Union County Economic and Demographic Profile

Union County Economic and Demographic Profile

Union County Business Reports
Union County, NJ
PROFILE 2016
Prepared by UCEDC
For Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders,
Bruce H. Bergen, Chairman
75 Chestnut Street, Cranford, NJ 07016
908-527-1166 / info@ucedc.com
www.ucedc.com
June, 2016
UCEDC, a non-profit economic development
corporation, is dedicated to stimulating
economic growth for small businesses throughout
Union County by providing them with resources
and solutions for business expansion. Since 1977,
UCEDC has helped entrepreneurs open their
doors and assisted established businesses expand
into new markets through innovative lending, comprehensive training initiatives and
government procurement programs.
Financing
Access to capital is often a business owner’s largest hurdle. We offer a variety of
financing programs to meet your needs at every stage of your business’s growth. As an
SBA lender, we offer loans from $500 to $5 million through the microloan, Community
Advantage 7(a) and 504 financing programs. Speak to our experienced staff to find the
option that meet your needs.
Government Contracting
Federal, state and local government agencies spend billions of dollars each year buying
goods and services from small businesses, just like yours. UCEDC can help you break
into this lucrative market through free specialized training programs, one-on-one
counseling services, and assistance in preparing bids and contract management.
Training
Whether you’re looking for short presentations, day-long workshops, or intensive
courses, UCEDC has the training and technical assistance you need to succeed. Our
training professionals will help you master a wide variety of business and financial
topics.
Business Tools
UCEDC produces a wide array of Union County business resource reports to provide
you with the insights you need to make smart decisions. Market data, commercial real
estate information, demographic analyses, and comprehensive contact lists for business
advocacy organizations and agencies are just a few of the vital reports you’ll find, free of
charge.
Table of Contents
This report was compiled to provide a
quick overview of the major
demographic and economic factors
impacting Union County today. Data
sources are provided at the end of the
report to allow for a more indepth
exploration.
County Government ..................................... 1
Population .................................................... 2
Education ...................................................... 3
Labor Force/Employment ............................. 4
Housing ........................................................ 6
Transportation .............................................. 7
Community Life............................................ 9
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Union County operates under a County Manager form of government provided
under the Optional County Charter Law of 1975. The Board of Chosen
Freeholders is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms with three
Freeholders running for election each year. The Board appoints the County
Manager to administer the day-to-day operation of county government, which
consists of six (6) major departments and Runnells Specialized Hospital in
Berkeley Heights.
Union County Freeholders:
County Budget, 2016
Bruce H. Bergen, Chairman
Sergio Granados, Vice-Chairman
Linda Carter
Angel G. Estrada
Christopher Hudak
Mohamed S. Jalloh
Bette Jane Kowalski
Alexander Mirabella
Vernell Wright
$505,624,322.29
For more information go to
http://ucnj.org/departments/clerk-of-theboard/freeholders/
Source: Union County Division of the Treasurer
www.UCNJ.org
County Bond Rating
Aa1 by Moody’s Bond Records - March 2015
AA+ by Fitch Bond Records – June 2014
AA+ by Standards & Poor’s Bond Records – June 2014
Union County Manager
Registered Voters:
Unaffiliated
Democrat
Republican
Libertarian
Green Party
Conservative Party
Reform Party
U.S. Constitution Party
Total
Source: Union County Department of Finance
140,564
127,895
42,961
153
53
60
5
63
311,978
Alfred Faella
For more information, please contact:
The Office of Public Information
Union County Administration Building
10 Elizabethtown Plaza
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
(908) 527-4000
www.unioncountynj.org
Source: Union County Board of Elections 2016
Source: Union County Board of Elections 2014
Page 1
POPULATION
Union County has an estimated population of 555,786, reflecting an increase of 6.4% since 2000. It is among
the most densely populated counties in New Jersey with a population density of 5,216 persons per square mile.
Union County’s population is racially, ethically and culturally diverse. According to the 2014 Census about
60.8% of Union County’s residents were Hispanic/Latino, African-American, Asian or multi-racial.
Union County/ NJ State Comparisons
Population
Median Household Income
Persons below poverty
Persons per square mile
2015
Union County New Jersey
555,786
8,958,013
$69,396
$72,062
%11.1
%11.1
5,216
1,196
Union County
522,541
$55,339
4.2%
5,059
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000-2015
Population Characteristics, 2000 – 2014
AGE DISTRIBUTION
Under 5
5-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-64
65-84
85 and Over
Total Population
2000
36,441
6.9
105,205 20.1
29,764
5.7
75,189
14.4
88,398
16.9
115,503 22.1
62,672
12
9,369
1.8
522,541
2014
35,854
6.6
109,249 20.1
33,932
6.2
70,694
13.0
77,566
14.2
148,237 27.2
57,786
10.6
11,918
2.2
545,236
RACE
White
Black
Hispanic (any race)
Asian
Multi Racial
Native American
2000
342,302 65.5
108,593 20.8
103,011 19.7
19,993
3.8
16,960
6.4
1,215
3.2
2014
316,762 58.1
116,887 21.4
157,092 28.8
25,969
4.8
9,238
1.7
2,579
0.5
GENDER
Female
Male
2000
267,663 51.2
254,387 48.7
2014
256,693 55.5
226,747 45.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 - 2014
Municipal Populations, 2015
Municipality
Berkeley Heights
Elizabeth
Hillside
Mountainside
Rahway
Scotch Plains
Union
2015
13,549
129,007
21,984
6,885
29,508
24,149
58,128
Municipality
Clark
Fanwood
Kenilworth
New Providence
Roselle
Springfield
Westfield
2015
15,535
7,651
8,215
12,469
21,670
17,502
30,548
Source: US Census 2015
Page 2
Municipality
Cranford
Garwood
Linden
Plainfield
Roselle Park
Summit
Winfield
2015
24,143
4,521
42,021
51,217
13,670
22,074
1,514
2000
New Jersey
8,414,350
$65,266
8.5%
1,189
EDUCATION
Public Schools (2016)
Private Education (2016)
There are 27 public Schools Districts in Union County
Elementary School (PreK-5)
102
Middle/High School (6-12)
48
Vocational Technical Schools
6
Charter Schools
4
There are 57 non-public schools in the county
Kindergarden
21
Elementary School (PreK-5)
21
Middle/High School (6-12)
6
Elementary/High School
9
combined
Education Notes:
•The average cost of education per student (K-12) for the 2015/2016 school year: $14,828
•Total public school enrollment (2015/2016): 92,712
Source: NJ Department of Education, 2016
Sources: New Jersey Department of Education, 2012
Child Care Facilities in Union County
As of June 2016, there were 278 licensed child-care centers with an enrollment capacity of 24,139 children. Of these
centers, there were 2 employer-sponsored child-care centers. In addition, there were 109 registered Family Child Care
providers with an enrollment capacity of 537 children.
Source: Noemi. Martinez, Community Coordinated Childcare of Union County, personal communication, June 1, 2016
Institutions of Higher Education within Union County
School
Town
Kean University of New Jersey
Union
Union County College
Cranford
Elizabeth
Plainfield
Scotch Plains
Total
Enrollment
15,221
Web Address
11,220
www.ucc.edu
www.kean.edu
Source: Kean University & Union County College, 2016
Institutions of Higher Education within 15 miles of Union County
School
Town
Total Enrollment
Web Address
Bloomfield College
Caldwell University
Drew University
Essex County College
Fairleigh Dickinson University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Rutgers University-Newark
Bloomfield
Caldwell
Madison
Newark
Madison
Newark
Newark
2,000
2,138
2,000
11,468
12,000
11,325
11,314
www.bloomfield.edu
www.caldwell.edu
www.drew.edu
www.essex.edu
www.fdu.edu
www.njit.edu
www.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Seton Hall University
New Brunswick
South Orange
40,720
10,100
www.rutgers.edu
www.shu.edu
Source: State of New Jersey, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
Page 3
LABOR FORCE & EMPLOYMENT
Union County and New Jersey Unemployment Rates as of April 2016
Union County
Civilian Labor Force
266,900
New Jersey
4,358,400
Unemployed
Civilian Labor Force
14,800
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
230,100
5.0%
Employment by Industry, 2015
Percent
TOTAL
Health Care
Number
188,755
29,858
Retail Trade
Public Sector
Manufacturing
Administrative/Support
Professional/Technical
Wholesale Trade
26,230
30,157
19,097
18,905
12,803
12,214
13.9
16.0
10.1
10.0
6.8
6.5
Construction
Finance/Insurance
Other
9,113
6,712
23,666
4.8
3.6
12.5
15.8
Source: New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Bureau of Labor Force Statistics, 2015
Largest Non-Government Businesses in Union County by Employment
Firm
Merck & Co.
Employees
5,000
Nature of Business
Pharmaceuticals
Overlook Hospital
Trinitas Hospital
Location
Kenilworth &
Rahway
Summit
Elizabeth
Hospital
Hospital
3,901
2,800
Maher Terminals
Alcatel-Lucent
Phillips 66 Bayway
Elizabeth
New Providence
Linden
Truck Terminals
Technology
Refinery
1,700
1,300
1,000
Source: UCEDC Major Employers List, 2015
Please Note: The number of employees shown above is approximate.
Page 4
Top Recently Completed or Near Completion Major
Development Projects, 2015
Municipality
Project Name
$ Value
Status
Linden
550 Million
In Progress
Elizabeth
Legacy Development
(former GM Plant)
Elberon/Wakefern
70+ Million
Completed
Clark
Clark Commons
55 Million
Completed
Elizabeth
E&A Ventures
50 Million
In Progress
New Providence
Redwood-ERC
45 Million
Completed
Berkeley Heights
Embassy Suites
40 Million
In Progress
Rahway
Meridia Lafayette
15 Million
In Progress
Summit
466 Springfield Avenue
12 Million
In Progress
Union
Bridge Development
10 Million
Completed
Source: UCEDC Major Development Projects Report, 2015
Major Industrial/Office Parks in Union County
Name
Liberty Hall Corporate
Center
Connell Corporate I,
II, II & IV
Cranford Business
Parks
Cranford Office &
Industrial Park
Morris Plaza I & II
Murray Hill Inn and
Office Park
Address
Morris and North
Avenue
200 Connell Drive
14/25 Commerce
Dr.
65 Jackson Drive
City
Union
Berkeley
Heights
Cranford
Cranford
Commerce Drive
Cranford
Morris Avenue
South St. and
Central Ave.
Union
New
Providence
Page 5
Management Co.
Colliers
International
Connell Realty &
Dev Co.
Mack-Cali Associates
Phone#
973-299-3019
Mack-Cali
Associates
Mack-Cali Associates
732-590-1513
M. Alfieri Co.
Mack-Cali Associates
732-491-4200
732-590-1513
908-673-3736
Lee Martino
732-590-1513
732-590-1513
HOUSING
Housing Summary, 2014
Union County
New Jersey
Housing units
Homeownership rate
Median value of owner-occupied housing units
Households
Persons per household
201,580
59.8%
$353,300
185,688
2.90
3,591,588
65.0%
$319,900
3,188,498
2.72
Source: US Census Bureau – Census 2014
Housing Prices and Real Estate Taxes, Union County, 2015
Municipality
Average
Sale Price
2015
564,901
417,180
444,439
4 Year
Decrease/
Increase
-6.1%
+6.7%
+3.3%
Average
Taxes
2011
$11,027
$8,899
$9,557
Average
Taxes
2015
$12,917
$9,729
$10,524
4 Year
Increase $
Berkeley Heights
Clark
Cranford
Average
Sale Price
2011
601,578
391,055
430,276
Elizabeth
Fanwood
Garwood
Hillside
Kenilworth
Linden
228,117
410,875
331,610
231,858
329,575
260,960
230,809
430,613
366,114
227,112
314,505
245,054
+1.2%
+4.8%
+10.4
-2.0%
-4.6%
-6.1%
$7,886
$10,315
$8,391
$8,515
$7,028
$7,739
$9,074
$11,219
$9,495
$9,096
$8,339
$8,408
$1,188
$904
$1,104
$581
$1,311
$669
Mountainside
New Providence
Plainfield
Rahway
Roselle
Roselle Park
583,814
545,046
244,022
261,376
182,696
253,930
631,557
601,323
248,514
228,056
170,014
264,519
+8.2%
+10.3%
+1.8%
-12.7%
-6.9%
+4.2
$9,649
$12,017
$7,845
$7,742
$9,115
$8,480
$11,788
$13,364
$8,318
$8,314
$9,532
$9,514
$2,139
$1,347
$473
$572
$417
$1,034
Scotch Plains
Springfield
Summit
Union
Westfield
Winfield
477,536
397,642
985,865
277,133
750,749
N/A
520,637
361,409
979,176
285,165
693,979
N/A
+9.0%
-9.1%
-0.7%
+2.9%
-7.6%
N/A
$11,250
$9,766
$15,524
$7,612
$13,902
$24
$12,562
$10,701
$17,117
$8,402
$15,914
$347
$1,312
$935
$1,593
$790
$2,012
$323
Source: NJ Department of Treasury
Page 6
$1,890
$830
$967
TRANSPORTATION
Major Highways in Union County
Highway
Garden State Parkway (Toll
Road)
New Jersey Turnpike (Toll
Road)
Interstate 78
Interstate 278
US Routes 1&9
US Route 22, 24
Direction of
Travel
North & South
Union County
Exits
8
North & South
2
East & West
East & West
North & South
East & West
8
2
Ample
Ample
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Travel Times and Distances
Destination
Midtown Manhattan, NY
Newark International Airport
Downtown Philadelphia, PA
Distance
(miles)
16-30
0-18
72-84
Drive Time
(min.)
30-60
5-35
100-120
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Rail
Passenger Lines – There are 4 major lines which serve Union
County: the Northeast Corridor Line, the Raritan Valley Line, the
North Jersey Coast Line, and the Morris & Essex Line (which
includes the Gladstone Line & Morristown Line).
Freight Lines – The Chemical Coast, Conrail, Lehigh Line of
Conrail, Northeast Corridor, and the Raritan Valley Line.
ExpressRail – The ExpressRail On-Dock Cargo Transfer Facility at
Port Elizabeth is a daily rail service that connects the Port and
Union County to all Midwest and Canadian markets.
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Air
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – EWR is one of the most modern, efficient, fastest-growing airports in the
world. Almost half of the airport is located within Union County boundaries. The number of passengers passing through
Newark Airport in 2015 was more than 37 million (This includes domestic, international, commuter and regional
passengers).
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Linden Municipal Airport – Linden Airport provides a vital transportation link in the Union County infrastructure. The
airport is a federal-designated reliever facility for Newark Liberty and operates a full-service facility. The airport is home
to approximately 85 aircraft and close to 51,000 arrivals and departures each year.
Source: Airport IQ 5010
Page 7
Air Traffic Comparison, 2015
Passengers
Domestic
International
Flights
Domestic
International
Freight (In tons)
Domestic
International
EWR
JFK
LGA
25,692,513
26,806,853
26,684,923
11,802,191
30,020,301
1,752,745
310,653
92,322
253,503
173,881
323,763
27,175
449,435
255,252
235,007
1,094,939
7,672
49
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Trucking
•Over 50 independent freight/trucking companies are based in Union County.
•There are an additional 90 companies that serve Union County from within a 50-mile radius.
•There are over 55 private companies that have their own fleet of trucks within Union County.
Sea
Port Elizabeth is the largest containerized, deep-water shipping
terminal on the East Coast.
Facts about Port Newark/Elizabeth:
•2,230 acres/902.4 hectares of maritime property
•41,000 linear feet/12,496.8 meter of berthing space
•Accommodates 3,700 vessels annually
•3.3 million containers handled each year
•U.S. Foreign Trade Zone No. 49 is the largest foreign trade zone in
the U.S. with 3,587 contiguous acres and over 6 million sq. ft. for
storage and distribution.
Elizabeth Port, NJ
Port Activity: NY/NJ General Cargo Tonnage Volume
Year
2015
2014
Total
36,781,069
35,361,350
Imports
26,138,101
24,361,944
Exports
10,642,968
10,999,406
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Activity: NY/NJ Containers/Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit's
Year
2015
Containers
3,664,013
TEU's
6,371,720
2014
3,342,286
5,772,303
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Page 8
COMMUNITY LIFE
Hospitals Located in Union County
Hospital
Municipality
Number of beds
Overlook (Acute Care)
Summit
504
RWJ at Rahway (Acute)
Rahway
263
Runnells Specialized (County-owned, (Psychiatric)
Berkeley Heights
44
Trinitas (Acute Care)
Elizabeth
407
Summit Oaks Hospital (Psychiatric)
Summit
126
*Each municipality has a rescue squad and/or emergency medical service.
Source: State of New Jersey Department of Health, Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing (2015)
Parks & Recreation
Union County is a rich and diverse region that boasts thirty-six parks, spanning 6,200 acres. These woodlands and open
spaces comprise approximately 8.5 percent of the County’s total land.
Major Parks, Recreation and Facilities in Union County
Park Name
Town(s)
Park Name
Town(s)
Black Brook Park
Kenilworth
Lenape Park
Briant Park
Summit
Madison Ave Park
Cranford/Kenilworth/Springfield/Union/
Westfield
Rahway
Cedar Brook Park
Plainfield/S. Plainfield
Mattano Park
Elizabeth
Echo Lake Park
Mountainside/Westfield
McConnell Park
Cranford
Elizbeth River Parkway
Hillside/Union
Milton Lake Park
Clark/Rahway
Chatfield
Hillside/Union
Nomahegan Park
Cranford
Lightning Brook
Hillside/Union
Oak Ridge Park
Clark/Edison
Pruden (Pearl Oval)
Elizabeth
Passaic River Parkway
Berkeley Heights/New Providence/Summit
Salem
Hillside/Union
Phil Rizzuto Park
Union/Elizabeth
Woodruff
Hillside/Union
Rahway River Parkway
Clark/Rahway
Green Brook Park
Plainfield/N. Plainfield
Sperry Park
Cranford
Hanson Park
Cranford
Unami Park
Cranford/Garwood/Westfield
Esposito Park
Clark
Ponderosa Park
Scotch Plains
Houdaille Quarry
Springfield
Warinaco Park
Elizabeth/Roselle
Kawameeh Park
Union
Wheeler Park
Linden
Other Recreation Areas in Union County
Golf Courses & Recreational Areas
Towns
Ashbrook Golf Course (18 Regulation Holes)
Clark, Scotch Plains
Galloping Hill Golf Course (27 Regulation Holes)
Kenilworth, Union
Hyatt Hills Golf Course (18 Holes)
Berkeley Hts.,
Mountainside
Scotch Plains, Springfield,
Summit
Clark
Scotch Hills Country Club (9 Holes)
Scotch Plains
Summit Municipal Golf Course (9 Holes)
Summit
Watchung Reservation
Galloping Hill Golf Course, Kenilworth, NJ
Page 9
Resource List
County of Union, New Jersey (2016)
Union County Freeholders:
http://ucnj.org/departments/clerk-of-the-board/freeholders/
County of Union, New Jersey (2016). Union County Budget:
http://ucnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2016-AdoptedBudget.pdf
County of Union, New Jersey (2016). County Registered
Voters: http://ucnj.org/board-of-elections/affiliation-statistics/
Union County Population. U.S. Census Bureau (2015):
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/product
view.xhtml?src=CF
Hospitals. State of New Jersey Department of Health (2015)
http://www.state.nj.us/health/healthfacilities/search/ac.shtml
Division of Parks & Recreation (2015). Union County Parks:
http://ucnj.org/parks-activities/
Transportation (2015). NY/NJ Port Activity:
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/general-information.html
Air Traffic Comparison (2014). NY/NJ Port Authority:
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/traffic-statistics.html
Port Activity (2015). NY/NJ Port Authority:
http://www.panynj.gov/port/pdf/historical_stats_20042014_trade-stats.pdf
Union County/NJ State Comparisons. U.S. Census Bureau
(2015):
http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/34039,00
Employment (2016). New Jersey Department of Labor (2016):
http://lwd.state.nj.us/lpaapp/app
Population Characteristics, 2000 -2015
U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 – 2015:
http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/00
Housing (Average Residential Sale Prices)
NJ State Department of Treasury (2015):
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/statdata.shtml
Municipal Populations. U.S. Census Bureau (2015):
http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/00
Housing (Average Real Estate Taxes - NJ State Department of
Treasury (2015):
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/statdata.shtml
Education. New Jersey Department of Education (2015-2016):
http://www.state.nj.us/education/data/
Child Care Facilities in Union County. Noemi Martinez,
Community Coordinated Childcare of Union County, personal
communication, June 1, 2016.
Average Cost of Education per student. NJ Department of
Education (2016):
http://www.state.nj.us/education/data/
Institutes of Higher Education (2016):
http://www.kean.edu/about and
http://www.ucc.edu/administration/Institutionalresearch/Comm
onDataSet/Enrollment.aspx
Institutes of Higher Education within 15 miles (2016):
http://www.nj.gov/highereducation/colleges/schools_county.sht
ml
Union County and New Jersey Unemployment Rates (2016)
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/employ/uirate/lfest_index.ht
ml
Employment by Industry
http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/reports/datareports_index.html
Largest Non-Government Business in Union County by
Employment: UCEDC Major Employers List (2015)
Top Recently Completed or Near Completion Major
Development Projects, 2015: UCEDC Major Development
Report (2016)
Linden Airport data (2015):
http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=LDJ&AptSecN
um=2
Union County employment by industry
(2016): http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/employ/emp_index.html
Labor force and unemployment (2016):
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/employ/uirate/lfest_index.ht
ml
75 Chestnut Street
Cranford, NJ 07016
908-527-1166 / info@ucedc.com
www.ucedc.com