The local food development chain is a little longer, a little stronger with the opening of a manufacturing and storage facility that officials hope proves an attractive first location for startup companies.
The Cumberland County Improvement Authority held a ribbon-cutting for its Food Specialization Center, a $9.2 million project in development since late 2017. The center already has one tenant in place, Chank’s Pizza Cones of Millville.
Gerard Velazquez, authority president and chief executive officer, said lease negotiations are underway with a biotechnology firm called SIMULATE. The company two years ago began selling a plant-based “chicken” nugget.
Funding for the center was a combination of public and private sources. The U.S. Economic Development Administration gave the authority a $2.5 million grant. New Jersey Community Capital, TD Bank and New Market Tax Credits are other sources.