Atlantic Cape Community College is kicking off the new Cape May County bizHub with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the public is invited. 

Set for 12:30 p.m. Sept. 6, the event will highlight the new facility, which will offer free and low-cost services to support business owners and those interested in growing their skillset or starting a business, with special outreach to women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses. 

“The bizHub is a valuable resource for Cape May County community members of all ages,” bizHub Director Christopher Stenger said in a statement. “By leveraging our deep understanding of the area’s business climate and population – for example, its seasonality and employment limitations – we’re able to curate specialized programs and networking opportunities that address these challenges directly and create real opportunities for long-term entrepreneurial success.” 

Located on ACCC’s Cape May Court House campus and open to all, the CMC bizHub office will be available to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for college-recognized holidays. Services and resources include: 

• Public and private meeting spaces 
• Open and private office desks 
• Access to phones, printers and WI-FI  
• Research and media resources 
• Business-focused library 
• One-on-one business coaching and consultations 

On its website, the CMC bizHub gave examples of how entrepreneurs can leverage its services. For startups, the center can help transform an idea into a business plan, locate resources during the development phase and develop actionable steps to launch a business. 

Established businesses will be able to search for information or assistance and network with local professionals, while those hoping to launch their own venture can purse entrepreneurial skills or education, explore “side gig” opportunities, and learn how to translate an idea or skill into a business plan. 

Plans for CMC bizHub satellites at the Cape May County Government Economic Development Office, the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and the Cape May County library system branches are in the works, according to the website. 

In September 2020, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced a $40,000 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the CMC bizHub, which also received a $100,000 grant through the NJEDA’s Innovation Challenge the year prior. Stenger told NJBIZ that “funding for the bizHub started from seed funding from both the county of Cape May and Crest Savings Bank that allowed us the ability to apply to grants that we received from the NJEDA and USDA to lay the ground works for what the organization is today.”

“The NJEDA congratulates Cape May County and the many stakeholders who have been involved in the project on securing the funding to turn the bizHub plan into reality. Entrepreneurship and creative new businesses will be a crucial element of New Jersey’s recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said in a statement in September 2020. “We are excited to see this project, which was planned with support from our Innovation Challenge, receive the funding needed to succeed.”

ACCC President Barbara Gaba added that the school was “honored to support Cape May County’s business community and entrepreneurs who wish to launch businesses that benefit local residents and visitors.”

“In this first year we have been extremely pleased to set up a physical center prepared to address the counseling and research needs of the Cape May County Small Business Community,” Stenger added. “We will sustain and grow these efforts with the support of future project funding secured for the next 5 years through a grant made possible by Congressman Jeff VanDrew.”

The ribbon cutting, which will include light refreshments and remarks from Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd District, is by RSVP only. If interested in attending, email [email protected] with the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of each member of your group. 

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:34 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2023, to include a photo of the center as well as more information about funding and how to RSVP for the celebration.