South Amboy Getting 2 New Big Warehouse Distribution Centers

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ — Two brand-new big warehouses are coming to 101 Main Street and 111 Main Street in South Amboy.

South Amboy is getting $4.9 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to help remediate the land to build the warehouses, local Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) said Tuesday. It has not been named which company, or companies, will operate the warehouse distribution centers.

Amazon already operates two of their largest distribution centers in the state just up the road in Avenel and Carteret.

The American Rescue Plan was, of course, the coronavirus recovery bill that House Democrats passed and President Joe Biden signed into law in 2021. No Republicans voted for the American Rescue Plan, saying that it unnecessary government spending, which some warned would lead to inflation.

South Amboy will use the funding to:

• Repair roads, including a stormwater remediation and relocation project for lower Main Street. Some land around 101 Main Street will also be raised to prevent flooding.
• A flooding pump station — "much-needed," said Mayor Fred Henry.
• Curbing and repaving of streets (which specific streets were not named)
• South Amboy will also use the money to begin three industrial redevelopment projects on the waterfront, including the construction of two warehouse distribution centers.
• One of the warehouses will be a 285,742-square-foot warehouse located at 101 Main Street, at what is currently a commercial driving school. The second warehouse will be a 152,000-square-foot distribution center located next door, at 111 Main St., according to the Home News Tribune.

Interestingly, none of the American Rescue Plan funds will go to the proposed South Amboy ferry service to NYC. Construction on the ferry terminal (at Radford Ferry Road) has not even started yet. The city of South Amboy only started digging out and building the parking lot and ferry dock in May. The parking lot and dock are the most affordable things to build first. South Amboy does not have the funding yet to begin the ferry terminal.

The latest: Ground Broken For South Amboy Ferry Service Parking Lot, Bulkheads (May 31)

It is estimated that the American Rescue Plan funding will create 390 jobs and generate $1.1 million in private investment, said Congressman Pallone.

Pallone is running for re-election this November in the midterms; he will be challenged by former Hazlet mayor Sue Kiley, a Republican.

Mayor Henry said that South Amboy continues to "reclaim former industrial sites" along the Raritan Bay waterfront.