SNJ Business People

Optimism Is the Order of the Day at Fourth Annual Tri-County Economic Development Summit 

11/28/09

Burlco’s Donnelley Cites ‘Wave of Economic Recovery’ and Glouco’s Sweeney Says ‘We Need to Grow’
  Optimism was the order of the day as Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties presented their fourth annual tri-county economic development summit on October 16th at the Westin in Mount Laurel.
  Burlington County Freeholder Director Joe Donnelley set the tone early, saying his county is ”proud to ride a wave of economic recovery.”
  Citing the impact of the government’s investment of more than $325 in new construction at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the Joint Base’s $1 billion+ annual economic impact on the region, Donnelley predicted a regional economic recovery in the year ahead.
  Donnelley’s Gloucester County counterpart and State Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney was a little more subdued, referencing the recent loss of 1,000 jobs in his county at the Valero and United States Postal Service facilities.
  But, pointing to the expected impact of the PATCO light rail extension into Gloucester County as well as the impact of significant expansion at Rowan University among other projects, Sweeney commented that “we’ve seen some tough times, but we are really doing things!”
  “We like preserving land,” he added, “but we need to grow.”
  Camden County Freeholder Director Lou Capelli added to the upbeat tone of the day as he recounted the impact of Cooper Hospital’s half billion dollar expansion, plans for a new four-year medical school, the addition of 350 dorm rooms on the Rutgers-Camden campus and the state’s recent decision to raze Riverfront Prison to make way for new waterfront development in North Camden.
  Liberty Bell Bank economist and former Temple Business School Dean Bill Dunkelberger keynoted the event and dampened spirits a little by pointing out that the country is in the 22nd month of the current recession and noting that “we have cut employment faster in this recession than any time in the last 35 years.
  He also suggested that while “consumer sentiment is improving, it is (still) not back,” adding that ”what we really need is customers coming in the front door.”
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Pictured: George Norcross, Chairman of the Board, Cooper Hospital; Sandi Kelly. Economic Development Director, Camden County; Lou Capelli, Director, Camden County Freeholders
 

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