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Somerset County economic development office reports new company projects, workforce initiatives and EV charging study
Summary
Officials from the county’s economic development office presented a year-in-review May 27, describing business outreach, workforce development programs (including NJ Biofutures), lead-generation work, a planned Bio International presence, new company investments and a $256,000 contract for an EV charging suitability study.
Jessica Bailey, director of Somerset County economic development, told the Board of Commissioners on May 27 that her office has increased direct outreach to companies, supported workforce development initiatives and is preparing a presence at the upcoming Bio International convention.
"What I hope you'll take away from this is that we've become trusted partners internally and externally," Bailey said, summarizing the office’s work from June 2024 through May 2025.
Bailey described a mix of activities: proactive business outreach and project generation; partnerships with Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) on workforce grants and the NJ Biofutures initiative; connections with companies including SHI and AbbVie to retain jobs locally; and collaboration with state agencies such as the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and NJ MEP for manufacturing and workforce programming.
She said the office generated projects through proactive outreach, conference attendance and referrals from state partners. The office helped secure Johnson & Johnson’s founding sponsorship for NJ Biofutures after connecting RVCC with a county grant writer. Bailey also described a recent makers-and-creators manufacturing tour that drew more than 300 students and the county’s efforts to expand marketing and restaurant guides ahead of large events to boost local visitation.
Bailey noted film production activity in the county, saying, "We have had 8 major film projects, including Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler," and said county efforts to promote sites helped attract those projects.
On formal items, the meeting included Resolution 25-1062, which the county identified as an award of a contract to WSP for consulting services to complete the Somerset County EV charging and suitability analysis study, with a contract total not to exceed $256,000. Bailey said the county will prepare a briefing book for the Bio International conference to focus outreach and meetings with life-sciences firms.
Bailey also described internal data tools (a new City Data tool) to help planning and event tracking, and programs to support restaurants with web and e-commerce development through NJEDA connections. She said federal funding cuts have made local economic-development services more critical and that the office is leveraging state and private partnerships to keep investment in Somerset County.
The presentation concluded with commissioners thanking Bailey and the staff for their outreach and noted the office’s continued role in attracting life-sciences, manufacturing and personal-care investments to the county.
Commissioners did not take final action on new policies at the work session; the finance and administrative motions later in the agenda covered multiple procurement and grant items for future meetings.
