MOUNT HOLLY, NJ  — An environmental testing lab is about to open its new corporate headquarters with 165 employees in Cinnaminson.  That same company, EMSL, has bought the plaza next door on Route 130 and is planning to beautify it.  Siena, a housing development, has opened nearby on Route 30. Farther up the highway, Cove Caterers is about to build at a new site in Edgewater Park next to another relocated business while a major hotel chain will locate in Florence.  All of these projects have happened the past two years since engineer Daniel Caldwell of Marlton became the chairman of the Burlington County River Route Advisory Committee, a volunteer group that works with local officials and developers along Route 130, the NJ Transit light rail and the Delaware River from Palmyra to Florence.  Success stories like these have led Caldwell to be named the 2009 Volunteer of the Year by the Northeastern Economic Development Association. It is a group of 500 professional engineers and development leaders whose commitment is to professional education and sound economic development practices in the Northeastern states and Washington, D.C.  Caldwell is to receive the award at the group's annual conference Sept. 21 at the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.  "We recognize an individual each year who serves without pay and who promotes economic development in service to the community, region or to an organization, demonstrating leadership and long-term commitment," said Eric Anderson, executive director of the economic developers association.  Caldwell, 44, a partner in Stout and Caldwell Engineering of Cinnaminson, said he is honored. "It was never expected," he said of the award.  Caldwell's other volunteer service includes the Southern New Jersey Development Council.  He said he enjoys bringing people and projects together.  "I like to listen to what towns are trying to do. We hear issues good and bad, highlight the positive and try to alleviate the negative," he said.

The advisory group provides demographics of the 12 municipalities and information about the county government's low or no-interest loan program for development along what county officials call the River Route corridor.  Through his engineering firm and networking, Caldwell has been able to encourage new businesses in the corridor like EMSL, an environmental testing lab that has spent $2 million to bring its corporate headquarters to Cinnaminson.   The Company bought the 107,000 square-foot building that once housed JCI, a technology service firm that closed.  County officials said 179 properties or projects were targeted since his participation with the committee and 127 have been completed.  In recent years, 203 major businesses have invested more than $2 billion in new projects in the corridor, creating more than 3,000 new jobs and 4,882 new residential units.  Mark Remsa, the county director of regional planning, called Caldwell a "big plus" for the committee.  "He has great enthusiasm and contacts and has a genuine concern about revitalizing the corridor," he said.  County Freeholder-Director Joseph Donnelly said the award is a testament to the commitment of the county and municipalities to sound development and redevelopment under Caldwell's leadership.  "We congratulate Dan and thank him for the personal time and energy he has committed to marketing the River Route region," he said.
Reach Carol Comegno at (609) 267-9486 or