By: Gavin Schweiger, Follow South Jersey Assistant Editor
BRIDGETON – City leaders, local professionals and community collaborators met at the Marino Center on Saturday, November 8 for Bridgeton’s Urban Enterprise Zone’s (UEZ) first annual award gala.
The gala, organized by UEZ coordinator Stephanie Gonzalez, saw over 180 awards given in 11 categories, including “Public Service Recognition Awards,” “Bridgeton UEZ Community Collaboration Awards,” and “Bridgeton Business Excellence Awards.”
“I didn’t want to leave anyone out,” Gonzalez said. “I think everyone’s important and everyone’s a part of Bridgeton UEZ.”
Awardees included Bridgeton businesses, nonprofits, city public officials, and members of the UEZ board and organization. While the awards honored the work of Bridgeton community members, it also highlighted the growth and impact of the UEZ itself.
Bridgeton UEZ is one of the 32 urban enterprise zones active in New Jersey, the purpose of which is to encourage business development and stimulate economic growth in areas designated by New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Authority. Eligible participating businesses receive tax benefits, as well as access to state programs to aid in growth.
According to Bridgeton UEZ program manager Heather Moran, who spoke at the gala, there are plenty of projects in the works to help the businesses and community.
Projects include the façade improvement program. Some businesses that “transformed storefronts and brought new life to Bridgeton’s commercial corridors” with the program received awards.
Minerva Alvarado, a trustee on the UEZ Board of Trustees, said she believed the gala “went really well.”
“We had a very good turnout and I’m very happy about that,” Alvarado said. “It was exciting to just see first responders, people from the city of Bridgeton, and the business owners as well out here, and their families.”
Bridgeton’s mayor, Albert Kelly, spoke at the beginning of the gala, saying he was glad to “see all of you here celebrating here in the great city of Bridgeton.”
“I do not hesitate to say, ‘the great city’ because of things like this going on,” Kelly said. “We have people like Stephanie and her staff working together to enrich our community, and you are following her lead.”
Awardees were grateful for the achievement, thanking their families, their Bridgeton peers, and the UEZ.
Even as the night wound down, the first gala was energizing for Gonzalez, who looks forward to a bigger venue and more entertainment for next year’s event.
“To me, it’s dear to my heart, because it’s not only a job for me, it’s my passion,” Gonzalez said. “So, it’s really an honor to be able to celebrate everyone that’s hear at Bridgeton UEZ.”
Check out more coverage of the gala in the video below.
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- WATCH: What’s Good in South Jersey? Taviaus Wilson
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