The Authority Newsletter- January 2026

Improving Your Tomorrow: A Year in Review

Encouraging Innovation: Pillars of Our Strategy

Economic Development

The Authority is proud to improve your tomorrow, serving as a one stop resource center for businesses and residents. With a focus on redevelopment strategies and land assembly, The Authority strives to increase downtown revitalization, assist businesses, and provide alternate energy projects, all while marketing and creating a memorable branding of Cumberland County.  In 2025, The Authority’s projects involved over $104 million invested in our community with an economic impact over $170 million. Over the last decade, The Authority’s Economic Development Projects have resulted in an economic impact of over $1.1 billion. We look forward to continuing to improve your tomorrow in 2026. 

$805,597 County Contribution

By working with our partners in Cumberland County and surrounding communities, we not only enhance our own opportunities, but generate revenue to be brought back to and invested in Cumberland County. These projects allow The Authority to make the highest possible cash contribution and provide greater benefit to Cumberland County residents and taxpayers. With the adoption of The Authority’s 2026 Annual Budget, Cumberland County will receive a $805,597 cash contribution. Since 2016, The Authority’s shared service gains and cash contributions have saved the county $29,916,977.

Shared Service Gains = Realized County Savings

County Contribution...............................................................................................................$805,597

Health Department Contribution.........................................................................................$126,880

78-80 Atlantic Street Parking Lot (County Jail).....................................................................$6,110

Deerfield Host Community Benefit....................................................................................$624,000

Trash Removal/Derelict Building/Rental/E-Waste/Single Stream...........................$1,291,515

RCSJ Facilities Management & Capital Planning.........................................................$1,226,077

Economic Development: Admin, Marketing, PR/Conference, Gen’l..........................$878,734

Fleet Maintenance.....................................................................................................................$120,816

Rental Savings/ Lease Properties.......................................................................................$206,076

Annual Shared Service Savings= $5,285,805

Total Shared Services Gains 2016-2026= $29,916,977

Major Projects in Cumberland County

Sika, a Swedish company, chose Upper Deerfield as its northeast anchor site and home of its newest state-of-the-art mortar production plant, creating over 50 jobs in our community with a formal opening next year. 

Lassonde Pappas, a leader in the North American food and beverage industry, strengthened its roots in the community and is building a new $200 million expanded manufacturing facility, with 200 jobs poised to transition to the new facility later this year. The Upper Deerfield plant is one of 19 plants located in Canada and the United States.

Trout National--The Reserve, located in Vineland and Millville, NJ is scheduled to open in the spring, featuring an 18 hole private course, clubhouse, and banquet facility. This $200 million investment will create 500 new jobs in Cumberland County.

Broadband

The City of Vineland is set to become an internet service provider for our region. Due to strategic foresight and successful grant applications, the City and Salem County were able to secure over $21 million in funding to connect underserved homes and businesses to broadband. The City of Vineland, Salem County, and The Authority are collaborating to activate this important regional project. Vineland has also opened a new convention center, providing an additional anchor for Landis Avenue. 

Data Center

The Data Center being built as part of the Lincoln Avenue Redevelopment is now operational and will be leased by Microsoft as part of a $17 billion agreement. Phase one is complete with additional phases underway. Energy to support the data center is entirely self-generated, with no connection to local electric utilities, creating an international model for future data center development. 

Millville Industrial Park Advances

Growth continues at the Millville Industrial Park. The Authority has worked with many partners, including Levoni, on identifying incentives and operational efficiencies. We look forward to working with the City of Millville in 2026!

2020-2030 Strategic Plan

As the designated economic and redevelopment entity for Cumberland County, The Authority oversees the implementation of the 2020-2030 Economic Development Strategic Plan. As 2025 drew to a close, the Authority conducted a mid-point review of progress to date. Many of the proposed objectives have been completed, with nearly all underway. Significant achievements include expansion of broadband, downtown revitalization, partnerships with workforce development, and the creation of the first land bank in South Jersey.

New Website

In the fall of 2025, The Authority proudly launched a redesigned website, developed by GDG Media Management, a local firm. Modern, intuitive, and strategically aligned, the site highlights economic development initiatives, the SWC, and shared services. Reflecting The Authority’s commitment to innovation, the platform continues to evolve, with features such as AI Chat assist, an interactive map of available sites in New Jersey, and much more. Learn more at www.theauthoritynj.com. 

One Stop Operator

In July 2025, The Authority was awarded a contract with the Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May Workforce Development Board through an RFP process to be the “One Stop Operator”. The Authority’s role is to help build and maintain a cohesive, customer-focused service delivery system by coordinating with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) partners and including state agencies, county departments, local educational providers, and non-profit entities. The One-Stop Operator, in coordination with the Cumberland, Salem and Cape May Workforce Development Board, ensures that services are responsive to the specific economic needs of the tri-county area. By leveraging partnerships with local agencies and educational institutions, the One-Stop system delivers targeted programs that support high-demand industries and stimulate economic growth. Through a shared oversight model, the Cumberland, Salem, Cape May Workforce Development Board (WDB) directs the activities of The Authority as the "One-Stop Operator" to work with the region's One-Stop Career Centers. The services provided are supported by the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) with funds from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). 100% of these services are financed through federal funding sources.

Dogwood Consulting Impact Analysis Testimonials

“In the [South Jersey] region, The Authority is the most high-capacity economic development organization operating.” -ZOILA JENNINGS | Impact Investment Lead

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

“There is no other partner I would want to work with other than The Authority. They are the connector to the nonprofit community, to the business community, and to the residents in any community they work with.” -CHRISTY DILEONARDO | Director

Cumberland Cape May Salem Workforce Development

“[The Authority] follows through. Jerry is really good at the follow through…He’s smart, he has a lot of connections, he’s able to bring people in lot, he maintains the same conferences, networks, always looking to be that cutting edge. That’s how we ended up with the second land bank in the State.” -DR. JODY VELER | Mayor

Salem City

Thank you for a successful 2025! We look forward to the year and opportunities ahead!

Click the file below to read more about the latest news, projects, and events at The Authority.

January 2026 Newsletter.pdf

Download PDF • 1.39MB