Mercer will ride out economic storm Lawrence panel is told

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Despite the economic gloom and doom nationwide, Mercer County is uniquely prepared to ride out the storm, according to Elizabeth Maher Muoio, director of Mercer County’s Office of Economic Development and Sustainability.
   Mercer County has many advantages and many assets, Ms. Muoio — a former Mercer County freeholder —told the Lawrence Township Growth and Redevelopment Committee at its annual awards breakfast Oct. 7 at the Green Acres Country Club.
   Mercer County has multiple stops on the Northeast railroad corridor, Ms. Muoio said. The county has its own airport, and the New Jersey Turnpike traverses the county. The five colleges within its borders means Mercer County can tap a highly educated workforce, she said.
   ”No other county (in New Jersey) can offer this,” Ms. Muoio said, adding that Lawrence Township “is a beacon in our county” because it has an “engaged and active business community.”
   Ms. Muoio was the keynote speaker at the Lawrence Township Growth and Redevelopment Committee’s 10th annual awards breakfast. The event was initiated at the suggestion of former committee member John Simone Jr. He is a principal in the Simone Property Group.
   In recognition of Mr. Simone’s efforts, which include the creation of the awards breakfast, the longtime Lawrence businessman was tapped to receive the Mayor’s Award for Economic Development last week. The award is given to a civic group or person or program that deserves individual acknowledgement within the community.
   In the absence of Mayor Mark Holmes, Mercer County Freeholder Pat Colavita Jr. presented the award to Mr. Simone. Mr. Colavita is a former Lawrence Township mayor and Township Council member.
   ”I’m very happy to present the Mayor’s Award. If you stay around Mercer County or Lawrence Township long enough, (one will find) we are all related,” Mr. Colavita said, adding that Mr. Simone is “a cousin of a cousin.”
   Mr. Simone told the audience that receiving the award from an old friend — Mr. Colavita — is “especially meaningful.” He said his family moved to Lawrence from Trenton in the 1940s, and his father embarked on his own economic development project by creating the Circle Bowling Lanes on the Brunswick Circle. The building was torn down many years ago.
   Councilwoman Pam Mount presented the next award, which is the Large Business Award, to Brandywine Realty Trust for participating in the construction of a segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail — a path for bicyclists and pedestrians — through a portion of its office park off Princeton Pike.
   The New Small Business Award was given to Linda Hughes of Douthit’s Designs, which is a florist business on Brunswick Pike. Ms. Hughes formerly worked for the Lawrence Road Florists and struck out on her own. G&RD Committee chairman Christopher Bobbitt presented Ms. Hughes with the award.
   The Lawrence Hamnett Soccer Association was given the Business Service Award, which is handed out to an established group or business that contributes to the goal of furthering business or community development in the township.
   The soccer association serves more than 1,000 children between 5 and 17 years old in recreational and competitive soccer leagues. Its teams are sponsored by 50 local businesses, according to Kenneth Kiernan, who presented the award.
   Councilman Michael Powers handed out the New Building/Renovation Award to Ben Franklin Associates LLC, for its construction of a new office building on Franklin Corner Road that is occupied by the Teich Groh law firm and a dentist’s office.
   GR&D Committee member John Conroy presented the Residential Award to Julius Gross, who is a painting contractor, for restoring a Victorian house that he purchased at 2797 Main St. in the historic village of Lawrenceville. The house is next door to his own home.
   The Environmental Award was given to The Lawrenceville School by Councilwoman Pam Mount in recognition of the private school’s new Al-Rashid Health and Wellness Center. The building, which is expected to open in January, was built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
   The Podmore/Dwyer Historic Award was presented to the New Jersey National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey by G&RD committee member James Cordingley.
   The museum, which is housed at the New Jersey National Guard Armory on Eggerts Crossing Road, traces the history of the National Guard from its earliest days to the present.