County Executive Benson, Labor Leaders, Sign Project Labor Agreement for Ballpark Renovations

Trenton, NJ – Mercer County Executive Dan Benson joined labor leaders and elected officials at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark yesterday to sign a new Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for renovations to the stadium and facilities. The PLA guarantees that the $5.7 million project will hire union labor from local building trades unions and will pay employees a living wage.

The project covers the first stage of repairs and upgrades that will bring the thirty-one-year-old ballpark up-to-date with new MLB guidelines and help attract a minor-league affiliated team back to the venue.

“For more than three decades, this ballpark has been a cornerstone of our Capital City and of Mercer County, it’s a place that brings families and communities together, and it brings people into Trenton from throughout the region,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “Today we’re making a commitment that we’re going to do this project the right way by hiring union workers from the building trades, who live right here in Mercer County and have a stake in this community.”

“I want to thank County Executive Benson and all the elected leaders who worked together to make this happen.” said Wayne DeAngelo, President of the Mercer County Building & Construction Trades Council. “Our members can’t wait to get to work so that the stadium is at top-shelf when the park reopens for the new season.”

“We built this stadium thirty years ago with union labor, and over ten million people have come here to enjoy a game in the years since,” said Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, who sponsored legislation securing $6.5 million in state funding for upgrades to the ballpark. “These upgrades will keep people coming far into the future.”

“Trenton Thunder Ballpark is an important asset and potential economic engine for the county and especially for the city of Trenton,” said Mercer County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Terrance Stokes. “We’re grateful to our partners in Mercer’s legislative delegation for fighting so hard to secure funding for this critical investment.”

“We’re excited to launch the first phase of renovations and make Trenton baseball better than ever,” said Trenton Thunder President Jeff Hurley. “We’re fortunate to have elected leaders who understand why the ballpark matters, and are all-in to bring back an affiliated team to our community.”

The Trenton Thunder Ballpark is a property of the Mercer County Parks Commission. The work will be managed by Shorelands Construction and Jingoli Inc.

Also present for the signing were Trenton Thunder co-owners Joseph Plumeri II and Joeph Caruso, County Commissioners Sam Frisby, Nina Melker, and Lucy Walter, Trenton City Council Members Crystal Feliciano and Teska Frisby, and President of the Mercer County Central Labor Council Michele Liebtag.