their needs, including: site location, financial assistance, tax relief incentives, access to quality job training, employment placement services and much more. When it comes to building strong, viable businesses in Elizabeth, the EDC serves as a complete “one-stop” shop. The EDC has also expanded its role in redevelopment by taking a leadership position in revitalization projects throughout the city. The EDC has completed the successful renovation of a landmark downtown commercial bank and the development of new, affordable housing for senior residents in a vital city neighborhood with key nonprofit organizations in the city. The agency is actively assisting in the development of a range of additional projects. The city’s award-winning Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program offers major tax break incentives to businesses and developers, plus a reduced sales tax 14 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
to customers. Elizabeth’s UEZ is a valuable tool for revitalizing neighborhoods large and small. Its innovative planning programs have also helped secure tens of millions of dollars in targeted state and federal tax benefits available to developers who pursue projects in specific city neighborhoods. URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE (Elizabeth’s UEZ) The UEZ program was developed by the state of New Jersey to help promote redevelopment in its urban centers. The goal of the UEZ is to advance sustainable growth by helping businesses succeed in city neighborhoods. Since its inception, Elizabeth’s UEZ program has been a catalyst for more than $2 billion in new economic development in the city—fueling the creation of thousands of new jobs. These initiatives range from large-scale redevelopment efforts along the city’s waterfront, to more targeted projects revitalizing business districts in the city’s vibrant neighborhoods. Elizabeth’s UEZ Benefits Include: • Reduced sales tax—most retail businesses can charge customers half the state sales tax rate • Sales tax exemption on most business-related purchases • Corporate tax credits • Unemployment insurance rebates • Below-market rate loans The 50 percent reduced sales tax benefit has provided over $150 million in additional funds for reinvestment into the Zone. This massive reinvestment included funding for additional police, elaborate streetscape beautifications and enhanced infrastructure improvements, as well as many other economic development programs designed to help businesses succeed in Elizabeth.
COMMERCIAL LOANS The EDC offers a wide range of financing, which provides flexible terms and below-market-rate loans for small to large businesses and commercial projects located within the city’s Urban Enterprise Zone. Projects can range from land acquisition and new construction to business improvements, new equipment and working capital.
NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS The EDC received $35 million in New Market Tax Credit allocations in 2006 and 2007—the only allocations awarded to a wholly New Jersey-based community development entity. These funds, in the form of equity investment or below-market financing, are being used to support major retail and commercial redevelopment projects in the city.
SMART GROWTH Smart Growth is a term used by the state of New Jersey to describe well-planned, well-managed growth that adds new commercial and residential development, as well as the creation of new jobs, while preserving open space and environmental resources. Smart Growth is an approach to land-use planning that targets the state’s resources to enhance the quality of life for New Jersey residents. Smart Growth principles include mixed-use development, walkable town centers and neighborhoods, mass transit accessibility, sustainable economic and social development, as well as preserved green space. To limit sprawl in New Jersey, Smart Growth prioritizes development and redevelopment efforts in communities with existing infrastructure networks such as Elizabeth. With a population boom of more than 10 percent over the last decade, Elizabeth is the quintessential Smart Growth success story. The city’s efforts to embrace the Smart Growth strategy have paid off.
To find out more about Elizabeth’s Urban Enterprise Zone call the Elizabeth Development Company at 908-289-0262 or visit them online @ edcnj.org
TRANSIT HUB The city of Elizabeth is ready to implement a comprehensive redevelopment plan for Midtown Elizabeth that will bring more than 1 million square feet of new commercial, retail and residential space to this vibrant center of commerce. Twenty acres of the region’s premier real estate in Midtown Elizabeth are primed for targeted economic development that can leverage tens of millions of dollars in state and federal tax credits and incentives, as well as Urban Enterprise Zone benefits, to ensure its success. The area is also located in an Urban Enterprise Zone, affording it additional benefits.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS – NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM The Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program offers business entities a 100 percent tax credit against various NJ State taxes for investing in the revitalization of designated neighborhoods. Eligible neighborhood projects can receive up to $1 million annually to assist with pre-development and implementation costs. Elizabeth has two NRTC designated neighborhoods, one in Elizabethport and, more recently, another in historic Midtown.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
A six-block stretch in Midtown Elizabeth located next to the Elizabeth train station and bordered by Union County College has been identified as the area’s best potential for new commercial development. Three specific sites, ranging in size from two to three acres and all within one block of the train station, each can now be developed with as much as 300,000 square feet of office space with retail components, or as mixed-use commercial and residential space. Additionally, a 120,000-squarefoot expansion of Union County College facilities has been completed along with the construction of a new 1,500-space parking deck, which includes 27,000 square feet of commercial space. All three sites are located in the city’s Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit District, a state initiative available to developers in Elizabeth and other urban centers. The state passed the Urban Transit Hub initiative to encourage investment and job growth around transit hubs. In Elizabeth, the Hub Tax Credit District provides an up to 100 percent state tax credit to corporations that make a minimum capital investment of $50 million in a project in Midtown Elizabeth, and create or retain a minimum 250 jobs in the city’s district. These tax credits are available to both owner/occupants and tenants. A lesser credit, 35 percent is available for mixed-use projects of a similar scope.
The city of Elizabeth is situated in one of the most densely populated and wealthy regions in the nation, making for an ideal location for businesses to thrive. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, nearly 7.5 million people live within a 15-mile radius of Elizabeth, earning over $200 billion a year with an average household income of $80,000. Immediate access to a far-reaching network of air, sea, rail and trucking facilities makes Elizabeth a premier location for moving goods and people around the region, the country and the world.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS The Elizabeth Avenue Partnership (EAP) is a nonprofit organization created and designated by the city of Elizabeth to manage the Elizabeth Avenue Special Improvement District (SID). The partnership plays a key role in the management and marketing of the business district and has been instrumental in the resurgence of the popular Farmer’s Market in the area. The Historic Midtown SID is undergoing major economic revitalization, with the recent addition of several new major banks and restaurants to the district. The district management team has developed new initiatives and programs to support Midtown. Other SID projects include multi-million-dollar streetscape improvements, continuing in both Special Improvement Districts. Both of these proactive special improvement districts have been extremely successful in maintaining some of the lowest shopping vacancy rates in the region.
ELIZABETH RETAIL SKILLS CENTER…YOUR SUCCESS STARTS HERE The Retail Skills Center is an innovative employment facility whose recruitment, training, customer service certification and job placement services can help businesses develop and retain an efficient workforce. Since opening, the center has served hundreds of businesses in the region and provided training for thousands of area residents. Today, the center operates in conjunction with Union County College, so participants can earn not only job skills, but continuing education skills as well.
HOPE VI In 1997, the Housing Authority of the city of Elizabeth received a $28.9 million federal grant to build more than 575 homeownership and rental units for low, moderate and median income households. The new units opened in Elizabethport and dramatically transformed the look, the feel and the lifestyle in the city’s oldest neighborhood. This federal grant also leveraged additional public and private investment, totaling more than $100 million and further enhancing the revitalization of the Elizabethport neighborhood. The city opened the multi-million-dollar HOPE VI Elizabethport Community Center located on Second Street.
MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT The $250 million project has moved forward with the completion of the Pedestrian Plaza and the Midtown historic train station renovations. A café operates in the train station located next to the beautiful Pedestrian Plaza. The Midtown area was designated by the state as a “Transit Village,” enabling additional incentives to help expedite surrounding redevelopment.
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P.O. Box 260 283 N. Broad St. Elizabeth, NJ 07207
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16 West Grand Street • Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Phone: 908-282-9881 • www.eicu.org Se Habla Espanol
GOVERNMENT SERVING THE PEOPLE he city of Elizabeth operates under a mayorcouncil form of government. In addition to the mayor, there are nine council members, six of whom are ward representatives and three that serve at-large. Both mayor and council members are elected to serve four-year terms. City council meetings are generally held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
T
City Hall is located at 50 Winfield Scott Plaza in the historic Midtown District. Elizabeth is also the county seat, with the Union County Administration Building and the County Courthouse located within the Midtown District at Rahway Avenue and South Broad Street. The Elizabeth Development Company, which administers the city’s Urban Enterprise Zone Program and many helpful business programs and incentives, is located on North Broad Street and Westfield Avenue. The Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce is the champion of its robust citywide business community. There are two merchant associations, the Midtown Special Improvement District and the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, that play important roles in the area’s major business districts. The award-winning Elizabeth Public Library serves the city’s community with several branches, bookmobile service and its newly renovated Main Branch on 11 S. Broad Street. Its computer offerings are considered among the most impressive in the state. The Police Department/Municipal Court Complex is located at 1 Police Plaza (East Grand St.), off Broad Street in Midtown, and the Main Post Office, considered an architectural masterpiece, is located at N. Broad Street and Westfield Avenue.
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SOCIAL SERVICES d American Red Cross
When disaster strikes, Red Cross Volunteers give the gift of hope by offering the essentials of food, clothing and shelter. Join our team of volunteers and be part of the solution for disaster relief. Every day the Red Cross is in the community. Through blood drives, disaster response and education, the city of Elizabeth can count on the Red Cross to be there when disaster strikes, down the street, across the country and around the world. To get involved with the Red Cross, visit www.njredcross.org or call 908-232-7090. d Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County -
Elizabeth Club The Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County, Inc. is a private nonprofit, nonsectarian youth service agency affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County – Elizabeth Club is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. We are committed to the long-term development of every child who comes through our doors by providing guidance and a series of caring relationships with adults and peers. For further information on programs and services offered at the Elizabeth Club call 908-351-3344. d Brand New Day
Brand New Day, Inc.’s (BND) mission is to enhance the quality of life for low- to moderateincome individuals, youth and families. BND offers services to the community in the areas of foreclosure prevention, homeownership counseling, rental of affordable housing, development of rental/homeownership units and youth services. BND builds affordable housing in the area, and has homes for sale and rent. BND, a HUD-certified counseling agency, provides free counseling to families who want to restore their credit, purchase a home or families facing foreclosure. BND is proud to offer GED education and construction trade training to at-risk youth through Youthbuild Elizabeth. People can get more information at www.brandnewdaycdc.org or 908-282-0781. d Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services—
Your Community Partner Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services helps people with mental health disorders return to productive roles in the labor market, and can also help you— local employers—find well trained and responsible employees. Bridgeway ensures potential employees are job ready, provides on the job support to both employee and employer, and can assist you in obtaining tax credits. Bridgeway has been providing services to the Elizabeth community for 40 years, and has a 18 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
successful track record in employee placement. Funded by the State of NJ, there is no charge for you company to use our services. To find out how you can use Bridgeway’s resources to make your business more successful, call 908-686-2956. d Community Access Unlimited (CAU)
Community Access Unlimited (CAU) is a multifaceted human services agency with a mission to provide community access through effective and comprehensive support services for people with disabilities, at-risk youth and people. We help people with housing, life skills training, employment, health maintenance, money management, socialization, education and civic activities. CAU also provides training in assertiveness, decision-making and civil rights. We provide more all-encompassing residential and support services than any other organization of our kind. We are the only agency in Union County that provides such a comprehensive continuum of care for people with developmental disabilities and youth in New Jersey’s child welfare system. For more information call 908-354-3040. d Elizabeth Coalition to House
the Homeless The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless has been the prime service provider to the homeless and near homeless of the greater Union County area for 30 years. Services are delivered through three basic programs: Project Gatekeeper, an Emergency Case Management program for any household having housing difficulties; Hospitality House, a transitional housing service for families ineligible for public assistance; and Bernice’s Place, an after-school program and summer recreation program for homeless youth. For more information call 908-355-2060. d Elizabeth Packers
Established in October 2008, The Elizabeth Packers Inc. is community-based football and cheerleading program, under the National Pop Warner organization. The Elizabeth Packers is recognized 501(c)(3) organization, primarily established to develop and solidify a positive
relationship for the youth of the city of Elizabeth. Our program is geared towards elementary, middle school and high school aged children between the ages of 5 and 15 years old. We strive to: • Improve the life skills of all youth through exceptional coaching practices, competition, daily life lessons and coping skills, • Instill the values of education, • Teach sportsmanship, build character and discipline coupled with love of the game, • Encourage the participants to maintain good grades in school and to emphasize the importance of keeping a proper relationship and balance between scholastic and athletic endeavors, • Keep our community youth engaged and away from situations that lead to bad behavior; and • Help kids become more active in an effort to decrease obesity in children. Our program’s regular season commences on August 1st through the end of October; however, we strive to implement activities during the offseason to keep the city’s youth engaged in positive activities. Visit us at: www.elizabethpackers.org Contact Kenneth Vaughn at: (973) 392-2680 e-mail: Elizabethpackers@gmail.com d Family & Children’s Services
Family & Children’s Services (FACS) is an independent, non-profit, behavioral health and social service agency based in Elizabeth and serving Union County and the surrounding area. Since 1893, our mission has been to strengthen families and individuals by providing comprehensive personalized services with a priority to serve those most vulnerable, at-risk and underserved. Services offered to the community include; evidence-based trauma therapy for children and youth, individual, family, and couples counseling,
homeless prevention case management and counseling for at-risk youth. For more information please visit our website at www.facsnj.org or call 908-352-7474.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays (Teen Night) and Saturdays during the school year. During the summer, the Institute offers a five-week Summer Camp program.
d Father Hudson House
Reduced tuition and scholarship awards insure that every child has access to quality arts education. At the heart of the Institute is creating H.A.R.M.O.N.Y. - Helping Achieve Responsible Motivated Optimistic Neighborhood Youth and it believes that the most effective way of doing this is to provide in-depth arts experiences that aid in the personal and academic development of its youth. Find out more about The Institute at www.instituteofmusic.org, www.facebook.com/InstituteofMusic, 908-469-1211 x6.
Center for Hope; Assisted Living and Respite Care: As part of the Center for Hope’s unique residential service, Fr. Hudson House in Elizabeth and Peggy’s House, in Scotch Plains, NJ provide a homelike environment customized to individual needs. With a focus on those who need compassionate, skilled care through the later stages of life, our professional staff of nurses, doctors, aides, social workers, chaplains, cooks, volunteers and others work to guarantee that our residents’ needs, comfort and concerns are our top priorities. All personal and medical care is provided in each resident’s private room, complete with an en suite bathroom. Our generously staffed facilities, and limited number of residents, allow for a level of attention unequalled by more costly alternatives. Families can relax knowing that the ever evolving challenges of caring for an ill fragile loved one are being professionally managed, allowing them to spend time visiting – not worrying. Please call 908-889-7780 with questions, or to inquire about our rates and room availability. d Groundwork Elizabeth
Groundwork Elizabeth is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, which partners with the public and the private sector, as well as other nonprofits and the community at large, to improve the physical environment and the quality of life within the community. Groundwork works to instill environmental ownership within the community through education, community gardening (The Come Grow With Us! Community Gardening Program) and volunteerism as it plants trees, hosts cleanups, makes park and accessibility improvements and hosts an extremely popular annual cycling event, the “Tour de Elizabeth” with many other stakeholders. Groundwork helps to coordinate the City, County, public, private sector and the community at large as the groups work together to continue to vision and build the Elizabeth River Trail. For more information, log onto Groundwork’s website at www.groundworkelizabeth.com, email elizabethnj@groundworkusa.org or call Executive Director Jonathan Phillips at 908-289-0262. d Institute of Music for Children
The Institute of Music for Children, Inc., a nonprofit arts organization located in Elizabeth, offers year-round instruction in instrumental music, (violin, piano, guitar, drums) voice, dance, drama, filmmaking and more to children ages three to 18. Working together in small groups with professional artist/educators the children learn valuable skills and experience the joy of creating and self-expression. Classes are offered on
d Jewish Family Service of Central NJ
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey is a family oriented, nonsectarian health and social service agency that provides family counseling and Older Adult Services to people in Union County. Clients served through the Family and Children Services Department resolve issues with marital relationships, parenting skills and individual problems such as depression or anxiety. In addition, we provide adoption home studies, food pantry and the Economic Response Team – our most current initiative to help those who are unemployed. As for Older Adult Services, the organization offers homemakers and home health aides, Kosher Meals on Wheels, personal care transportation, case management, counseling, caregiver support, community health nursing, safety in the home, medication management and Grandparents as Parents. For additional information call 908-352-8375. d Josephine’s Place
Josephine’s Place is reflective of the needs of the women who come there and unique in the scope of services and commitment of its volunteers and participants. Women come to Josephine’s Place to learn to meet together, to help one another and to find out about resources in the community for themselves and their families. Each year, the number of women coming to Josephine’s Place increases. As their mothers participate in activities, children play in a dedicated space containing books, toys and videos, all donated by people throughout the area. In recognition of its contribution to Elizabeth, Josephine’s Place received a Unity Achievement Award from the Union County Human Resources Commission and was recognized as a “Good Samaritan” by the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center. For more information call 908-436-0099. d Jewish Federation of Greater
MetroWest NJ Inspired by Jewish values, Federation cares for people in need locally, in Israel, and around the world. It stands at the center of a network of 27
local and 4 overseas partner agencies to help meet the educational, vocational, recreational, and social needs of the Greater MetroWest Jewish community of Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset County. Federation raises and allocates the funds needed to respond to the diversity of Jewish needs on an ongoing basis and in emergent situations through its annual United Jewish Appeal Campaign. Among the many programs Federation supports are: job training and placement services for the unemployed; crisis counseling for families; supportive services for seniors; Jewish identity building initiatives; programs/services for people with special needs and their families; making Jewish education affordable; Jewish camping; Israel education and advocacy; leadership development; and Birthright Israel. Contact us at: 973-929-3000, 908 889-5335 or visit www.jfedgmw.org. d NJ Sharing Network
Through organ and tissue donation and transplantation, NJ Sharing Network saves lives, gives hope, and restores physical function. NJ Sharing Network is also dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of donation and transplantation and supporting both donor families and transplant recipients. As a non-profit, federally-certified, state-approved organ procurement organization, NJ Sharing Network is responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for the 5,000 New Jersey residents currently awaiting transplantation, and is part of the national recovery system, which is in place for the over 115,000 people on waiting lists. Thousands of participants come together each year to join us for our Annual 5K Walk & USATF Certified Race that supports the NJ Sharing Network’s mission and honos those whose lives have been touched by our work. Visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org for more information and to get involved with the 5K Walk/Race or call us at 908-516-5400. d Old First Historic Trust (OFHT)
In 1664, 20 families began the colony of New Jersey. They named their settlement Elizabethtown in honor of Elizabeth, wife of the proprietor George Carteret. They built a meetinghouse which evolved into the First Presbyterian Church, 42 Broad St. with its adjacent burial grounds. The church was the first home of what is now Princeton University. It was also a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity as its pastor Rev. James Caldwell united the people against King George. Today, the historic grounds and buildings are undergoing a renaissance. A nearly completed $10-million restoration project will provide an historical, cultural, and social services center to the City and region. The 20,000-square-foot WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM | 19
Academy will house a museum, theater, commercial kitchen, and art studio. OFHT is the agency that manages the site on behalf of the church. We look forward to helping bring New Energy to Midtown Elizabeth. Dr. Robert D. Higgs Executive Director Old First Historic Trust (908) 353-1518 • exdir@acadenj.org d PROCEED
PROCEED was established in 1970 as a 501(c)(3) federally tax exempt social service corporation to improve the socioeconomic needs affecting the community in the city of Elizabeth and Union County. Services range from preschool, parenting and child abuse/neglect prevention services to senior citizen home repair and substance abuse/alcohol abuse treatment, counseling and education programs. For more information, call 908-351-7727 or visit our website at www.proceedinc.com. d StreetLight Mission
StreetLight Mission is a faith-based community outreach center located in the inner city of Elizabeth serving those struggling with poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, disabilities and hopelessness. StreetLight provides numerous services to our guests including basic life needs such as food, daily clothing and recovery supports from substance abuse. We also provide recovery mentoring services for men, women and children including a 12-step recovery program called Celebrate Recovery. There are no fees for any of our services. For more information, contact StreetLight Mission at 1181 East Broad Street, Elizabeth; call 908-820-8324; email Info@StreetLightMission.Org; or visit online at www.StreetLightMission.org. d The Leaguers Inc.
Head Start/Early Head Start Program(s): • Head Start: Children from 3 to 5 years of age • Early Head Start: Infants and toddlers • Home-based Option: Infants and toddlers • Male Involvement Initiative: Fathers and father figures • Mothers Assisting Mothers: A forum for women • Summer Camp: For school-aged children, includes field trips, arts & crafts and academic support over a full nine-hour day All services are inclusive of children with disabilities. Contact the organization at 405-425 University Avenue, Newark; call 973-643-0300, Ext. # 204. d The Rotary Club of Elizabeth
Established in 1917, the Rotary Club of Elizabeth is a vibrant civic organization dedicated to serving both the local and worldwide communities. Its 45 members volunteer to raise funds in support of a 20 | WWW. ELIZABETHCHAMBER.COM
wide range of charities. Through such activities as the annual Taste of Elizabeth food tasting event, the Club funds many worthy causes including its scholarship arm, the Albert & Louise Davis Scholarship Fund. Established in 1986, the Fund has given over $420,000, making a difference in the lives of 277 Elizabeth High School graduates. The Rotary Club of Elizabeth is part of a worldwide organization of 1.2 million members who encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and promote peace and goodwill throughout the world. A key initiative is the worldwide elimination of polio. Through its vast community and national networks, Rotarians are on the verge of wiping out this crippling disease. The Club invites all to consider membership. For more information visit www.ElizabethRotary.org or call (908) 352-7300 d United Way of Greater Union County
United Way of Greater Union County mission is to ensure the health & human services needs of the community are identified and addressed in ways that create a better quality of life for the residents of Union County, North and South Plainfield. Our focus is on family strengthening, ensuring that every resident in our community has the necessary opportunities, relationships and networks to support the success of their families. United Way of Greater Union County continually looks for the most effective ways to help people gain access to educational, economic and healthrelated opportunities. To further this goal, United Way has helped create the Union County Family Strengthening Network, an integral part of the county’s human services infrastructure, because when our families are doing well, our communities thrive. For details call 908-353-7171. d United Youth of New Jersey
Over 18 years the United Youth of New Jersey (UYNJ) has been servicing at-risk youth in Elizabeth and throughout Union County. United Youth of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) youth/community based corporation. Dedicated to the community, the United Youth of New Jersey has spearheaded programs that have focused upon improving self-esteem, motivating teamwork, and enhancing talent through filmmaking and electronic sound in music classes. UYNJ prides themselves on the consistent working relationship with senior citizens throughout Union County. What makes this program so unique is that there is no charge for the many programs offered by the United Youth of New Jersey. Our mission is to continue to educate at-risk youth after school hours, providing them with the motivation and tools needed to succeed in school and in life through mentoring, fine-arts weekend and summer small group educational programs. Contact Info. - (908) 220-5279 / website: www.unitedyouthofnj.org / email: brown12@optonline.net.
d Urban League of Union County
The Urban League of Union County is a non-profit community service organization founded in 1944 and incorporated in 1952 and one of 98 affiliates of the National Urban League located in NYC. Mission: to enable African Americans and other disadvantaged people to secure economic selfreliance, parity, power and civil rights. We employ a five-point strategy to implement our mission: • Education and Youth Empowerment • Economic Empowerment • Health and Quality of Life Empowerment • Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment and • Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment Programs include Housing Counseling (pre/post home purchase, budget/credit counseling, foreclosure, default/delinquency counseling), counseling for job search and computers, Employment, Teen Pregnancy Prevention counseling, Alternative To Incarceration (Basic Skills/Vocational Training), Reconnections services for ex-offenders and Emergency Assistance for rent/mortgage, utilities and food and Youth Work Experience placement. For more information call 908-351-7200 or visit our website: www.uloucnj.org. d YMCA of Eastern Union County
The YMCA of Eastern Union County is a community-based organization rooted in Christian principles and committed to building healthy lives, through programs that strengthen spirits, minds and bodies for people of all ages, religions and cultures. With a commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive. Our Y, which services the Eastern Union and Northern Middlesex County communities, has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but also to deliver, lasting personal and social change. For information call 908-355-9622. d YWCA Eastern Union County
The YWCA Eastern Union County (YWCA EUC) is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The YWCA EUC, often known as Project Protect, provides a continuum of care and services for survivors of domestic violence, including: a 24-Hour Hotline; Emergency Shelter; Supportive and Transitional Housing; A Child’s View PALS Program; Court Advocacy and Court Representation; Individual and Group Counseling; Community Education; Domestic Violence Response Teams and DV/DYFS Liaisons. For more details, please call us at 908-355-1995.
WORSHIP
INDEX
FOSTERING TOGETHERNESS
OF ADVERTISERS
he city of Elizabeth is New Jersey’s fourthlargest city—and its most ethnically diverse area. Houses of worship of every denomination imaginable dot the landscape of this city. It is not uncommon to find two different places of worship standing side by
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side on the same block. There are at least four houses of worship in the Midtown District that are registered with state and federal organizations as historical sites. Taken as a whole, these places make up the wonderful mosaic that is Elizabeth.
Asisco Automotive Company / BJ&M Auto Inc .......... 9
B.B. Miller & Company............................................. 16
City of Elizabeth............................... Inside Front Cover
Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel............................ 7
Elizabeth Development Company ............................. 15
Entertainment Industries Federal Credit Union......... 16
Infineum USA L.P. .................................................... 17
Kean University ........................................................ 13
Metalico Elizabeth ...................................................... 3
Northfield Bank .......................................................... 3
The Outlet Collection / Jersey Gardens....................... 6
Soulstice Productions ................................................ 3
Trinitas Regional Medical Center......................... 10-11
Union County College ................................. Back Cover
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