The executive session of the Tuesday, April 23, regular meeting of the Burlington Township Council included a presentation by representatives from the Burlington County Bridge Commission.
In addition to their work with Burlington County bridges, roads and facilities, part of the Bridge Commission’s stated mission is to help the county prosper by fostering and assisting in economic development and community revitalization projects with an aim to ease the burden on local property taxpayers.
Dave Wyche, economic development manager for the Bridge Commission, gave a presentation on the organization’s current projects throughout Burlington Township and its small business loan program.
Wyche began with some information on the Bridge Commission itself and its role in Burlington County.
“The Bridge Commission is the improvement authority for Burlington County. The freeholders granted them that authority in 2002,” said Wyche. “We assist municipalities in economic development and regional planning.”
One example, according to Wyche, is the ongoing Route 130 corridor revitalization plan his office initiated in the early 2000s. It is currently working with municipalities, including Burlington Township, on updating that plan.
“We have $24 million in grants that were obtained in the last 12 years, including over $88,000 for Burlington Township,” said Wyche.
Current Bridge Commission projects specific to Burlington Township include providing planning services to analyze traffic impacts for industrial development, participating in transportation planning to address truck traffic problems along Neck Road, assisting in the preliminary concept development of traffic issues at Route 130 and Dulty’s Lane and participating in early plan discussions to reuse the Burlington Center Mall.
The main focus of the presentation was the commission’s small business loan program. According to Wyche, this program was a federal appropriation the Bridge Commision received in 1995 to help businesses and create jobs throughout Burlington County.
The commission offers a direct loan of $50,000 and fixed asset loans (a loan granted to a borrower for the purpose of new construction, expansion, renovation or purchasing of fixed assets) for 25 percent of a project’s cost, up to $200,000.
According to Wyche, for a small business to obtain a loan, it must be located in Burlington County and either create or retain jobs, especially for low- and moderate-income individuals. For every job created, a business can borrow $35,000, and for every job retained, a business can borrow $10,000.
“This is a revolving loan program. As the money gets paid back, we have it to lend out, so we have sufficient money to lend out,” said Wyche.
In other news:
During the meeting, council approved a resolution that will see to the completion of demolition projects for several aging tennis courts throughout the township, including courts at Rancocas Estates, Nixon Drive, Manor Drive, Jerry’s Drive and Bromley Boulevard.
According to Township Administrator Stephen Fazekas, there are currently no plans in place for future uses of the sites other than laying down grass after the courts are demolished.
Another resolution authorized the Burlington Township Police Department to destroy 13 X-2 tasers and 13 HD taser cameras. The X-2 tasers had reached the end of their lifecycle and the department is due for upgraded taser equipment.
