Freeholders Make Statements after County Gets $3M for Tech Village at Airport

CREST HAVEN – The following statements were made Aug. 29 after notification of the county that it had been awarded $3 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce toward the $6.2-million Tech Village that will support drone-related industries at the Cape May County Airport.
Statement from Will Morey, South Jersey Economic Development District chairman, and freeholder:
 
“Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) provides an economic centerpiece for Cape May County, which is evolving into an important center for this growing industry.  This $3 million investment by the U.S. Department of Commerce enables us to continue to build capacity, provide essential support to UAS businesses and related high-tech companies, and create well-paying technology jobs. This unique opportunity, which utilizes a formerly abandoned site at the Airport, establishes the first phase of a new tech village designed to grow a specialized industry and is an important step to fully utilize the Airport as an economic resource.
 
We anticipate construction of the 20,000 square foot multi-tenant building to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018, with completion and occupancy targeted for mid-2019.
 
On behalf of the South Jersey Economic Development District and the Cape May County Board of Freeholders, I thank Congressman Frank LoBiondo for his continuous support of the County’s efforts in the UAS and aviation fields. We appreciate the recognition of those efforts by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and are committed to working diligently to expand this industry and its associated economic growth here in the County.”
Statement from Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton:
“This grant and project are the result of over four years of concerted effort on part of the Freeholder Board and Freeholder Morey to develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the County based around the UAS industry and related technologies.  The new building partially funded by this federal grant will complement the collaborative efforts between the County and the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) to attract and grow small businesses at the Airport.”