County to Launch 'Grow Monmouth' Campaign

The Monmouth County Office of Economic Development has spearheaded a new initiative to create a business-friendly environment in the region.

During the Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting on Thursday, Aug. 11, Administrative Department Director of Planning & Economic Development and Regulatory Affairs John Ciufo and Office of Economic and Workforce Development Director Amy Fitzgerald presented plans for the county's new campaign, which has been branded Grow Monmouth.

“Grow Monmouth is a long-term, community-wide initiative to ensure the economic health of Monmouth County,” Ciufo said.

The campaign is aimed at retaining and expanding business, enticing new business, and encouraging job growth.

Freeholder Thomas Arnone noted that Monmouth hasn’t been immune to the national economic downturn.

“The only way we’re going to create jobs is by creating and enhancing businesses in Monmouth County,” Freehold Thomas Arnone said. “It’s just as vital to bring businesses here as to keep them here. We have to try to find a way to reach out.”

Fitzgerald presented a three-step approach of development, awareness and engagement to meet Grow Monmouth’s objectives.

During the development phase, county officials will meet with members of key communities including business groups, chambers of commerce, educational groups, nonprofit organizations and others, Fitzgerald said. A community advisory committee would help the county develop a strategy for reaching out to area businesses. The awareness phase would mark the official launch of the Grow Monmouth campaign, with a focus on publicizing and communicating the program’s benefits. Finally, the engagement initiative would promote the county’s business building toolkit for small- to mid-size companies with growth potential, Fitzgerald said. The toolkit, BizConnect, offers assistance in navigating government regulations and resolving issues an expanding business may come up against.

Fitzgerald said the Grow Monmouth campaign would also aim at creating a more business-friendly environment at the municipal level with seminars and information sessions.

“Ninety percent of the complaints I get from the business community in Monmouth County is that they’re having a difficult time locally with permitting, with getting in front of the planning boards, things like that,” Fitzgerald said.

Grow Monmouth will also focus on building partnerships with state and regional business development offices to meet goals of expanded business and job growth.