Trenton Business Week News
April 19, 2014
Princeton Regional Chamber to host Trenton Economic Development Forum April 29
The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Trenton Economic Development Forum focusing on the exciting real estate developments happening in the Capital City, opportunities for private investment, and a vision going forward on Tuesday, April 29th at the Lafayette Yard Hotel.
“The region’s prosperity depends on Trenton’s vitality. Trenton continues to be the core of the region and there is an inextricable link between Trenton and the success of the region,” said John Thurber, vice president for public affairs at Thomas Edison State College and chairman of the board of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “That is why the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the City of Trenton, the Trenton Downtown Association, the NJ EDA and other groups to organize this important forum.”
“The idea for the forum came out of a series of meetings we had with City Hall about how to open up the discussion of economic development in the city to a broader audience,” added Mr. Thurber. “The city is just beginning a new economic development planning process and they are very interested in hearing what key stakeholders have to say.”
Speakers include:
- Walter Denson, director, Department of Housing & Economic Development - will discuss the City of Trenton’s economic development process
- John D. S. Hatch, FAIA, LEED AP, principal, HHG Development and Clarke Caton Hintz will talk about HHG’s exciting mixed use project in the Roebling Wire Rope District
- Christian Martin, executive director of the Trenton Downtown Association
- Liza Nolan, Sr. Garden State Growth Officer, will provide an overview of new incentives for investment in Trenton
- Deepak Viswanath, executive vice president, Edison Broadcasting (owner of the Lafayette Yard Hotel and Conference Center), will discuss his plans for the future of the hotel.
“In partnership with our corporate members and Trenton support organizations, we have banded to together to initiate a real and substantial dialogue around real estate and economic development opportunities in Trenton,” said Peter Crowley, president and CEO of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “There are substantial credits and grants to relocate businesses in the Trenton region and we will discuss these and other opportunities at our Economic Development Forum.”
The forum will also showcase opportunities for development and redevelopment within the city, especially pertaining to the New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013, which provides game-changing incentives for investment and job-growth in designed areas, including Trenton, which has been designed a Garden State Growth Zone. The EDA will outline and explain the key incentives.
During the presentations, Mr. Denson is expected to discuss the City’s economic development planning process and Mr. Hatch will talk about the plans HHG has for the development of Block 3 of the Roebling complex. Mr.
Martin will talk about the TDA’s vision for Trenton’s downtown and Mr. Viswanath will discuss the future of the hotel, now that it is in private hands and been flagged as part of the Wyndham family.
The breakfast will take place from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the hotel on West Lafayette Street. Tickets are $25, include breakfast, and can be purchased at www.princetonchamber.org or by calling (609) 924-1776.
Event sponsors include: Capital Health, Fox Rothschild, Mercer County Community College, and Wong Fleming. The forum is presented in partnership with: Thomas Edison State College, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Trenton Downtown Association. The media sponsor is the Times of Trenton.
The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization committed to promoting business growth within the Princeton Region and surrounding areas. With more than 1,700 individual contacts and more than 880 Member companies, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce membership is primarily focused in five central New Jersey counties and stretches as far as New York, Philadelphia and Canada.