SJBiz_AroundTown_Cumberland_Cnty_0519_AroundTown 5 / 20 / 19 4 : 05 PM Page 1 around town dedicated to F & S ’ fruit and apple operations with approximately 120 employees . “ The Progresso plant closure was significant , especially in the loss of jobs , ” says Gerald Powered by Velazquez III , executive director of the CCIA . “ F & S being there now means we have a viable facility and a company that is hiring folks , cre - ating new jobs , and also working with other ancil - Partnerships lary businesses to lease out space . ” This could be the foundation for F & S to become a national player , he adds . “ Progresso Projects are thriving in Cumberland County was once just a local company , so in a perfect world , F & S grows and becomes a more signif - with the help of private and public entities icant contributor to the economy not just here [ By Liz Hunter ] working together . but nationally . ” KRES COLD STORAGE Just last month Vineland’s city council approved a loan worth more than $ 1 million for a freezer and cold storage warehouse owned by KRES Cold Storage . The 38,000 - square - foot ware - house will be built on the former GraphiColor property . Millville Cumberland County College HURLEY INDUSTRIAL PARK Since opening in 2011 , the industrial park adja - The combined resources make for a better cent to Millville Airport has not had success in ome say “ two heads are better than result , and Cumberland County is poised to reap finding tenants . There is now interest from an one ” and in Cumberland County it’s the rewards for generations to come thanks to Italian meat processing company , Rovagnati proven to be a successful economic S the solid foundation built by these partnerships . USA , that is looking to build on a 44 - acre parcel strategy . An area with a rich history of glass , in the park . While the deal is going through the textiles and food production , the county has Planning Board process , it could be the boost made huge strides in shaking off its stereotypes Economic Projects Millville needs to encourage other businesses and ushered in a climate of innovation and Vineland to come to the industrial park . improvement . But the effort has not been F & S PRODUCE FACILITY “ From our perspective , this means jobs and made by just one group — it’s been a combina - ratables for the county , ” says Velazquez . “ The tion of local and county organizations in the focus is to direct new development to the areas public and private sector working in concert for that are developable and the industrial park is the best outcome for all of Cumberland in an Opportunity Zone , so it makes sense to County’s residents and businesses . drive businesses there . ” For instance , Cumberland Grows is a joint initiative with the Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cumberland GLASSTOWN CREATIVE Development Group , whose members include ENTERPRISE CENTER local municipalities . The marketing project is Located in downtown Millville in the Arts & Inno - responsible for reaching business decision - vation Center , the Glasstown Creative Enterprise makers and educating them about all that Center is South Jersey’s first co - operative work - After the Progresso Soup plant closed in 2017 , Cumberland County has to offer — afford - space . Offering 3,000 square feet of dedi - it was a loss of over 300 jobs and left Vineland able land , infrastructure and economic incen - cated desks / cubicles and conference rooms , the with a large empty building . But several months tives — with a unified voice . CEC is home to Holly City Development Cor - later the facility was purchased by F & S Produce The Cumberland County Improvement poration , which also spearheaded the project . after the company secured $ 24 million in tax Authority ( CCIA ) has become a major conduit Laura Wallick , program manager at New breaks over 10 years from the state Economic for development in the county , from the state - Jersey Community Capital ( NJCC ) , says the Development Authority , guaranteeing to keep of - the - art Cumberland Technical Education Creative Enterprise Center was funded with 280 jobs and 60 or more new positions . The Center that opened in 2016 , to the planned financing and a small grant through the building was retrofitted and F & S moved in last brand - new county jail in Bridgeton . Much has THRIVE South Jersey program . November . Elsewhere on the same location , been done through partnerships with other “ This project took a vacant , underutilized another 120,000 square feet of space is under agencies , including the Cumberland Empow - building and created a mixed - use space with construction with drainage infrastructure and erment Zone Corporation . market - rate apartments , four artist studios equipment replacement . This area will be 18 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5 | SouthJerseyBiz.net