Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson delivered the keynote address at the 20th Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce State of the County dinner.
The event also featured video remarks from newly elected U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Commander Col. Anthony L. Smith, PSE&G Regional Public Affairs manager Caren Freyer and Fulton Bank senior vice president Matthew Brennan.
During her address, Hopson highlighted county initiatives and programs that have been launched to improve all aspects of community well-being, from mental health to food and housing security.
“If you have healthy people, a healthy environment and healthy communities, our county will have the tools necessary to continue to recover, grow and thrive,” she said.
Among the initiatives Hopson addressed was the county’s food assistance grant program. Started earlier this year, it offers grants of up to $75,000 to local food pantries, food banks or soup kitchens. Close to $500,000 in grants have been awarded so far and funding is still available.
The county also launched Hope One for Youth, a new mobile outreach unit specializing in mental health for children and teens, and it expanded Camp Cardinal, a free day camp for children who’ve suffered a loss or were otherwise impacted by substance use disorder.
Hopson also highlighted the county’s strong economic numbers, including nearly 150 new businesses registered with the county clerk’s office this year. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs property tax data showed Burlington County has the lowest average county tax in the state for a fifth consecutive year.
