Hudson Community Enterprises Helps Break Down Barriers to Employment

TRENTON (October 12, 2016) – With the goal of creating new jobs for residents, Jersey City-based Hudson Community Enterprises, Inc. (HCE) offers a range of education, training, and employment opportunities to youths and adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment. The 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation has business operations throughout New Jersey, and offers services such as vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, job placement, and individual and group counseling.
 
Since it opened its doors in 1957, HCE has placed thousands of residents into employment. Through its vocational rehabilitation programs, HCE currently employs more than 700 individuals, 80 percent of whom have disabilities.
 
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) has supported HCE with tax-exempt bonds dating back to 1998, when the company used bond financing to expand its footprint in the Garden State. More recently, in 2012 and 2015, the organization again utilized this type of bond financing to support its needs.  
 
“For nearly 60 years, our mission has been to create employment opportunities for community residents,” HCE President Joseph Brown said. “With EDA support, we were able to continue our efforts by refinancing conventional debt and acquiring machinery and equipment.”
 
To showcase HCE’s growth and to highlight financing opportunities available to small businesses throughout the Garden State, EDA President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura today visited the company.
 
“A key objective of the EDA is to create new employment opportunities for residents throughout our state,” Lizura said. “Hearing the stories of those positively impacted through these vocational programs underscores the importance of supporting organizations such as HCE.”
 
The visit continues the EDA’s enhanced efforts to facilitate awareness of the programs it offers to support small and mid-sized businesses and not-for-profits, including a print and digital marketing campaign and social media channels. Centered on the theme “EDA Was Here,” the campaign and new social media presence highlight how organizations like HCE have used the EDA’s financing programs to overcome challenges, meet their needs and grow. In 2015, the EDA closed on over $443.5 million in traditional financing, including bonds to manufacturers and not-for-profit organizations, leveraging an estimated $669 million in total public/private investment. 
 
To learn about EDA resources for small businesses and not-for-profits, visit https://www.njeda.gov/small_midsize_business and follow @NJEDAWasHere on Twitter and LinkedIn.
 
The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action. Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. 
 
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.