Target Industries

• Agriculture
• Aviation
• Casinos
• Healthcare
• Renewable Energy
• Retail
• Tourism

Agriculture

Our agricultural roots are evident with more than 9,500 acres of preserved farmland that provide fresh fruits and vegetables and contribute to the Town of Hammonton’s acclaim as the “Blueberry capitol of the World.  As of December of 2010 a total of 4,970 acres of farmland have been preserved under the New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program.  Click here for a complete list of the preserved farmland and see the municipalities involved.*

The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay, which surround the well-drained, sandy coastal plane soils of southern New Jersey, allows our farmers to grow such a diversity of crops such that something Jersey Fresh is being harvested at least 9 months of the year.  Atlantic County has become the second largest agricultural county in the Garden State
producing crops and livestock worth $128.3 million annually. Close to $126 million of that is attributed to production of high-value specialty horticultural crops.  Atlantic County's 499 farms, up 9% since 2002 (one of only 3 counties in the state with growth in number of farms), produced crops on a total of 30,372 acres. The County's and State's #1 crop of blueberries is concentrated on nearly 7000 acres in Hammonton, Mullica, Hamilton and Galloway Townships and contributes $83.2 million (1st in NJ, 8th in US) to the local farm economy, while nursery, sod and greenhouse crops contribute another $17.5 million.  Atlantic County vegetable farmers grow more than 100 types of vegetables (3rd in NJ, 94th in the US) and fresh herbs (1st in NJ, 6th in the US -- overall NJ is 3rd in production of fresh herbs behind FL and NC). Combined, these crops contribute nearly $25 million annually to local farm income and help sustain 6,000 acres of productive farmland, according to the 2007 Agricultural Census.  In addition, support businesses providing production and pest control equipment, tools and supplies, packaging materials, marketing and transportation services throughout the region rely on the success of Atlantic County's farmers.

Aviation

Atlantic County embraces twenty-first century technologies to help keep pace with an ever-changing economy. Egg Harbor Township is home to the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes Technical Center campus, adjacent to the Atlantic City International Airport, on which the 58-acre Next Generation Aviation Research and Technology Park is being constructed to supplement the federal government’s development of NextGen satellite-based aviation technology.  The project will provide an estimated 4,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent positions with full occupancy.

Recently the South Jersey Economic Development District (SJEDD) helped secure more than $280,000 in grant funding for the purchase of a simulated air traffic control tower at Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC). The simulation tower was critical in development of the college’s new Aviation Institute which provides degrees in Air Traffic Control. In addition, the SJEDD is currently working with ACCC on a $2 million Economic Development Administration grant that will be used toward the construction of the future home of the Aviation Institute.  Both projects help to build the aviation industry in the county.

Casinos

Due largely to the presence of Atlantic City's casinos, leisure and hospitality  accounts for the largest number of jobs in the county with a total of 50,055 which is 43.9% of the total employment. Click here for more information on casinos in Atlantic County.

Healthcare

Healthcare is a major industry in Atlantic County. AtlantiCare is southeast New Jersey’s largest health care provider, delivering cutting-edge technologies and top-notch service. The AtlantiCare Medical Center was recognized with a 2009 Baldrige Award, one of just five organizations in the entire nation to be honored for innovation and performance excellence.

Shore Medical Center was one of three hospitals nationwide to receive a Gold Seal of Approval for healthcare quality by the Joint Commission for Lumbar and Cervical Spine Surgery. It is nearing the completion of a $125 million expansion that will include a new surgical pavilion, medical office building, entrance and lobby. It recently opened a $1.8 million Pediatric Care Center, the only one of its kind in New Jersey which features a separate pediatric emergency treatment area combined with long-term, in-patient treatment rooms.

World class orthopedic care can be found at the Rothman Institute. Access to the staff and services of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is available at the Pediatric and Adolescent Specialty Care Center.

Renewable Energy

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) is current uses several renewable energy sources.  The ACUA’s wind farm produces the annual energy equivalent of 24,000 barrels of crude oil. Click here to learn more about the ACUA's projects. The ongoing efforts have earned Atlantic County the designation as the “Greenest County in New Jersey.”

Retail

The Tanger Outlets, The Walk is comprised of approximately 100 outlet stores.  Phase I and II are currently 99% occupied. The success of this development spurred the expansion and recent completion of Phase III, which is currently 80% occupied with leases out for signature for one of the three remaining unoccupied suites.

Hamilton Mall located in Mays Landing, NJ offers a wide selection of stores, specialty shops and restaurants.

The Shore Mall is a retail facility located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ that features Boscov's and Burlington Coat Factory, as well as many smaller chain stores.

Tourism

Convention business during the first six months of 2011 increased by about 60 percent over 2010 numbers for three of four barometers tracked by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.‡  Casinos are also expanding their non-gaming activities.  New restaurants and nightlife have been added at Resorts and Golden Nugget. Caesars Entertainment opened six restaurants this summer at a cost of more than $10 million. Tropicana Casino and Resort has planned a 3,500-square-foot activity center for children.

The Richard Stockton College stepped in to revive the Dante Hall Theater for the Performing Arts in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City.

On April 19, 2011 the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority established by resolution an Atlantic City Tourism District, an area in which the CRDA is authorized to facilitate development by assuming planning, zoning and other land use functions, and develop and implement a Tourism District Master Plan promoting cleanliness, commercial development and safety within the district.

The Tourism District includes the following areas within Atlantic City:

Jackson Avenue to Maine Avenue, from the Boardwalk to Atlantic Avenue
Florida Avenue to Bacharach Boulevard to Bay Avenue, incorporating the Atlantic city Outlets, The Walk and the Atlantic city Convention Center
Bader Field
The Marina District, incorporating Historic Gardner’s Basin

For tourism related statistics, visit the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.

* New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee
‡Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/about/stats.aspx)