Press Releases

Senator Robert W. Singer, Senator Sean T. Keane and Assemblyman David P. Rible will join Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller and the Lakewood Township Committee in recognizing the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Township officials will hold a 9/11 memorial observance, part of the national Moment of Remembrance, beginning at 12:45 p.m. in the auditorium of the Lakewood Township Municipal Building, Third Street, Lakewood, to coincide with the national moment of silence at 1:00 p.m. proposed by a resolution of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg and the U.S. Senate.
Senators Singer and Keane along with Assemblyman Rible will light memorial candles. Mayor Miller, a Major in the Air Force, says the observance in Lakewood will also include an invocation, the national anthem, a prayer for our current emergency volunteers, a one minute moment of silence at 1:00 p.m., a video presentation, and a benediction.
Mayor Miller, is asking that anyone who is a survivor of the 9/11 tragedy or who has a relative who perished to contact his office 732-364-2500 Ext. 5200 with their names and phone numbers so that the township can pay proper respect and present those individuals with a township proclamation.
Mayor Miller says, "Our country will never forget what happened on September 11, 2001 - where we were and what we were doing. We will always remember the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of our first responders, law enforcement personnel, state and local officials, volunteers, and countless others who helped innocent victims. We will always honor the armed forces, homeland security and law enforcement personnel, and their families who are continuing to protect us ever since. We will work tirelessly to defend the freedom and security of our great nation."

The third annual business-to-business Lakewood Regional Business and Industry Expo, Thursday, July 21, 2011, is featuring five free business seminars throughout the day at Lake Terrace Hall, Lakewood Industrial Park, 1690 Oak Street, in addition to an exhibition hall packed with more than 90 Monmouth Ocean county businesses. Seminars include:
Noon - 12:50 pm: Davanti Digital, "Social Media Marketing"
1:00 - 1:50 pm: Ron Valvano, Valvano Business Solutions, "Leverage Email Marketing with Social Media"
2:00 - 2:50 pm: Stephen Fraundorfer, Professional Empowerment, "Are You Speaking the Right Language in Business?"
3:00 - 3:50 pm: Phil 'Avner' Costeff ,"Graduating from a Ma and Pa to a Function-based Business"
4:00 - 4:50 pm: Sherry Rush, Marketing Specialist for NJIT, "Government 101: How to Do Business with the Federal Government"

No preregistration necessary.

This year participants and vendors at the Business Expo will enjoy a no-charge Business Analysis. Phil Costeff, founder of Business Consulting LLC who has consulted to hundreds of businesses nationwide, will meet with the owner, analyze the business and give his recommendations to improve sales, operations and finances.

Most business owners will get at least two or three good business ideas on how to improve their business and increase its profits. To set up an appointment or for more information, stop by Business Consulting LLC's booth at the Expo or participate in their 3 p.m. workshop.

Last year about 1,000 people attended the Expo from noon to 5:00 p.m., enjoying prizes, screenings, special offers, give-a-ways and free business seminars hosted by The Lakewood Development Corporation, Lakewood's UEZ program, and the Lakewood Industrial Commission. Admission and ample parking are free.

Some exhibition space is still available beginning at $175.00. Contact Anita Doyle, Lakewood Industrial Commission,732-364-2500 Ext. 5395, to become an exhibitor.

Patricia Komsa, executive director of the Lakewood Development, says, "This is a great opportunity for area-wide businesses to showcase their goods and services at a reasonable price."

The Expo sponsors to date are BlueClaws, E-Video Productions, Gem Ambulance, Greater Media Newspapers, Greater Media Radio Stations (The WRAT, 95.9 and Magic 100.1), Greenwald Caterers, Investors Bank, Jersey Shore Business Leaders, The Jewish Journal, Latinos Unidos, the Monmouth Ocean Development Council, NJ Biz, The Shopper, and The Voice in cooperation with the Brick, Lakewood, Southern Monmouth, and Greater Monmouth chambers of commerce.

It's a record. It won't be going in the Guinness Book of World Records, but it is a record, nonetheless. In one week, 13 Lakewood businesses became certified UEZ businesses. According to Yehuda Abraham, the Director of Business Development in Lakewood, "This is a record number, especially when only three of those businesses are located in the new UEZ boundary approved by the state."*

Patricia Komsa, the Executive Director of the UEZ, says, "This indicates that even in today's economy the entrepreneurial spirit lives in Lakewood. It is obvious that UEZ incentives and benefits are helping business owners reach their dreams."

Some, but not all, of the advantages of being a UEZ business include charging only 3 1/2 percent sales tax; not paying sales tax for most of the purchases for one's own business; being eligible to apply for a microloan to fund working capital, supplies, machinery, and purchase of inventory as well as expand or redevelop one's business; being able to apply for a matching grant to offset the costs of advertising in newspapers, radio, billboards, etc.; and being able to participate in free ongoing business encouragement seminars presented by area experts.

The newly certified Lakewood UEZ businesses are: Cell & Design, 230 First Street; Dinaso & Sons Building Supply, 133 Ocean Avenue; Dream Cabinetry, 212 Second Street; His Place Junior, 432 Clifton Avenue; *Icon Knobs (plumbing supplies and door hardware), 260 Cedarbridge; Lakewood Chasidishe Malbushim Center, 418 Clifton Avenue; Pishposh (baby goods), 725 Airport Road; Riverside Abstract, 212 Second Street; *Magical Moments (gift shop), 272 Cedarbridge; Schwartz Burton LLP (law offices), 500 River Avenue; *The Wig Place, 250 Cedarbridge Avenue; Tree of Knowledge Learning Center, 326 Third Street; and The Aqua Show (ladies' swim wear), 95 East Kennedy Boulevard.

For more information about becoming a UEZ business, contact Yehuda Abraham at 732-364-2500, ext. 5217.


*Businesses in the new UEZ boundary approved by the state

What is the UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) and how does it drive economic growth? What changes are taking place in the UEZ program, and what do these changes mean for those doing business with UEZ companies. The outcome is guaranteed to affect your business, your clients, and your customers.

Patricia Komsa, the Executive Director of the LDC (Lakewood Development Corporation), coordinator of Lakewood's UEZ, and the administrator of Foreign Trade Zone, will present, "What You Need to Know about Trenton's Changes to the UEZs," at a free Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Business Economic Growth Committee breakfast on June 22, 2011, at Harrogate, 400 Locust Street, Lakewood. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m.

This meeting is open to the public. The breakfast and program are free but registration is required. Call 732-363-0012 or staff@mylakewoodchamber.com to register. Anyone interested in becoming a UEZ business, should call 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217. The Provident Bank is the sponsor of this event.

What if purchases you made for your business were tax exempt; what if customers were attracted to shop in your store because the sales tax was only 3 1/2 percent; and what if you had special grant and loan opportunities? Being a certified UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) business gives business owners all these advantages and costs nothing to belong.

Because of a shift in Lakewood's burgeoning commercial population, the UEZ Authority in Trenton recently approved new UEZ boundaries for Lakewood, creating more than 75 to 100 opportunities for Lakewood businesses to become UEZ certified.

If you are now within the UEZ boundaries and don't know where to begin to become a certified UEZ business, UEZ officials will help you. If you never took the time to become a UEZ business, UEZ officials will help you too.

All business owners in the UEZ are invited to a workshop Thursday, June 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Conference Room C, Lakewood Municipal Building, 231 Third Street. During this open registration session, UEZ officials will walk eligible business owners through the process of becoming certified. Business representatives should bring a copy of the lease for their business, their business registration certificate, articles of incorporation if applicable, and their tax identification number.

The business centers now included in Lakewood's UEZ are The Market Place and Washington Square shopping centers, Cedar Bridge Avenue; office buildings at 910 and 921 East County Line Road; the CVS shopping center, Route 88 and New Hampshire Avenue; the land at the corner of Route 70 and New Hampshire Avenue, 400,000-square-foot mixed-use site for retail, commercial and office space; and the business park, 144 Cross Street.

To determine if your business is in the zone or for more information, call 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217.

Dr. Kristen E. Cardamone, a board-certified interventional physiatrist at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) of Freehold and Monroe townships, has scheduled a second "meet and greet" program to explain a new program for pregnant women entitled, "Integrative Healing and Wellness for Women."

Meet Dr. Cardamone and other doctors from AOSMI to learn about this new program on Friday, June 10 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the offices of AOSMI, 301 Professional View Drive, Freehold, N.J. Light refreshments will be served.

From the moment of conception, a woman's body changes; and those changes can cause back pain, fatigue, postural problems, leg cramps, and other problems. Starting a wellness and fitness program early in pregnancy helps woman develop strength and endurance during labor, delivery, and beyond.

Integrative Healing and Wellness for Women promotes wellness and pain management during pregnancy and during the postpartum period by focusing on many aspects, such as evaluation and feedback by a pain management physician, podiatry care, breathing awareness, home exercises, and integrative yoga workshops, among others.

Dr. Kristie Kim, a physiatrist, and Dr. Gerald Mauriello, a podiatric surgeon, doctors at AOSMI; and Karena Virginia, a yoga instructor, will also be present to explain the program and answer questions. For more information, visit www.AdvancedOrthoSports.com/wellness. To register, call Jessica Wilcox at 732-665-1600.

IDT Corporation, a Fortune 1000 company with headquarters in Newark, N.J., is moving key engineering operations to the Lakewood Industrial Park, Lakewood, N.J. Approximately 60 full-time engineers, software developers, and service management professionals will work in the Lakewood office, developing software for IDT's energy and telecommunications systems, and supporting IDT Telecom's cable telephony customers.

Lakewood Township Attorney Lawrence E. Bathgate, founding partner of Bathgate, Wegener and Wolf, and a board member of IDT, said, "Lakewood is a wonderful location for IDT. Lakewood's industrial zone offers a highly professional environment; close proximity to major roadways; an airport; and, most significantly, a renewable resource of high quality talent to fuel its growth. Lakewood's community, which is growing at a feverish pace, is full of highly educated and motivated individuals who can now find professional opportunity closer to home. This is a benefit to the company and the community."

Steven Reinman, the director of economic development for Lakewood, said, "IDT's decision to relocate to our Industrial Park is further validation of the Department of Economic Development's efforts to attract high quality employers and high quality jobs to Lakewood. Lakewood's Industrial and Corporate Parks offer a high quality business environment in northern Ocean County. We welcome IDT to our family of companies and look forward to their continued growth and success."

Shmuel Jonas, IDT's Chief Operating Officer, said, "IDT's highly skilled professional staff is our Company's most valuable resource. Lakewood is an excellent location for our employees and provides a wonderful working environment. We are pleased to be here and look forward to a long term partnership with the township."

IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) is a public company focused on the telecommunications and energy industries.

For further information, contact Steve Reinman at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5333.

The Board of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce has named Lawrence S. Krompier, Millstone Township, as the new Executive Director of the Chamber. As executive director, Krompier will manage the operations of the Chamber, promote and advocate for local business and industry, and implement and coordinate all Chamber activities and projects, among other responsibilities.

Prior to being the executive director of the Lakewood Chamber, Krompier was director of membership for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Trenton, where he was in charge of business development and marketing programs that supported business advocacy. In addition he was responsible for developing strategic business relationships and increasing membership.

Krompier has also worked closely with the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council (MODC), Wall, and the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, Red Bank, N.J., advising both organizations in business advocacy and development.

Krompier says, "Having been the president of my own 40-year-old family business and having served as director of membership for the N.J. Chamber of Commerce, I understand the importance of a chamber and the benefits the Lakewood Chamber has to offer all business professionals. My objective is to continue to build a Chamber that reflects the diversity of our business community.

"My goals are to develop relationships and work closely with all who have a stake in the success of our businesses and our business professionals, not only within Lakewood's borders but its surrounding areas as well. This is going to be a very exciting time of growth for the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce."

Krompier holds a B.A. from Rutgers University in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.

The newly formed Lakewood Police Foundation (LPF), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, elected its first board of directors, with Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson as an ex-officio member. The chairman is David M. Fried, who served as a member and chairman of the N.J. Police and Firemen's Retirement System from 1964-1984.

Other officers include Rabbi Moishe Ehrman, treasurer, who is the deputy coordinator of the Lakewood Office of Emergency Management; and Larry S. Loigman, counselor and founder of the LPF. Other directors are Dr. Richard H. Roberts, president and CEO of URL Pharma; and Enrique Percal, owner of Percal Investments.

The mission of the LPF is to encourage community support, recognize outstanding service, and increase the safety and law enforcement capabilities of law enforcement personnel. The LPF does not directly solicit funds, but all donations are accepted.

David Fried says, "This organization was founded by a small group of people who love this community and who appreciate the men and women on the job for their professionalism and dedication to their mission toward the safety and well-being of the people they serve.

"Lakewood's police force is one of the best in New Jersey and we want it to stay this way; however, we recognize the economic slow-down we are going through and wish to be able to supplement, not replace, your ability to provide the equipment they need to provide their services to the community while also providing a safe environment for the people of Lakewood and for themselves."

Checks can be made out to the Lakewood Police Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 763,Lakewood, N.J. 08701.

Starting Friday, October 15 a special advertising program will become available to Lakewood UEZ businesses. The Co-op Advertising Project, which recently received the approval of the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, Trenton, New Jersey, focuses on small business growth and development by providing 50 percent matching grants to businesses to reimburse them for advertising, with a reimbursement of $5,000.00 per quarter and a maximum of $20,000.00 per year.

Yehuda Abraham, Lakewood's Director of Business Development, says, "During difficult economic times, smaller businesses often cut their advertising budget, which hurts them even more. Successful businesses have long realized the power of advertising and marketing for bringing in customers. This matching grant program is designed to encourage businesses to advertise and get their name out there in order to entice customers to shop in their stores."

Patricia Komsa, the executive director and coordinator of Lakewood's UEZ, says, "Marketing and advertising is a critical component in the development of new and existing businesses and the increase of employment. This project should bring renewed interest in both attracting new businesses and expanding existing ones in Lakewood."

A business must be a certified UEZ business to take advantage of the Co-op Advertising Program. If a business is not certified, however, contact Yehuda Abraham at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217 to learn how to become certified. Applications for the Co-op Advertising Program can be found on the Lakewood Township Web site (http://www.lakewoodnj.gov/). For further information, call 732-364-2500 Ext. 5395.

A grant from NJBIA (New Jersey Business and Industry Association) and NJCCC (N.J. the Community College Workforce Consortium) is now available for business owners and employees of New Jersey businesses and organizations, including non profits, who need basic training in such areas as computer applications (Word, Excel, Windows, Outlook), basic mathematics, customer service, English as a second language, or basic communications, among others.

Whether one company or several companies share a class, a total of at least 10 people must complete the course. Classes can be customized to fit the specific need of the business within the grant guidelines. Although training will be provided at no cost to employers, employees must be paid while they attend classes. Membership in the NJBIA is not required, but this grant is not applicable to county employees.

Yehuda Abraham, the director of business development and the co-coordinator of Lakewood Township's UEZ along with Patricia Komsa, says, "This is part of the UEZ's ongoing effort to provide Lakewood's business owners with every opportunity available to grow their businesses. This grant will provide training at no cost. It entails very little paperwork, and there is no application to file."

Contact Abraham to discuss what classes are needed and the optimal time to schedule them. For further information, contact Abraham at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217. Classes can be scheduled at company work sites or at Ocean County College.

This project is funded by a Literacy Grant from the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) and is a cooperative partnership of the NJLWD, the N.J. Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) and the N.J. Community College Workforce Consortium (NJCCC).

About the UEZ: The Urban Enterprise Zone program was designed to foster economic growth to revitalize and stimulate designated urban communities. The program encourages businesses to create private-sector jobs though public and private investment. More than 8,000 businesses throughout the state and more than 425 businesses in Lakewood benefit from tax and financial incentives. Personnel from the Lakewood UEZ are available to discuss program eligibility and answer questions.

After a few months, several Lakewood UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) projects were not only approved, but Lakewood's entire UEZ Financial Assistance program was lauded by New Jersey State EDA and DCA officials and held up as a model for others. Patricia Komsa, the executive director of Lakewood's UEZ program, and Yehuda Abraham, Lakewood's director of business development and the UEZ co-coordinator, often travel to Trenton to advocate for UEZ projects in the hopes of jumpstarting Lakewood businesses in this economy and helping businesses continue to grow and develop.

At the most recent UEZ Authority meeting this April, officials cited the Financial Assistance Program, Lakewood's loan program, as excellent and commended it several times. Komsa reported, "Officials stated that Lakewood was one of two Zones that had an excellent lending program and that Zones throughout the State should try to mirror what we do, saying we have a solid program and a very low incidence of loan failure. In fact, Caren Franzini, who's the Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority (EDA), said that banks across the state would die to have our failure rate. Because Lakewood's failure rate is such a low number, it demonstrates that we have a very tight program."

The EDA is one of the authorities that oversees the UEZ. The UEZ is overseen by both the EDA and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Komsa noted that the new administration in Trenton has been taking an extremely careful look at the UEZ program as a whole and how it spends its money. The State's audit of Lakewood's UEZ program, alone, took months of careful analysis.

Komsa says, "When I walked into this meeting in Trenton, there was a positive attitude about Lakewood. The State, which is scrutinizing the entire UEZ program, is realizing that it does have successful zones.

"When the auditor's report came out recently, it quite clearly stated that the UEZ money was being spent where we said it was being spent. Lakewood came out as being a very well-run zone. We really do have great programs and our funds are being used for sound economic purposes. The audit made officials in the state really take a closer look at us and see that we are a well run program."

Committeeman Robert Singer, who brought the Urban Enterprise Zone program to Lakewood, was thrilled to see that Lakewood's ratings are so outstanding. "It's a pleasure to know that we take State dollars and spend them wisely. When anyone questions how successful the program is, this tells people the state recognizes we spend the money in the best interests of the public."

Yehuda Abraham said, "In the past, Patricia Komsa and I have been grilled and drilled at these meetings. This time we were actually commended for having such a great Zone."

Komsa, who has been involved in Lakewood's UEZ program since 1999, said, "In my eleven years of being involved in the UEZ, I've had quite a lot of time in front of various boards and directors at the Authority. This time after so much debate over the future of the UEZ, Authority members and I had a good dialogue about our projects and the methods in which we hope to improve our town."

From the start, the UEZ program has been a win-win for Lakewood. The UEZ benefits merchants because people are specifically coming to Lakewood to shop at stores offering a 3 1/2 percent sales tax. Having a UEZ designation is drawing shoppers and increasing traffic to Lakewood. Businesses are also benefitting because they do not have to pay sales tax for certain items they need to buy for their business.

Two of Lakewood's most requested projects have received initial approval from the Authority. One is the Financial Assistance Program, a small-business loan program, and the other is the Co-op Advertising Program, a matching advertising grant.

Abraham says, "We really want to focus on small businesses, especially in this tough economic time; small businesses are the biggest expanding market right now and we need to focus on them."

Komsa says, "It is encouraging to know that the State realizes that we have used our UEZ funds to grow businesses and create employment, all of which are a part of the goals of the UEZ: grow business and create jobs."

Two UEZ projects that focus on small business growth and development, and job creation in Lakewood have received the approval of the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority in Trenton, New Jersey. According to Patricia Komsa, the executive director of Lakewood's UEZ, the two projects still have to make it past Governor Christie's possible veto.

The programs are the Financial Assistance Program and the Co-op Advertising Program. The Financial Assistance Program is a special loan program that focuses on small businesses, the mom and pops, that may need capital for such business projects as expansion; purchasing equipment or even a vehicle for deliveries; increasing store inventory, or money toward the purchase of a building.

Originally the program made loans up to $25,000 at 3 1/2 percent interest for five years to small businesses. Now the program is being expanded up to $35,000 a year with a repay period between five and 10 years at 3 1/2 percent interest rate.

Yehuda Abraham, Lakewood's director of business development and the UEZ co-coordinator, says, "The money for the Financial Assistance Program is coming from second generation funds, money derived from previous loans, and can only be used for loans-so it's basically a revolving loan program at this point."

The Co-op Advertising Program is a new program, a supplemental, matching advertising grant that will be funded by money from the Zone Assistance Fund in Trenton. Generally small businesses budget very little money for advertising. Komsa says, "Historically, the first thing small businesses cut is advertising, which is the worst thing to do. Most small businesses don't realize the power of advertising and marketing themselves; it is advertising that generates interest in a business and draws customers to it. With this matching grant program, we are encouraging businesses to advertise, to get their name out there, to entice customers to shop in their stores."

In the Co-op Advertising Program, the UEZ will provide 50 percent of the cost of advertising in print and the Internet, for example. Komsa says, "It is important that we are able to measure the effectiveness of an advertising program, a requirement of the state. We have found that electronic media has a great way for us to track, such as a click rate. Those using the print media will actually have to ask their customers how they heard about the business or be able to measure any increase in foot traffic in their store.

Komsa says, "Typically a small business is one that earns under $500,000 gross and has 10 orless employees. The criteria we use for a small business is flexible, but the business must be a certified UEZ business to take advantage of all these programs. If a business is not certified, be sure to call Yehuda Abraham at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217 to learn how to become certified."

Once the two UEZ projects pass the governor's veto period, contracts will come from the state several weeks after. Komsa says, "We are looking to roll out these two programs by mid-June. As soon as we can, we will notify all UEZ businesses directly and put out press releases announcing when we will be taking applications."