SNJDC - 1st Qtr Chronicle final w-links

SNJDC - 1st Qtr Chronicle final w-links - Mar 24

t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s the south jersey transportation authority has a growing environmental program ..................... 2 camden county college provides grant-funded skills training for nj employees at no tuition cost to them or your company ............................................ 3 community is at the core of a sustainable future for south jersey ......................... 5 strong foundation for salem county port ................. 6 connor construction delivers cutting-edge facility for lincoln tech in south jersey ................................ 7 south jersey’s electric vehicle charging network is growing ..................................................... 9 achieving municipal public education and outreach goals for community resiliency in new jersey ............................................................ 10 noaa grant gives stockton university students hands-on training ....................................................... 13 acad - your path to efficient technology .................. 14 the chronicle is published by the southern new jersey development council editor: benjamin gallinelli publisher: marlene z. asselta sales and marketing: randi mcdonnell creative and design: glenn davila/performance marketing printing: bellia printing advertising and editorial contact: southern new jersey development council 900 route 168, suite d-4 turnersville, nj 08012 phone: 856-228-7500 fax: 856-228-7511 email: snjdc@snjdc.org president’s message president’s message 2024 brings a new year of potential for southern new jersey to grow and flourish. our first quarter edition of the chronicle focuses on energy and environmental projects within the region and the economic growth and development they are expected to bring to south jersey and beyond. in your path to efficient technology, acad, a full-service information technology company, highlights their versatile services to assist clients with autodesk and autocad software, customizing an approach unique to each organization. camden county college provides grant-funded skills training for nj employees at no tuition cost to them or your company details the college’s basic skills workforce training grant, a program initiated in 2007 in partnership with the new jersey department of labor, the njbia, and the consortium. in community is at the core of a sustainable future for south jersey, concord engineering group highlights their commitment to sustainable building practices in south jersey, both in their current high-profile projects and in their early adoption of eco-friendly technologies. connor construction delivers cutting-edge facility for lincoln tech in south jersey showcases the result of their recent collaboration to create new classrooms for hvac and eest programs at lincoln tech’s moorestown, nj campus, helping to establish the education center as a leader in skilled labor training. cross county connection’s south jersey’s electric vehicle charging network is growing details the inauguration of two new public electric vehicle (ev) fast chargers in downtown collingswood, and cross county connection’s dedication to helping municipalities and businesses in south jersey continue to adopt similar sustainable practices. new jersey municipalities are now required to comply with new climate change adaptation regulations. in achieving municipal public education and outreach goals for community resiliency in new jersey, gza highlights the importance of public education and involvement in this process. strong foundation for salem county port describes elements of phase 1 of the nj wind port wharf project in lower alloways creek township, and precast system’s production and delivery of the 1,700 concrete piles and other structures necessary for the port. in the south jersey transportation authority has a growing environmental program, the south jersey transportation authority outlines the benefits of its readi program (roadway environmental advancement initiative), and the program’s growing partnership with multiple environmental organizations. lastly, in noaa grant gives stockton university students hands-on training, the university details its efforts working with southern new jersey commercial crabbers to clean up, remove and recycle derelict crabbing gear and watercraft from local waterways, and the additional benefits a grant from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) will provide. we want to thank the contributors to this edition of the chronicle, and we look forward to reconnecting with our members at our in-person events and gatherings this year. we welcome your comments at marlene@snjdc.org. to learn more about the snjdc, visit our website at snjdc.org. sincerely, marlene z. asselta president southern new jersey development council 1

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t the south jersey transportation authority has a growing environmental program by south jersey transportation authority the south jersey transportation authority (sjta), through its readi program (roadway environmental advancement initiative), established an integrative roadside vegetative management (irvm) plan. it is the logical application of good information, communication, technology, planning, and roadside maintenance. this plan includes the planting of native wildflowers and trees. research in the environmental benefits include the creation and restoration of native habitat for bees, butterflies, and birds that are important pollinators in serious decline. additional benefits of the vegetative management program include the stabilization of roadside soils, filtration of stormwater runoff and silt into streams, enhancing biodiversity and integrity of desirable native plant communities including threatened and endangered species, and reducing the negative effects and spread of invasive plant species. carbon sequestration achieved by the flowers and trees along with reduced mowing adds to the benefits of the irvm plan. a plan to develop solar irrigation is underway to jump start newly planted wildflowers. stockton university environmental studies student interns are also enthusiastic participants in the program and, not surprisingly, bring the latest academic expertise to the readi program. through the roadway environmental advancement initiative, the sjta has developed partnerships with nj audubon, nj department of environmental protection, the nj pinelands commission, nj and us fish and wildlife, and is now developing a partnership with the nj department of transportation to establish native wildflower habitats on adjoining roadway intersections. (continued on page 8) 2

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t camden county college provides grant-funded skills training for nj employees at no tuition cost to them or your company by camden county college the basic skills workforce training grant was initiated in 2007 and is a partnership between the new jersey department of labor, the new jersey business and industry association (njbia) and the new jersey community college consortium for workforce and economic development (consortium) and is open to all privately owned new jersey businesses and organizations. inception of the grant, over 210,000 since the employees from over 13,000 new jersey businesses and organizations have received training. any new jersey company or organization is eligible for this program at no cost. camden county college (ccc) partners with employers by delivering dedicated customized training classes to meet the employer’s specific needs, and providing open-enrollment classes where individual employees can attend publicly scheduled virtual classes. the michaels organization in camden is one of the many organizations whose employees have benefited from the grant. (continued on page 11) “our company has been participating in the grant-funded training program for approximately one year. our company has a small training team and this program is a great way to supplement our existing programs, and provide professional development for our teammates,” lea ann bowers, director of talent development remarked. “we enjoy that the classes can be taken online or in an on-site cohort. we look forward to continuing our partnership with ccc!” 3

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t community is at the core of a sustainable future for south jersey by concord engineering south jersey’s dedication to sustainable building practices drives positive change that serves as a model to other regions. over the past 35 years concord engineering has been headquartered in camden county, we have witnessed the positive impact of innovative building solutions – and have been honored to help implement many of them. concord full-service engineering, energy commodity consulting, construction management, and commissioning firm. our work with utilities including is a south jersey gas, health care institutions including atlanticare, higher education including camden county college, rowan and stockton universities, as well as private entities including caesars, tropicana casino & resort, and showboat, has helped to develop buildings that are as energy efficient as possible, even at a large scale. designing for energy and the environment requires an entire community of passionate, skilled professionals. it only happens with a deep pedigree and commitment. workmanship work quality is paramount when developing complex, high-profile building projects with strict budgets, specifications, and construction timelines. concord provides high caliber engineering, design, and energy consulting. we have built trusted relationships with code officials and permitting agencies, as well as workforce labor unions including u.a. local 322, plumbers and pipefitters, which concord is a signatory to. these partnerships help ensure projects run smoothly and are built to the highest standards. early adoption we have a reputation for designing and implementing cutting edge systems that make efficient buildings possible. concord has expanded nationally with pioneering like geothermal heating and cooling and central plant microgrids because of successful projects we completed in south jersey. since 1991, concord has designed geothermal systems for south jersey schools as well as resilient efficient microgrids for the borgata and ocean casinos. technologies collaboration it is exciting when concord’s multiple groups of experts can work together toward a common goal. as engineers, we recognize that a building can be as efficient as possible, but energy costs will always be controlled by the utility. to help building owners on both sides of the meter, concord serves as the energy agent and energy consultant for the south jersey power cooperative. we administer and manage the purchase of electricity for industry associations, small businesses, rural farming operations, and most of the county and municipalities in south jersey – even residences – by aggregating their energy bills and securing the best electric and gas supplier. a bright future south jersey will continue to drive positive change as it transforms into a wind and hydrogen energy hub with the mid-atlantic clean hydrogen hub (mach2) initiative. we can’t wait to see how the community combines forward thinking with result-oriented goals as we move into an era that requires even more energy efficient, sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective solutions, and let’s not forget, job creation. 5

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t strong foundation for salem county port by precast systems, inc. phase 1 of the nj wind port wharf project in lower alloways creek township was built for wind energy and designed to support many port requirements. by utilizing a durable and strong driven prestressed concrete square pile foundation, the nj wind port becomes a flexible asset for the entire southern new jersey region. more than 1,700 30” square piles, ranging from 90ft- 125ft long each, were installed vertically into the ground or mudline (in the water) with an impact hammer. a driven pile is a proven pile since the tremendous energy required to install the pile directly correlates with its capacity to support heavy loads. the square piles themselves consist of 6,500psi high strength and low water-cement ratio concrete that has a proven record against corrosion. the main reinforcing of the piling consists of (24) 0.6” diameter super high strength 7-wire prestress strands that are pulled to 44,000lb of tension in each strand prior to pouring the concrete. when the concrete hardens, the prestress strands are cut thereby pushing the pile together all through the pile’s service life. the force imparted by the strands give the pile a very large bending capacity, an important feature for mooring large ships to the wharf. the piles were manufactured by precast systems, inc. (psi) in pedricktown and allentown, new jersey, and transported by barge from a point less than 30 miles from the nj wind port project site along the delaware river to reduce impact on the public roads. psi also manufactured the remaining structural components for the project including precast caps, slabs, fascia beams and mooring structures. psi is a new jersey business based in allentown, nj and has been servicing the northeast’s concrete infrastructure needs since 1981. psi manufactures precast elements for marine, bridges, buildings and many other infrastructure projects. manufacturing precast elements offsite at psi’s plants reduces concrete trucks on the roadways, provides more consistent materials that are made in plant conditions and reduces forming, placement and curing times at the site. all this adds up to shorter construction times at project sites, more durability and reduced impact on the new jersey public. 6

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t connor construction delivers cutting-edge facility for lincoln tech in south jersey by connor construction, llc connor construction, a commercial general contractor based in deptford, nj, and lincoln technical institute, inc., better known as lincoln tech – a national leader in specialized postsecondary technical training for more than 75 years with locations across the country – teamed up to deliver new classrooms to accommodate two new hands-on training programs at their moorestown, nj campus. the addition of hvac and eest (electrical & electronics systems technology) represents a significant expansion of the school’s program offerings and solidifies lincoln tech as a leader in skilled labor training. lincoln tech has already started making significant upgrades to their facilities around the country, adding innovative programs to existing campuses. with this specific project, they aim to tackle the need for training skilled technicians in new jersey. one of the best features of this project is the diversity of real-world training. students will get to work on commercial and residential units in a controlled environment that leads to their successful execution in the field. as new units and environmental initiatives are laid out by leading brands, homebuilders, and governing bodies, these programs will be the first chance to train our next generation. to provide the space, connor completed significant demolition that made way for a revitalized layout and equipment including walk-in coolers, fuel oil tanks, and condensing units. students are then able to review and attend lectures on these skills while faculty have their respective offices for administrative work – all of which previously existed in the same undivided space. according to the associated builders and contractors, by 2026 our industry will need an influx of one million workers in addition to current growth to match the projected number of employees retiring. this parallels bureau of labor statistics projections indicating that new jersey alone will have 32,000 job openings in hvac tech and electrical systems positions over the next decade. the future of this campus will support up to 120 students in each program, and in the process, pay careful attention to industry leading environmental impact. as the landscape of construction and design changes, projects like this represent the lifecycle of education and workforce development. connor construction was honored to contribute to this build and will look to support more development in the education sector. 7

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t the south jersey transportation authority has a growing environmental program (continued from page 2) the sjta takes its commitment to the environment very seriously and continues to work together with nj environmental agencies to improve the atlantic city expressway, not only for the traveling public, but for wildlife as well. the readi program has partnered with nj fish and wildlife through their connecting habitat across new jersey (chanj) initiative. the atlantic city expressway (ace) maintains animal crossings in important pinelands reserve areas providing safe migration so animals can seek food and territory for diverse breeding to maintain healthy populations. stockton university students provide assistance to the nj fish and wildlife chanj by collecting data, video and photographs for use in the study of habitat fragmentation. an additional dimension to the nj department of environmental protection relationship is the establishment of climate change learning/photo stations to be placed along the wetlands at the eastern section of the roadway. again, stockton university interns will collect data and submit it to njdep to note the rate of seasonal sea rise. 8

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t south jersey’s electric vehicle charging network is growing by cross county connection the borough of collingswood hosted an official “plug- in” ribbon cutting ceremony on december 6, 2023, in downtown collingswood to celebrate the installation of two new public electric vehicle (ev) fast chargers. the ev chargers are ready for use and will provide a significant boost to sustainable transportation options in the region. these two public fast-charging stations are the first of their kind in camden county. with this new charging infrastructure, ev owners can now conveniently charge their vehicles in collingswood at a considerably faster rate. an 80% charge can now be achieved in just 20 minutes to an hour. the faster charge will help to eliminate “range anxiety,” a commonly cited concern known for reluctance in the purchase an ev. a growing, convenient, and more visible charging network would likely encourage more people to make the switch. these stations provide a convenient and timely solution for sustainable-minded shoppers too, allowing them to plug in and recharge their electric vehicles in collingswood’s charming downtown. visitors can plug in - and then go on to indulge in a delightful array of options along haddon avenue, from exploring small businesses and savoring byob dining, to immersing themselves in the local downtown environment. the project was made possible by funding through three grant programs including the nj board of public utilities new jersey clean energy electric vehicle tourism grant, the nj department of environmental protection’s it pay$ to plug-in grant, and additional grant funding from pse&g. the borough hopes to enhance accessibility to fast charging stations, addressing the growing demand for evs in collingswood and the surrounding areas. you can find information on these and collingswood’s other ev charging options on the borough website. cross county connection is dedicated to helping municipalities and businesses in south jersey to continue adopting sustainable practices, including the (continued on page 12) the two fast-charging stations are the first in public parking areas in camden county and help to expand electric vehicle infrastructure, which is critical to reaching new jersey’s goal of 330,000 evs by 2025 and 100 percent clean energy by 2050. 9

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t achieving municipal public education and outreach goals for community resiliency in new jersey by christopher schmitt, senior consultant sustainable communities, gza geoenvironmental, inc. municipalities in new jersey are required to adhere to the new climate change adaptation regulations in the municipal land use law (mlul), and the new climate resilience-related plan endorsement requirements adopted by the state planning commission. these regulations require that each community assess its own vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change. this process is called a climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment (ccrhva). once the ccrhva is complete, municipalities must prepare a resilience strategy to address vulnerabilities so that communities can become more resilient to climate change. the resilience strategy vulnerable areas and risk in a comprehensive fashion and must provide strategies and design standards that may be implemented to reduce or avoid risks associated with climate change. should address range of communications and outreach methods throughout the project lifecycle. public involvement must be a core goal for all organizers and stakeholders as they strategize, prioritize, plan, design, construct, and maintain resiliency systems. the first step in conducting a ccrhva is for the municipality to initiate and engage with the greater community as part of public education and outreach. the most effective ways to strategize, plan and implement public education and outreach actions to achieve the desired outcome of meaningful public participation are to maximize representation and participation from the most affected populations. municipalities must create accessible opportunities and reduce barriers for equitable participation in the development of the ccrhva. public education and outreach are essential components of both a ccrhva and a resilience strategy. meaningful public involvement early in the planning process that includes full representation from all communities affected is key to a successful process. equitable access to public involvement opportunities ensures overburdened populations are included. achieving meaningful public involvement requires the creation and implementation of equitable programs using a diverse and inclusive that underserved and from representation involvement full meaningful public is a process that proactively seeks the community, considers public comments and feedback, and incorporates that feedback into a project, program, or plan when possible. the impact of community contributions encourages early and continuous public involvement and brings diverse viewpoints and values into the transportation decision-making process. this process enables the community and agencies to make better-informed decisions through collaborative efforts and improves the decision-making process. please contact christopher schmitt if you would like more information about public participation and climate change vulnerability assessments - email christopher.schmitt@gza.com or call the office at 609.481.3911. 10

camden county college provides grant-funded skills training... (continued from page 3) eligibility requirements: n employees must work either part-time (20 hours per week) or full-time n employees must be paid by employer at their usual hourly rate while in training n employer must have a valid fein number, job title(s) and wage range of participant(s) n public employees and unemployed persons are not eligible for this program please visit the following link to see a sampling of their course offerings or to contact ccc for more information. https://www.camdencc.edu/ about-1/for-your-business/ grant-funded-training/ 11

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t south jersey’s electric vehicle charging network is growing (continued from page 9) installation of ev charging stations. to help navigate this rapidly changing landscape, the organization offers services, information, and other resources. an example is the ev resource guide, an online publication that goes beyond the basics, and is intended to be an implementation tool. the guide is regularly updated as new information, incentive programs, and grants become available. the guide includes the ev grants and incentives table, a one-stop resource that provides an extensive list of funding programs. as well as the south jersey electric vehicle registrations and charging infrastructure map, which shows where ev ownership rates are highest alongside charging station locations, and other information that will help plan an expanded charging network. if you would like to get started exploring evs and charging stations, visit driveless.com to start. you can also email us at ccctma@driveless.com or call us at (856) 596-8228. 12

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t noaa grant gives stockton university students hands-on training $1.4 million marine debris removal grant strengthens ties with fishing industry by mark melhorn, associate director of news & media relations, stockton university since 2012, stockton university scientists have worked closely with southern new jersey commercial crabbers to clean up, remove and recycle more than 3,500 derelict crabbing traps from local waterways. that’s more than $150,000 of economic benefit to the commercial crabbing industry. the continuation of that program took a huge step forward in 2023 after the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) awarded a $1.4 million grant to stockton to further the program. with an additional $300,000 matching grant from the university, more than $1.7 million will be applied toward identifying and removing lost fishing and aquaculture gear, cataloging abandoned watercraft in new jersey and removing 15- 25 target vessels. “we have partnered with stockton university for nearly a decade to remove derelict fishing gear, and value their expertise and commitment to tackling marine debris,” said katie morgan, regional coordinator for the noaa marine debris program in the mid-atlantic. this award, one of the largest given to stockton’s marine field station, is the fourth the university has received from noaa. stockton received $100,000 in 2012, $119,626 in 2015 and $226,299 in 2018. “it is the program’s goal to strengthen our existing partnerships with commercial fishers and gain the trust and collaboration of more commercial partners,” said steve evert, director of the marine field station. steve evert, mark sullivan, a professor of marine science, and peter straub, a professor of biology and coastal zone management, have developed relationships with local crabbers, including warren and karen unkert of the crab farm in mullica township. the unkerts have been involved with stockton since 2012. before working with the university, they said they would lose up to $2,000 a year due to crab pots that (continued on page 16) as part of the grant, students will use sonar instrumentation to help identify lost crab pots and other abandoned aquaculture debris. crabber warren unkert and his wife, karen, have been involved with stockton since 2012 to help remove crab pots from the mullica river. the unkerts are from mullica township, which is also the location of their business, the crab farm. 13

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t acad - your path to efficient technology by dustin cucinotta, president, acad us acad is a full-service it (information technology) company which services clients in a wide variety of fields. we specialize in customizing and training in autodesk / autocad software for architects, engineers, interior designers, builders and manufactures, with over 20 years of design related experience. we provide a thorough and realistic understanding of your company’s needs, priorities, and concerns. n we know autocad and it n we know the unique needs of your business n we know how your network could and should function n we know what your staff should know about autocad and it n we know how to teach what is needed to be successful find us at: https://acad.us.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/ company/acad-us-com-l-l-c we don’t sell equipment – only service we are an honest and unbiased advocate for the best interests of our clients, who pay only for our time and recommendations. our clients appreciate that it is they and they alone who determines what to buy, who to buy their equipment from, and who has the best price. our proven solutions are effective, practical, and affordable. from recommending computer equipment to installing the software… from designing a training program for your employees to testing their retention of the training session… from fully integrating existing systems to clarifying your scope and procedures…. from the onset of your design project through completion … and beyond — acad can help you save time, money, and unnecessary frustration. best of all, we come to you! as a mobile autocad, training, and it networking company, we provide the efficiency and convenience of actually coming to your office so that we can provide the essential help, insights and expert training that will empower your company to consistently achieve creative design excellence. 14

2 0 2 4 e n e r g y & e n v i r o n m e n t noaa grant gives stockton university students hands-on training were either cut off, dragged away by boats or lost in a storm. now as part of the program, if a pot is lost, they can get it right back. with the additional funds, evert said stockton will expand the program to other commercial partners, licensed crabbers and aquaculture operations. another major part of the project is student involvement. since 2012, more than 150 undergraduate students have received hands-on experience. under the new grant, more students will receive training on the sonar equipment and general boat-based skills to retrieve pots from the river and bay bottom. also, two graduate students from stockton’s coastal zone management master’s program will be involved. the latest, much larger noaa grant has a significant new component — identifying and cataloging abandoned boats in new jersey. sullivan hopes once vessels are mapped, stockton could work with the new jersey state police and local municipalities to begin removing those vessels. (continued from page 13) stockton students view side-scan sonar data in the mullica river. this type of sonar will be used to help identify marine debris. 16