George Sowa has had success with economic development projects in Camden and New Brunswick
EWING -- Greater Trenton, the public-private nonprofit that was launched last fall to spur economic development in the capital city, has named veteran real estate executive George Sowa as its founding CEO.
Sowa, a native Trentonian whose family has roots in the city dating back over 100 years, has already been on the job for two weeks.
The announcement was made Monday after a nationwide search and more than 100 candidates were vetted.
Sowa takes the helm after more than 18 years at Brandywine Realty Trust, which, under his leadership, was chosen as the developer for Camden's Gateway District, a 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use project. In previous jobs, he was involved in two development projects in New Brunswick that totaled over $100 million.
"When you look at George, you see someone who has a deep experience in economic development, a personal connection to our capital city and a passion to help move it forward," said Bernie Flynn, co-chair of Greater Trenton and president and CEO of NJM Insurance Group.
The nonprofit's aim is to help coordinate economic development projects; provide one-stop support and information for investors interested in taking on new projects; reach out to potential residential, commercial and retail investors and tenants; support and promote existing downtown initiatives; engage downtown stakeholders in a strategic economic development plan; and develop investment marketing strategies.
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Sowa is moving quickly to find a downtown headquarters and hire a staff to begin setting those objectives in motion.
"So many people talk about (Trenton's) past and it's got a tremendous past, but I'd like to think that we can work with that past to help shape the future, to make it a place where people want to be, to raise their families and come back to the city," he said.
He said working with the city's residents, business community and administration will key to the success of Greater Trenton.
"It's important that we understand the issues and address them because otherwise you can't force anything to happen if you don't have the support of people behind it," he said.
Sowa also plans to draw on his extensive development experience -- both positive and negative -- to help drive the city's economic growth.
"It's beyond just getting a hand in the development process," Sowa said. "It's collaborating and making sure ... that great ideas percolate up through the system and are located in the right spots because you could have fantastic buildings, fantastic uses, fantastic whatever, but if it's not in the right spot, it just doesn't become a part of that fabric."
Mayor Eric Jackson threw his support behind Sowa, pledging to work with him to build on the momentum of projects that are already underway in the city.
"This is an exciting time for the City of Trenton ... and we will continue to identify new opportunities, attract new partners, begin new projects, new investment and leverage existing resources and foster job creation," he said.
Greater Trenton's board of directors, which made a five-year financial commitment of nearly $2 million, is made up of NJM Insurance Group, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton Area Community Foundation, Investors Bank, TD Bank, Capital Health, PSE&G, Thomas Edison State University, Wells Fargo Bank, Princeton University and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.