EATONTOWN, NJ – At its August meeting, the Board of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) took steps to convert an existing structure into a facility that would bring new jobs, significant private investment and medical services to the region. The Board approved the transmittal of Plan Amendment #2 to the three host communities of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls to allow for input on the conversion of the facility.   

Specifically, the Amendment to the Fort Monmouth Reuse and Revitalization Plan (Reuse Plan) would maintain the land use concepts and plans in the Oceanport Reuse Area, while permitting an alternative development scenario.  That would result in the reuse of the former Paterson Army Health Clinic, which was to be demolished per the Reuse Plan.  The 80,000-square-foot wellness campus envisioned in the Reuse Plan would be incorporated into the reused Clinic, and the total number of residential units slated for the area would be maintained.  Of those 720 units, 85 would be redistributed from the 16-acre Clinic parcel to adjacent areas within the Oceanport Reuse Area. 

 “This Amendment will allow us to pursue our central goals of job creation, reinvestment, enhancing the public welfare and providing new housing opportunities, while preserving the objectives and principles of the original Reuse Plan, “said FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman. “Early sales and leases are critical to our ability to reinvest sale proceeds to support economic development for the region and Amendment #2 will provide the flexibility we need to more effectively attract potential medical clinic and office users to the Oceanport Reuse Area.”    

In August 2011, FMERA issued a Request for Proposals for the early lease of the Clinic, with an obligation to purchase, and received one qualified proposal from AcuteCare.  Per its proposal, AcuteCare would reuse the 118,000-square-foot Clinic as a medical facility, creating 200 new jobs and investing approximately $15 million to renovate the building.  Renovation of the facility by AcuteCare will also avoid the need to demolish the existing structure at an estimated cost of $1 million. The FMERA Board authorized staff to pursue negotiations with AcuteCare at its February 2012 meeting, and subject to the final approval of Amendment #2, FMERA expects to bring a Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Board for consideration this fall.   

“This Amendment offers tremendous benefits for our redevelopment efforts as it will save money, spur job creation and private investment, and reuse an existing building to bring exceptional and accessible medical care to our veterans and elderly residents,” FMERA Board Chairman James V. Gorman said.  “I believe everyone in the three host communities and throughout Monmouth County and the state understand how hard we have been working to advance procedures, processes and projects that will create jobs and carry out our commitment to thriving neighborhoods, commerce, open space and the highest quality of life for residents, visitors and businesses. Amendment #2 represents another important step to help us achieve those goals.” 

The FMERA Board will be asked to vote to approve the plan amendment after the 45 day period in which the three municipalities will have an opportunity to review and provide comment.  At that point, the Board will be able to vote on Amendment #2 with respect to this feedback.   

The Board recognizes that, based on current market conditions and demand, there will be occasion to request plan amendments. Pursuant to due diligence guidelines approved by the Board in February 2012 that govern this process, final approval will be contingent on the following: 1) a statement from the planner attesting that the resulting Reuse Plan is both rational and coordinated; 2) a statement from the planner that the resulting Reuse Plan would not significantly impact the areas within Fort Monmouth of the other host municipalities; 3) an opinion provided by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) counsel that the resulting Reuse Plan would not negatively impact FMERA’s obligations under the federal BRAC law or under any agreement with the Army; and, 4) an opinion provided by outside counsel with housing law expertise that the resulting Reuse Plan would not negatively impact FMERA’s obligations under fair housing laws.  

In August 2010, Governor Chris Christie signed into law the “Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority Act,” creating FMERA and charging it with advancing the Reuse and Redevelopment Plan authored by FMERA’s predecessor agency, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.  The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) staffs FMERA, which currently has eight employees working out of an office in Eatontown. 

Led by Chairman Gorman, FMERA Board members include EDA Chairman Alfred Koeppe, Governor’s Authorities Unit Director Regina Egea, Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo, Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon, Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard E. Constable III, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin, New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Harold Wirths, New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson, and Public Members Dr. Robert Lucky and Robert Ades.   

For more information on FMERA, visit www.fortmonmouthredevelopment.com.

Clean Energy Funds to Support Creation of 20 New Wind-Energy Manufacturing Technology Positions

TRENTON, N.J. (August 15, 2012) – In support of the Christie Administration’s commitment to creating jobs and growing the State’s economy, as well as to developing renewable energy resources, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) closed on financing through the Clean Energy Manufacturing Fund (CEMF) to support Fluitec Wind, a manufacturer of technologies that reduce the cost of operating wind turbines.  Its parent company, Fluitec SA, consolidated its U.S. operations and all global corporate functions in Jersey City last year.

 “Last September, I was pleased to welcome Fluitec to Jersey City, and today’s news is evidence that the company continues to thrive in New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.  “Creating jobs and promoting the growth of New Jersey’s clean energy economy are key priorities of the Christie Administration, and Fluitec is helping us achieve both.” 

Fluitec Wind expects to create 20 new, high-paying jobs as a result of the CEMF funding.  With its move to New Jersey last year, Fluitec SA created 30 additional new jobs in the state.  The company has averaged 80 percent annual growth rates over the last three years and expects the trend to continue. 

“This award will help Fluitec Wind develop world-class software, monitoring, and engineering facilities here in New Jersey,” said Frank Magnotti, Fluitec’s CEO.  “Our choice to expand here is a result of the Christie Administration’s pro-economic growth policies and long-term commitment to clean energy. We thank Lt. Governor Guadagno, the BPU and the Partnership for Action team for their continued support.” 

The CEMF was specifically designed to support companies looking to site or materially expand a Class I renewable energy or energy-efficient product manufacturing facility in New Jersey.  Funded by BPU and administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), the CEMF provides eligible clean technology manufacturers funding under two separate components: project assessment and design, and project construction and operation.  Qualified manufacturers of Class I renewable energy or energy efficiency systems, products or technologies may be eligible to receive up to $3.3 million in grants and low-interest loans.   

Fluitec Wind will use its $3.3 million award to accelerate the development of its SaaS analytical platform, which is a cloud-based cost control program, and business operations.   

Fluitec Wind COO Amar Pradhan said, “By identifying and significantly reducing the expense of operating a wind turbine, Fluitec Wind facilitates growth in renewable energy production. This funding will ensure we are able to continue to support this important industry.” 

Last year, the Partnership for Action (PFA) worked with Fluitec to help encourage the company to choose New Jersey over competing locations in Florida and Belgium.  Led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the PFA is a three-pronged public-private approach to economic development and the starting point for all initiatives, policies, and efforts to grow New Jersey’s economy and create quality, sustainable jobs in our communities. The three elements of the PFA include the Business Action Center reporting directly to the Lt. Governor and providing the business community with a single point of contact, applying a proactive, customer-service approach to businesses’ interactions with State government; the EDA, serving as the state’s “bank for business;” and Choose New Jersey, an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation created to encourage and nurture economic growth throughout New Jersey. 

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.

About Fluitec

Fluitec, a Luxembourg based company, is privately held (www.fluitec.com). It provides customers in over 40 countries leading edge technologies and knowledge to realize optimum reliability and productivity of their rotating equipment. In 2010, Fluitec received an award for the “Most Promising Innovation” from Cleantech in New York City. Their business has averaged 70% annual growth over the last four years. Fluitec has developed several technologies to monitor and maintain lubricants.  

Fluitec Wind, a subsidiary of Fluitec SA, based in Jersey City, New Jersey, utilizes advanced data mining, predictive analytics and behavioral targeting to reduce the cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) of wind turbines.  Wind turbines are remote and distributed with highly varied environmental and operational loads. However, they are genetically similar and networked to produce vast quantities of data ideal for big data methodologies. Using our cloud-based SaaS platform, known as Tribo-Analytics, wind companies provide data and we predict, prevent, and react in order to avoid massive turbine O&M costs. 

Fluitec Wind can be found online at www.fluitecwind.com.  

Contact: Tina Posey, t.posey@fluitec.com; +1.888.557.9575 ext 136.