A Great Place to Do Business…

Excitement about the potential for economic development in Warren County is palpable, and with good reason. Historically, the region’s economic base has been agricultural, and vast tracts of open space and fertile farmland attest to that legacy. Warren County’s recent growth in population, its accessibility via major highways like Routes 80 and 78, and the vigorous efforts to grow the economy by the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations, has made the county a prime location for other avenues of economic development, as well.

When envisioning Warren County’s economic base, corn, tomatoes and milk are the local
products that first come to mind. However, Warren County is also known as the home of M&M’s Chocolate Candies®, manufactured in Hackettstown by Masterfoods USA. The county also contains a significant number of manufacturing, warehousing and retail businesses, from traditional “Mom and Pop” stores to large retail establishments. Seasonal farm stands, nurseries and tree farms are an economic staple, as are a number of antique and specialty shops that have also made the area their home.

As businesses seeking to move into the area have discovered, Warren County still affords value for the investment dollar with its affordable, accessible land, an immediate and available work force, as well as a growing pool of local consumers with which to build a customer base.

While its population only recently surpassed 100,000 people, and its character still remains largely rural, Warren County continues to see significant population growth, with Greenwich Township having New Jersey’s highest growth rate over the past decade. But the local population isn’t the only available workforce, as Route 78 in the south, Route 80 in the north and Route 46 in the center connect Warren County to both northeast New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. Route 31, the area’s only major north-south highway, provides accessibility from Hunterdon and Mercer Counties as well. In this commuter age, Warren County can be a prime destination for workers from throughout the tri-state region.

Helping to coalesce all this economic growth is the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce, created just two years ago and already a driving force behind the county’s growing economic fortune. The Chamber is an invaluable resource for both existing businesses, and those seeking to locate in Warren County, with its links to instructional seminars, accessible information, a comprehensive new website (www.warrencountychamber.org) and the Business Information Center (BIC), located at Warren County Community College and the Chamber office. Encompassing many interrelated business services, technology and resources, the BIC was created in conjunction with the Skylands Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and is another tool for Warren County’s future economic growth.

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