Lakewood UEZ Joins with Central Region Project Team to Offer “Green Jobs” Hiring Incentive
The Lakewood Development Corporation, the administrative arm of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), is collaborating with the State Energy Sector Partnership to offer businesses up to $4000.00 per person hired through “Green Jobs” Hiring Incentive, a Central New Jersey energy grant.
Central New Jersey businesses in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Mercer, and Greater Raritan who hire a new, full-time unemployed worker in a “green energy job” will be reimbursed 50 to 90 percent of the salary, up to $4,000.00 per qualified worker hired.
“Green Jobs” must be in renewable energy (RE), in such fields as solar, wind, etc.; or energy efficiency (EE), such as advanced manufacturing practices, HVAC, and insulation, among others. The minimum salary must be $10.00 an hour for at least 32 hours per week. Employers may hire multiple employees, up to 25 percent of the workforce; but a contract must be in place BEFORE the employee begins work. This program ends January 2013.
Patricia Komsa, the executive director of Lakewood’s UEZ, said, “Because we feel this grant would be beneficial for our businesses, we are making every effort to notify our businesses about this hiring incentive. We are working with Lawrence Sternbach, Central Region Project Team, who is managing the grant as our liaison to help match our businesses with this grant opportunity.”
For more information, contact Patricia Komsa at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5257 or Lawrence Sternbach at 732-683-8850 Ext. 3711 or visit lawrence.sternbach@dol.state.nj.us.
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 500 businesses in Lakewood benefit from tax and financial incentives. Personnel from the Lakewood UEZ are available to discuss program eligibility and answer questions.