On March 28, a number of South Jersey Industries (SJI) employees comprising the organization’s Green Team partnered with the Nature Conservancy to put up fencing on the South Cape May Meadows Preserve beach to protect beach-nesting birds from predators. SJI employees also committed to donating more than $20,000 to the conservancy this year as part of the company’s Employee Giving Campaign, which is doubled by a company dollar-for-dollar donation match.
Local nonprofit Camden Community Partnership recently announced its relaunch of the Camden Home Improvement Program (CHIP), an initiative designed to assist homeowners in addressing crucial repair needs and improve the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods. CHIP, originally launched in 2010, is a collaborative effort among the partnership, local organizations, religious leaders and the city.
Late last month, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) released findings from the latest Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses that indicate the state’s rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses fell 5.3% in 2023 from 2017 in both the public and private sectors. Factors behind the decline include investing more in health and safety protocols, the pandemic’s heightened awareness of proactive precautions, and adopting both technology and training that limit risks.
Dr. Schar USA, Inc., a manufacturer of gluten-free baked goods, announced April 25 that it has invested $28 million in its production and office space in Swedesboro. The expansion of the company—which Phillies fans may also recognize from its presence at Citizen’s Bank Park this season—includes state-of-the-art enhancements to the bakery facility.
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey has partnered with both Cooper University Health Care and Virtua Health to launch the Camden Community Uplift Initiative, created to fight poverty and increase employment opportunities for city residents. The effort has received an initial $5 million investment with a goal of raising $8 million to help develop community-led solutions in the future.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a new funding opportunity through its Made in American Manufacturing Initiative. The program will provide three eligible applicants with as much as $1.1 million to deliver training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA’s Empower to Grow Program, including those in industries such as timber, energy, aluminum and steel.
According to the Spring 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, New Jersey ranks third in the nation. More than half of the state’s facilities were awarded an “A” grade in the twice-yearly assessment. The state moved up three spots from its fifth-place ranking last fall, and saw some local hospitals also receive bumps in their grades with Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital and Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital moving up from a B to an A, while Virtua Mount Holly Hospital and Virtua Willingboro Hospital both moved from a C to a B rating.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has approved a $40 million investment in internet connectivity, announcing the New Jersey Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Equity (NJBIDE) Pilot Program grant awardees. These grants support critical broadband expansion efforts across the state. The approved investment will provide reliable, high-quality internet service to over 9,000 broadband serviceable (BSL) locations across New Jersey.
Comcast Business recently announced that it’s providing American Heritage Credit Union (AHCU) with advanced connectivity solutions—including Comcast Business Ethernet Network Services, Dedicated Internet, and Comcast Business Global Secure Networking and Voice services—across 37 locations. The effort is intended to both streamline operations and deliver an enhanced experience for the more than than 300,000 customers that AHCU serves across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
From May 5-9, Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) held its annual Women Build event, an empowering initiative that celebrates the vital role women play in the construction industry while highlighting their dedication to building strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable housing. Teams of female volunteers from local businesses and organizations came together to work on homes throughout Gloucester County as part of GCHFH’s newly launched Repairs Program, which focuses on addressing critical repair needs for existing homeowners, ensuring they can maintain safe and decent living conditions. Partner organizations were Cipriani Remodeling Solutions, Paulsboro Refining Company, Columbia Bank, Nexus Properties, NEST Facilities Management and SJ Gas.
