Tom Arnone outlines county efforts on shared services, small-business promotion and a life-skills facility

Tom Arnone, speaking in a recorded "Commissioner Corner" segment, said the county is focusing on expanding shared services with municipalities, promoting small businesses through programs such as "Made in Monmouth" and "Grown in Monmouth," and operating a life-skills facility intended to help adults with special needs transition to more independent living.

Arnone framed the work as part of a broader effort to improve quality of life and the local business climate. He said shared services are intended to provide "cost savings, cost relief, and better services" for the county's 53 municipalities and described the Grow Model as a program to make local planning boards and mayors more business-friendly.

"I sat on a board, the Monmouth Ocean Foundation. They encompass children with special needs," Arnone said, describing a gap in supports when people turn 21. He added that the county located and built out a life-skills facility "built out to be like a home, where it's a full kitchen, bedroom, washer, dryer, community room," to help residents learn daily living skills.

On small-business support, Arnone said the county's Made in Monmouth program aims to showcase small enterprises and generate repeat customers. "It's for small businesses, which is 95% or more of our business here in Monmouth County," he said, and described Grown in Monmouth as an effort to tie the agricultural sector into the county's commerce, including breweries and distilleries.

Arnone also recounted his local government career—serving in Neptune City and later as mayor—and credited mentors, including Mayor Robert Dieves and Bob Deeb, for shaping his interest in public works, engineering and public information. He said that public information is essential to getting county messages to residents.

The segment did not record any formal votes, motions or binding decisions; Arnone described programs and a vision for partnership with the county's 53 towns, but did not specify implementation timelines, budgets or funding sources for the initiatives he discussed.

Arnone closed by urging that those running for county commissioner positions prioritize measures that "make it better" for residents and businesses. The segment serves as a public outline of county priorities rather than a record of formal board action.