FREEHOLD BOROUGH AWARDED VETERAN FRIENDLY MUNICIPALITY CERTIFICATION

[Freehold, New Jersey – February 3, 2020] During a ceremony at the start of the monthly Freehold Borough regular council meeting Monday evening, Jeff Cantor, founder and CEO of the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, presented the Veteran Friendly Municipality Certification to Freehold mayor, Kevin A. Kane, council president, Michael DiBenedetto, and council members Sharon Schutzer, George Schnurr, Annette Jordan, Margaret Rodgers and Adam Reich.

Jeff Cantor was joined by chamber leadership personnel Claude A. Jones, vice president of the Vets in Tech Program, and Peter J. Lupo, vice president of public affairs and legislative outreach. Cantor praised the borough for its recognition of veteran sacrifices and the challenges faced by veteran owned businesses. He noted that Freehold adoption of this resolution will give veterans a chance to be competitive for local public bids and contracts.

Several longstanding veteran residents of the community turned out for the ceremony as well, including members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, many of whom served in the Vietnam War.

Municipalities earn the certification by passing a resolution to award 6% of public contract dollars to veteran owned businesses and to achieve workforce composed of 5% veterans. The Freehold resolution also provides for 3 veteran only parking spaces in municipal parking areas and a promise by the borough to proactively notify veteran businesses of upcoming bids and contract opportunities.

Freehold joins a growing list of participating municipalities. To date, the certification has been presented to Marlboro, Lacey Township, Ocean Township, Linden, Paramus, Hackensack, South Hackensack, Union City, Rochelle Park, Old Bridge, Garfield, Linden, Pemberton Township, Ho-Ho-Kus, South Amboy, Fairview and a handful of other municipalities. Each municipality that signs on to the program further improves the outlook for New Jersey’s veteran owned businesses.

The resolution was adopted via unanimous vote by the borough council. Mayor Kane proudly accepted the framed certificate and looks expressed continued support for Freehold’s veteran community.

The New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce is a 501c6 nonprofit organization focused on making New Jersey’s economy fairer to veteran owned businesses, as well as veteran job creation.

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