Cumberland County Improvement Authority (CCIA), Millville, N.J., announced a $9.2 million initiative that will result in a Food Specialization Center in Bridgeton, N.J. The new center is expected to bring 190 jobs and provide flexible spaces, technical assistance and other resources for new food production companies. 

The CCIA received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to construct the more than 31,000-square-foot facility, which is to be located adjacent to the Rutgers Food Innovation Center for its ability to “provide developing companies a full complement of incubation space and business services to ready them for facility independence and maximum growth potential.”

“Completion of this project will provide regional capacity to grow and retain the cluster of food production companies developing their operations here. It will ultimately foster job creation and new business growth in Cumberland County,” says Gerard Velazquez, president and CEO of CCIA. 

Resources at the new facility will range from industrial food processing space, freezer and cold storage, warehousing (with loading dock areas) and shipping to food safety regulation, marketing and sales support. It will also provide short-term accommodations for new businesses until they are ready to move to a fully independent facility.

“Here at the new center, these developing and other food companies will become better positioned to locate to independent industrial space in stand-alone facilities throughout our county,” adds Velazquez.