Politics & Government
Waived Permit Fees, Major Distributors Arriving in Woodbridge to Highlight Mayor's Speech
Mayor John McCormac will present his annual "State of the Township" address at noon today.
In an attempt to lure more local businesses to the township's downtown areas, Woodbridge government plans to suspend township business permit fees through the end of the fiscal year, according to mayor John McCormac.
McCormac will present his annual State of the Township address at noon today at the Woodbridge Hilton in Iselin, hosted by the Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The permit waiver program, available to new businesses, relocating businesses, or those wishing to expand their existing locations, will target five areas - Woodbridge's Main Street, Colonia's Inman Avenue corridor, Oak Tree Road, Route 27 and Green Street in Iselin, New Brunswick Avenue in Fords, the downtown areas of Avenel and Port Reading, the Route 35/Amboy Avenue corridor and the Route 1 business corridor, according to the township.
McCormac said over $2 million in permit fees has already come in for the year, with a budget set at $1.6 million.
The suspension of permit fees as an incentive to grow local business will not be a strain on the budget, he said.
Through June 30, businesses wishing to open or expand in those targeted areas will see their township-issued permit fees waived as a helping hand in opening their doors and repopulating the downtown business areas.
McCormac's economic announcements will also include the announcement of three major distributors coming to Woodbridge.
Tommy Maloney's, a major Irish beef importer, has purchased the former Haagen Daz plant in Woodbridge and will set up a warehouse with 80 initial jobs in the spring, expanding to a total of 300 jobs, McCormac said.
Arizona Iced Tea will build a full manufacturing, packaging and distribution warehouse in Fords, and is expected to bring 500 jobs to the area.
Additionally, Preferred Freezer Services also has plans to open a brand-new facility in Avenel, McCormac said.
Please check back later today for a full story on the mayor's State of the Township address.
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