Join Largest Single Business Event In Somerset County

The Somerset County Business Partnership has announced thatthe 2014 Annual Meeting & Celebration of Success, the year’s largest gathering of the Somerset County business community, is scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2014 at the Palace at Somerset Park, 333 Davidson Avenue in Somerset, New Jersey.

The day’s activities will begin with a networking reception at 11:45 A.M. followed by the luncheon at 12:15 P.M.The Annual Meeting presents business people with the most effective networking opportunity of the year with over 500 guests from the public and private sectors attending in 2013.

The luncheon will include a presentation of the economic and sustainability goals and objectives set for Somerset County businesses in 2015 and will recognize the 2014 Economic Vitality Award and Special Recognition recipients.According to Mike Kerwin, President/CEO of the Business Partnership,

“The goals of Annual Meeting are to reorganize the Business Partnership, recognize the companies that have added to our economic vitality, and announce our top strategic objectives for the coming year. Most of all, it will provide everyone with an unparalleled opportunity to network and market their business.”

“With over 500 people attending, last year’s Annual Meeting has been referred to as the largest business event in Somerset County’s history,” added Troy Fischer, Chairman of the Partnership.

“The theme for this year’s meeting is “Your County - Your Platform - Your Success” with a goal to inspire business people to continue to utilize the Partnership to keep Somerset County a great place to do business, attract talent, and make things happen.”Recipients include:Affinity Federal Credit Union, Basking Ridge, New Jersey for increasing the area’s economic vitality by improving the financial lives of its members and for their support of the community though their foundation.Costco, North Plainfield, New Jersey for their redevelopment of a critical site along the Route 22 Corridor in North Plainfield.Middle Earth, Bridgewater, New Jersey for their long-time community service, providing employment readiness training to disadvantaged youth.

Northeast Power Dry, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, a growing Somerset County company that specializes in disaster recovery, for making our community more resilient.Special Recognition – NJ American Waterfor their investment in New Jersey’s infrastructure for water, our most valuable resource.Registration is $75 for Business Partnership members and $115 for non-members if purchased by Tuesday, December 9, 2014 and $90 for members and $140 for non-members thereafter. Reservations may be made by calling the Somerset County Business Partnership at 908-218-4300 or online at www.scbpannualmeeting.org.

Premier sponsorship for the Annual Meeting is provided by PNC Bank. Corporate sponsors include SJE, Wells Fargo, RWJ Somerset, NJ Advance MediaNJ.Com & Star Ledger, Advance Realty, PSE&G, and Somerset Savings Bank.

AWARD RECIPIENT BACKGROUNDAffinity Federal Credit Union, Basking Ridge, New Jersey for increasing the area’s economic vitality by improving the financial lives of its members and for their support of the community though their foundation.

Affinity Federal Credit Union is a non-profit organization and with 15 branches and more than 133,000 members from in excess of 4,800 businesses is the largest credit union headquartered in the state. With total assets exceeding of $2.3 billion, Affinity serves Somerset County with five branches providing $50.3 million in commercial loans and $3.9 million in other loans.

Affinity employs 400 people, 285 of whom work in Somerset County. In 2013, Affinity had over 50 new hires. The AFCU Foundation sponsors three scholarships, provided financial education, and supports numerous Somerset County charities and non-profits.

Costco, North Plainfield, New Jersey for their redevelopment of a critical site along the Route 22 Corridor in North Plainfield.

The recently opened Costco North Plainfield store created 250 construction jobs and 150 to 200 permanent jobs, many of which are support by company job training programs. The Bridgewater facility employs 230 people with an additional 50 seasonal hires. The new facility uses innovation in site development including lighting energy management systems, energy efficient lighting design, and energy efficient transformers.

Costco regularly supports the Children’s Miracle Network, Children’s Specialized Hospital. Stuff the Backpack programs, and donates food to panties and soup kitchens on a daily basis.

Middle Earth, Bridgewater, New Jersey for their long-time community service, providing employment readiness training to disadvantaged youth.

The Middle Earth mission is to provide individuals, primarily youth, with prevention, intervention, and crisis services to help them to develop into responsible and productive members of the community. Staff provides employment readiness training, soft-skills training, and places youth in paid internships.

Participants are provided the opportunity to earn a Work Credential following 30 hours of employment and are taught business ownership responsibilities.

Middle Earth also provides employments opportunities for high schoolers with in the 21st CCLC after school program.

Northeast Power Dry, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, a growing Somerset County company that specializes in disaster recovery, for making our community more resilient.

Northeast Power Dry is a professional water removal and drying service that has been in operation since 2007. The company currently operates out of a 22,000 sq. ft. complex with 28 full time and 10 part-time employees supported by a fleet of 21 vehicles and trailers. In 2013 NPD serviced 1,100 businesses and residences. Annual revenue is expected to reach $4 million in 2014.

Special Recognition – NJ American Water for their investment in New Jersey’s infrastructure for water, our most valuable resource.

New Jersey American Water is being recognized for the company’s efforts to improve service and delivery though major infrastructure improvements.

The Raritan Millstone Water Plant is capable of providing 156 million gallons of water per day. Numerous flood events have affected operations resulting in a $32 million flood protection effort that will add an additional 4 feet to provide protection for up to a 500-year storm.

The Distribution System Improvement Charge will enable the utility to recover the cost of aging infrastructure projects and improve service.

Photo Caption: The Somerset County Business Partnership Annual Meeting, the largest business gathering in Somerset County, is scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2014 at the Palace in Somerset.