Sweeney Hails Opening of NJMEP Office and Training Facility in Bellmawr

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney today joined officials of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) at the ribbon-cutting of the NJMEP’s state-of-the-art office and training facility in Bellmawr.

“The opening of the NJMEP South Jersey office represents a commitment by NJMEP to serve the needs of manufacturers all across New Jersey,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Manufacturing facilities of today resemble Mission Control at NASA – with clean, high-tech facilities and state-of-the-art safety protocols. NJMEP helps develop successful training programs where workers can be reimbursed for some or all of their training and education, and can be working at well-paid, skilled jobs in less than a year’s time. Manufacturing is one of our state’s most important industries – one whose companies and workers function with the cooperation and support of government to thrive.”

The goal of the new NJMEP facility is to better serve the manufacturers located in South Jersey. The facility will be an asset in providing in-person training services for South Jersey manufacturers, Senator Sweeney noted.

The NJMEP has named the Bellmawr facility in honor of Chris DePace, one of NJMEP’s longest-running account managers who lost his life to COVID-19 complications. As South Jersey-based manufacturers recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, they can take advantage of the training being offered or consulting services available at the facility.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure that every manufacturing business in New Jersey has the option to take advantage of our services as New Jersey’s MEP center,” said Dr. John W. Kennedy, CEO of the NJMEP. “We’ve always been able to serve South Jersey-based manufacturers from our Cedar Knolls headquarters, but the opening of the Bellmawr training center makes it even easier for these businesses to upskill their staff and engage with NJMEP; and this all doesn’t happen without the support of Senate President Sweeney and the Manufacturing Caucus.”

One challenge facing the manufacturing workforce will be the ongoing shift brought on by technological advances, and the continuing evolution of clean energy development and delivery. New Jersey’s public education system, as well as private and public-private partnerships, will be needed to make sure tomorrow’s workforce is trained up and ready to go as we move into the middle of the 21^st century.

NJMEP is a private, not-for-profit organization that improves the profitability and competitiveness of New Jersey’s manufacturers. Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NJMEP enables organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiency, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. For more than 25 years, NJMEP has used its extensive network of connections and a proven record of success to help manufacturers adapt to the latest innovative technologies and best practices to realize more than $5.4 billion in value.