Category: Public Info

Partnership with UCEDC Broadens Access to Working Capital for Women Entrepreneurs

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce a partnership with UCEDC, a nonprofit economic development corporation, to offer women business owners in Union County access to zero-percent working capital financing.

The unprecedented interest elimination on loans up to $25,000 is made possible by grants from Investors Bank and the Tory Burch Foundation Capital Program, powered by Bank of America.

“We know that women-owned businesses contribute substantially to the County’s economy and have the potential to do even more,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “With UCEDC’s help, we’ve launched this program to give hard-working women entrepreneurs the boost they need to get their businesses to the next level.”

The loan program, offered exclusively to women-owned businesses in Union County, offers up to $25,000 at zero-percent interest for five years with no collateral requirements.  Eligible borrowers will have been in business for at least three years, be profitable in their latest tax return, and have a personal credit score of at least 680.

“Working capital is the lifeblood of small businesses and unfortunately, women-owned businesses often come up short,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados. “With the elimination of all interest payments on this loan, we’re hoping that more women entrepreneurs will now have the cash they need to grow their business.”

Women borrowers who may not qualify for the zero-percent loan program have an attractive alternative, also made possible by the Freeholders and UCEDC.  Women-owned businesses are eligible for a two-percentage point discount on their interest rate for loans up to $50,000.  This program is available to start-up and established businesses.

“No matter what stage your business is in, even it’s still just an idea that you’re considering, we encourage you to contact UCEDC for more information about the unique financing options we’ve established to support small business growth,” said Chairman Bergen.

To learn more about UCEDC’s loan programs for small businesses, visit the website at www.ucedc.com or call 908-527-1166.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright joined Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey Executive Director Tom Beck, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Project Manager Elie Bodner and RSVP Project Coordinator Nathalie Garcia in congratulating Joseph Yorey of Cranford during the Union County RSVP Volunteer recognition luncheon at Kean University in Union. Yorey was honored for volunteering the most time, 200 hours, the past year during. More than one hundred senior citizens were recognized for their service during the event.

Freeholder Vernell Wright, a cancer survivor, delivered this inspired speech in her hometown of Union Township to participants in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser.

Letter sent to Mayors of all 21 towns to apply for 15-passenger vehicle to provide senior transportation

UNION COUNTY—-The Union County Freeholder Board today announced that letters have been sent out to all 21 Mayors of Union County inviting them to apply for a 15-seat passenger van provided by the County as part of Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s “Seniors in Motion” initiative for 2016.

The initiative, which was last implemented in 2001, will provide municipalities that request it, with a passenger van (purchased by the County) for senior transport in the Fall. 

“Seniors are a growing segment of the Union County population and we remain committed to providing services to assist them,” said Freeholder Chairman Bergen. “They are an asset to our community as a whole and continue to shape our County in a positive way.”

Participating municipalities will keep the vehicle for its lifetime, and will be responsible for the provision of insurance, vehicle maintenance and provision of qualified drivers who hold a Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL). Some municipalities that participated in the 2001 initiative, had maintained their aging vehicles, and contacted the County about renewing the initiative this year.

Bergen declared 2016 as “the year of the Senior,” announcing the “Seniors in Motion” program and “Senior Focus” initiative, dedicated to improving and enhancing senior centers throughout the County.

Additionally, Union County’s existing Paratransit system will continue to provide rides, at minimal cost, for transportation to medical treatments and other related activities. The Paratransit fleet can accommodate those in wheelchairs and walkers and makes regularly scheduled trips to the Lyons VA Medical Center and the East Orange VA Medical Center.

Mayors wishing to participate in the “Seniors in Motion” initiative, should send a letter of interest by July 18th to:

For any questions, please contact the Office of the Director, Department of Human Services, at (908) 527-4808.

Union County, NJ – In honor of National Flag Day, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that torn or tattered American flags may be dropped off at her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield for proper retirement.

“Each year, we affirm the sentiment of Flag Day by reminding Union County residents of the United States Flag Code, which calls for a tattered or worn flag to be disposed in a manner consistent with its role as the symbol of our nation,” said Rajoppi.

National Flag Day is held every year on June 14, as part of National Flag Week.

Union County residents can bring flags that are no longer fit for display to the County Clerk’s offices any day of the year during regular business hours for proper retirement.

Ms. Rajoppi also noted that on June 13, flags in Union County were lowered to half-mast in support of the Orlando community, in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a popular LGBT nightclub.

“Throughout our nation’s history, the American flag has been the symbol of liberty, justice, and solidarity in times of trial,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Our flag reflects a deep well of emotion, and I am proud to work with our local veterans organizations to help ensure that the lifespan of every flag concludes in a manner that reflects its role in our shared consciousness as a nation.”

National Flag Day was first officially affirmed by presidential proclamation in 1916, two years after the start of World War I. In 1949, shortly after the end of World War II, an Act of Congress designated June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.

Flags for retirement may be left with staff at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 115, in Elizabeth; and at the County Clerk’s Annex in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield.

The Elizabeth office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Westfield office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information about the Union County Clerk’s flag retirement collection program, please call 908-527-4787. For all County Clerk services ucnj.org/county-clerk.

For a directory of veterans services in Union County, including a list of local VFW posts, visit ucnj.org/hero.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will visit Scotch Plains on Sunday, June 26.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred their confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with Union County’s other green initiatives.”

The June 26th shredding event will take place at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus in Scotch Plains, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place on Thursday, July 21, at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen celebrates Margaret Haegi’s 100th birthday along with Clark Lagemann, Senior VP of Operations for the Westfield Area YMCA and Ann Marie Patterson YMCA Aquatics instructor who leads a class Margaret still attends 3 times a week. 

We join with the nation in mourning, in outrage, and in a renewed commitment to honor the rich diversity that makes our country great. Our shared history has made America a shining light of progress, sometimes slow, sometimes halting, but always on the path of embracing equality, dignity and respect for all. Nothing will ever change that. Our strength lies in our power to choose, and we choose to celebrate all of humanity.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”