Anyone who wonders whether Ewing is in the middle of an economic expansion should take a drive along Scotch Road and the property surrounding the Trenton-Mercer Airport.

A new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel is under construction. There are plans for two six-story office buildings, of 100,000 square feet, and 86,000 square feet, to be built. A national restaurant chain is looking for property. And another 100,000 square foot office building is being built by the Advance Realty Group.

Not to mention that the Ewing Planning Board has given approval for a 1 million square foot office complex for Bloomberg Financial Corporation, to be built on a 10-acre site on Route 31.

"Our town is a small town, but it has been undergoing an economic renaissance and redevelopment," said Ewing Mayor Wendell Pribila. "A lot of property that had been developed, but lied dormant, is now being redeveloped."

One such development that has attracted attention is the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel being built on Scotch Road, at the intersection with I-95. The new $13 million, 130-unit hotel will cater to the traveling businessperson. The opening, which was slightly delayed due to the bad weather, is now scheduled to happen by the end of the year.

"There is 8 or 9 million square feet of office space along Route 95 to the Delaware River," said Michael Wilburn of Inn America Hospitality, the developer of the hotel. "When you have that amount of office space, there is a tremendous need (for a hotel)."

Inn America Hospitality is a subsidiary of American Properties, and is based in Woodbridge. The Courtyard by Marriott will be their fifth hotel in the state.

County Executive Robert Prunetti said the new hotel should aid business travelers in the region.

"The convenience of a hotel/extended stay facility would undoubtedly improve travel by providing a way to avoid the high cost and inconvenience associated with traveling to and flying out of Philadelphia International or Newark International," Prunetti said. "A facility of this kind will allow travelers the convenience of a nearby hotel with direct and immediate access to the airport."

Their decision to build a hotel on Scotch Road was "pretty easy," Wilburn said, given the limited hotel service in the area, and the concentration of major businesses.

"In looking at the market, I knew that's where I wanted to be," said Wilburn. "I knew Scotch Road was going to be completely rebuilt and Merrill Lynch is across the road. Plus, Ewing is a very businessreceptive community. The location is the best in the area, on the interchange right off I-95, and that will service employers who are right off I-95."

Ewing Mayor Pribila said that his town has sought out business, in order to replace the loss of General Motors, and to enhance the economic activity in town.

To help promote economic development, Pribila said that Ewing created a Site Review Committee, made up of members of the Planning and Zoning boards as well as the Environmental Commission, which meets twice a month. Prospective builders can informally discuss their

proposals and receive feedback from the municipality, before going through the formal review.

"It's just a much more efficient process, very developer friendly with a site review," Pribila said. "What we've done is tried to help them whatever way we can ... We've instructed our construction department, planners, and engineers to be as user friendly as we can."

In addition to the hotel on Scotch Road, approvals have been given for two sixstory office buildings at the Sierra Park office complex adjacent to the Marriott. The two buildings will be 100,000 square feet and 86,000 square feet respectively, and include two to three story parking garages.

The 20-acre Naval Propulsion site, adjacent to the airport, has been purchased by a California developer, and the property is currently undergoing remediation, Pribila said.

In addition, the Advance Realty Group has plans to develop a 10-acre parcel off Scotch Road. The two proposed 50,000 square foot, one-story office/research buildings are being marketed for their convenient location off I-95 and close proximity to Merrill Lynch. Herb K. Ames, economic development director for Mercer County, said that he has been approached by businesses about the property, and said it is a pretty hot site."

A national restaurant chain is negotiating to build a restaurant on Scotch Road, either at the airport, or on private property, Pribila said.

A 150,000 square foot corporate office addition is being built on Phillips Avenue; an 80,000 square foot office building approved to be constructed by Hilton Realty on Silvia Street across from Ewing's largest employer, New Jersey Manufacturers; along with an additional 30,000 square foot office building for the Department of Transportation Credit Union on Silvia Street.

On Olden Avenue, a new 70,000 square foot Super ShopRite has been built, along with a 130,000 square foot Home Depot. The township also received a $950,000 Federal Emergency Management Assistance grant to purchase 6 businesses in a flood plain, raze them, and replace them with a passive park along the Shabakunk Creek.

All this economic activity, Pribila said, helps to offset the loss of General Motors, which had been the largest ratable in Ewing. That 90-acre plant is also in remediation, and Pribila said it could also be ready for sale, or development, in another 18 to 24 months.

The biggest buzz in town has been about Bloomberg Financial Corporation, and their plans to build a 1 million square foot, five building office complex on the old Atchley Farm site. The Planning Board gave preliminary site approval last August for the facility, which will be known as Ewing Corporate Park, to be built between I-95, Route 31 and Lower Ferry Road.

Pribila said that the proposed Bloomberg development, and the other development planned in town, has helped spark an economic boom in town.

"For the last two years, and for the next several years, the economic development activity is unprecedented," Pribila said. "Ewing is undergoing an economic renaissance. We have lost a great deal of ratables through the loss of General Motors. But because of Ewing's location, and our proximity not only to I-95, but also to the airport, businesses have become very receptive to Ewing. Even though our population remains stable, the overall area is growing in a positive way. Businesses come, they like what they see here, and they want to grow."