A $24-million bond ordinance was introduced June 8 by the Board of County Commissioners to fund several capital projects, one for half that amount for a government services building at the county airport.

A hearing and second reading of the proposal is scheduled for June 22, at 4:30 p.m., when the board will hold its second meeting of the month at the William E. Sturm Jr. Administration Building, 4 Moore Rd.,Court House.

Among the items the bond will finance:

$12.7 million for the construction of a government services complex.

$4.2 million for improvements to the County Commons, formerly the Rio Mall.

$6 million towards the county's municipal redevelopment initiative to foster economic development and redevelopment.

As spelled out in the document, the bulk of the funding is for a government services building that will house several county departments in Erma.

Among the departments: Fare-Free bus lot, Fare-Free offices and garages, Road Department office, County Road Department,Lower Township Public Safety Building, Election Board maintenance, and county gas station.

Work will include site preparation, demolition, construction or reconstruction, environmental remediation, testing, landscaping, sidewalks, and parking.

The ordinance calls for a downpayment of $1.1 million for the projects, with $22.9 million issued as bonds backed by the county. The "useful life" of the $12.7-million portion of the bond is projected at 30 years.

At the Airport

By resolution,?the board agreed with Cape May Brewing Co. LLC and the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA) to build a 25,000 square-foot production facility adjacent to the brewer's headquarters at the airport.

The firm started in July 2011, with three people at the airport. The brewer "has become one of the most successful businesses in the county and a leader in the New Jersey craft beer revolution," according to the resolution.

The firm employs 65 full-time and 10 seasonal employees and "continues to steadily add more," the resolution added.

In addition to its 15,000 square-foot headquarters, it has 22,500 square feet at the airport and 7,000 square feet of outside space, which could expand to 60,000 square feet pending approvals.

The firm also has 27,500 square feet in other locations outside the county.

As a public-private partnership, the county will finance the construction of the core and shell building and retain ownership.

The ACIA will build the structure and enter a long-term lease with the county. The brewer will sub-lease the building from the ACIA.

Funding will be supplied from a 2017 bond ordinance.

Cellular Tracking?Technologies LLC, a tenant in the county's Tech Village at the airport, wants to lease additional space. The firm began at the site in 2019.

According to the resolution, "Operations at the premises have been so successful that (the firm) is already at its anticipated phased occupancy plan for Unit 1 and wished to expand its operations by subleasing Unit 2 and 3.

Bids will be?sought by the ACIA to demolish several structures and build others at the airport in the "Government Services District." The county is eligible for $1.2 million in a Federal Transit Authority grant to offset the costs of building new government services buildings.