Somerset County launches economic recovery website
The Somerset County COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force, a collaboration of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Somerset County Business Partnership, recently announced a new website to assist local businesses with reopening and expanding during the pandemic.
The site at SomersetNJEconomicRecovery.com follows an economic recovery report produced by the task force in July and available at bit.ly/2DPekJA.
“When we initiated the Economic Recovery Task Force in the spring, it was an ambitious effort made up of the Business Partnership, Somerset County Government, and local business leaders to address this unprecedented pandemic,” Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson, a task force founder, said in a statement. “With the release of the initial plan, then the Open for Business Map, and now the website initiative we are working together to ensure Somerset County recovers and thrives in the coming years.”
The initiative is intended to benefit businesses, residents and visitors by accelerating economic recovery and adaptation, increase public safety, further economic policies and capitalize on “next-normal” opportunities, according to the task force.
EARLIER: Somerset County task force developing economic recovery strategies
The new site provides links to resources for businesses, the task force’s July report, and contact forms for businesses seeking assistance in navigating the COVID-19 recovery.
“The web site provides resources for business as we look toward the ‘new normal,’” Business Partnership President/CEO Chris Edwards said in a statement. “As we emerge from these difficult times, hopefully, our efforts will help businesses to thrive.”
Begun in April 2020, the Task Force researched and reported strategies to address the impacts COVID-19 has had on the economy and present details on focus areas and recommendations to ensure a positive impact as Somerset County emerges from the pandemic.
Task Force goals include:
- Accelerate economic recovery
- Promote county benefits
- Create a business accelerator
- Attract the "Next-Gen" workforce
- Create synergies with local organizations
- Connect training and education with new industrial growth
- Engage academic institutions
- Reimagine downtowns
- Repurpose buildings
- Help businesses transform.
“Working with the Business Partnership and local business leaders, we have developed a resource that we are certain will help keep the economy of Somerset County moving forward,” Freeholder Deputy Director Sara Sooy, also a task force founder, said in a statement “We are making sure that Somerset County remains New Jersey’s model for proactive initiatives supporting businesses and residents.”
For information, call 908-218-4300 or email info@scbp.org.
Bob Makin covers Rutgers for MyCentralJersey.com and the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. To get unlimited access to his informative and entertaining work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.