Burlington County Launches Online Map Of Veteran-Owned Businesses

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — While Thursday was Veterans Day, Burlington County officials said they strive to honor veterans every day, and are doing so with the help of a new map detailing where Veteran-owned businesses are located.

“This new map will help us and our residents not only say thank you for their service, but also for operating businesses that make our county a great place to live and work,” Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson said.

The new online map is posted in the Burlington County Business Portal, under the Burlington County Businesses tab on the county website, according to officials. More than 20 veteran-owned businesses are listed so far, and the Burlington County Board of Commissioners is inviting additional businesses to contact their office to be added.

Each business on the map is linked to their respective website, and their address and contact information is also included for easy access.

In addition to the new map, the county will use social media to spotlight and promote these businesses throughout the remainder of the month and beyond, officials said. Veteran-owned businesses that would like to be listed on the map and promoted through the county’s social media sites can email their information to news@co.burlington.nj.us.

Information requested includes the business name, address, phone number and brief history or summary of its goods for sale and services. Website and social media links and photographs are also welcome.

“Burlington County is home to more than 30,000-plus veterans,” Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion, liaison for military and veterans’ affairs, said. “It’s because of them and their sacrifices that we have the many freedoms that are the hallmarks of our great democracy. This map is one of several actions we’ve taken to make sure our veterans and active-duty and reserve service members feel welcome here. We want to help these veteran-owned businesses to succeed, so we’re letting our residents know where they are and how to support them.”

In addition to the veteran-owned business map, the County has also created maps highlighting Black-owned businesses, Latino and Hispanic-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. All four maps can be found on the Business Portal page.

Veterans and others looking to start a new business in Burlington County can also find important information on the Portal page and links to resources, including the county loan programs administered by the Burlington County Department of Economic Development and Regional Planning and the Workforce Development Institute at Rowan College at Burlington County.

Nearly 6 percent of all businesses in America are owned by veterans, according to a U.S. Census Bureau Business Survey, and more than 200,000 service members leave the services every year to search for jobs among the civilian work force.

“We know a lot of service members face challenges transitioning into civilian life, and our Burlington County Veterans Services unit is ready and happy to assist them,” Pullion said. “On this Veterans Day, we want to make sure we thank every veteran for their contributions to our nation and that they know help and support is a phone call or email away.”

The Veterans Services unit can be reached at 609-265-5008 or at erosado@co.burlington.nj.us.