Report: Millennial Perspective on Somerset County's Future

A group of graduate students from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University conducted a report on the future of Somerset County from the perspective of Millennials.

The report, “Somerset County Development Opportunities: A Millennial Perspective”, was conducted to understand the potential Somerset County has to appeal to Millennials. The report identifies residential and commercial trade areas, interprets trends in downtown and suburban markets and compares these trends with those of Middlesex and Hunterdon counties, developing programming and amenity strategies to optimize future growth, according to officials from Somerset County.

Somerville is the focal point of the study due to a number of reasons, including location and current efforts from county and municipal officials to turn the township into a “vibrant urban core”.

According to county officials, the report indicates Somerset County is in a good position to serve the needs of Millennials both now and in the future. At the same time, the county is still capable of accommodating the needs of its Baby Boomers. The study contains strategies to brand the county as an appealing, healthy and sustainable place for younger and older generations, county officials said.

“The students did an outstanding job giving us a clear understanding of our opportunities,” Freeholder Director Mark Caliguire said in a release. “Somerset County is committed to doing the things necessary to help businesses attract the next generation of residents looking for an exceptional place to live, work and raise their families.”

The “Somerset County Development Opportunities: A Millennial Perspective” report was commissioned by the Somerset County Business Partnership, Somerset County Planning Board and the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For more information or to obtain a complete copy of the report or executive summary, log into http://bloustein.rutgers.edu/somerset-county-development-opportunities/ or contact the Business Partnership at 908-218-4300 or info@scbp.org.