Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Marks Opening of Vineland Transportation Hub

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On May 28th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the Vineland Regional Transportation Center, a $4.0 million facility designed to address the transportation needs of local area residents. The Center is in the heart of the Cumberland Empowerment Zone, a HUD-designated area that receives special federal financial assistance as well as business tax credits to revitalize distressed neighborhoods. The ribbon-cutting event was attended by Mayor Perry Barse, State Assemblyman Nick Asselta and Congressman Frank LoBiondo.

The Vineland Regional Transportation Center is the first phase of a regional transportation strategy for Cumberland County, which will provide a hub for the NJ Transit system and for countywide transportation efforts. It will include such amenities as on-site day care, retail businesses, and a touch-screen kiosk offering informational assistance and employment resources. It is expected that 25 new jobs will be created as a result of this project.

The Center is a sterling example of the public and private sectors working together. Private developer Frank J. Guaracini, Jr., a lifelong resident of Vineland, purchased the vacant property in a distressed section of Cumberland County. The Empowerment Zone provided a $500,000 low-interest rate loan, which served as a catalyst for the project. An additional $2.2 million in loans and $1.4 million in grant and equity financing was provided by the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Program, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, New Jersey Transit, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Parke Bank. The community will also be applying for Transit Village designation from the State of New Jersey.

Development of the Vineland Regional Transportation Center has turned a vacant, unused building into a vibrant "gateway" to Cumberland County. This public-private partnership will enhance the transportation network for Empowerment Zone residents, and will encourage the revitalization of the entire area.