POMONA, NJ — U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg visited the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center on Wednesday, March 23rd and, as part of the visit, was provided with an update on the status of the Next Generation Aviation Research & Technology Park in Atlantic County, NJ.

The Senator was briefed by ARTP Board President Dr. Edward H. Salmon and Executive Director Ron Esposito on the progress that has been made on the research park to date and the steps that still need to be taken to bring the project to fruition.

“I am extremely pleased to see that progress on the NextGen Park is well underway and advancing rapidly,” said Senator Lautenberg. “Projects such as this are a great example of how federal, state and county funding can be utilized in partnership with the private sector to spur new economic development in New Jersey.”

Over the next few years, the federal government will allocate billions in funding to upgrade our nation’s air traffic control system, and it is vitally important to both Senator Lautenberg and myself that New Jersey play a leading role in this aviation renaissance,” said U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo. “Building on the excellence and reputation of the FAA Technical Center, the ARTP will ensure South Jersey is on the cutting edge of aviation research and technology while bringing thousands of jobs and much needed economic stimulus to our region.

The ARTP is a nonprofit corporation tasked with developing and eventually constructing a Next Generation Aviation and Technology Research Park on the campus of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic County, NJ. The ARTP’s mission is to leverage the core expertise at the FAA Technical Center with academic and private sector expansion of aviation technologies, making this area the epicenter for the transformation of the National Airspace System.

“Senator Lautenberg and Congressman LoBiondo have each played a fundamental role in providing the will and the means to get the NextGen Park off the ground and running,” said Dr. Edward H. Salmon. “Without their hard work and dedication, this project would not be possible.

“We were delighted to be granted the opportunity to show Senator Lautenberg firsthand the exciting progress that has been made on the NextGen Park,” said Ron Esposito. “With the continued help and support of Senator Lautenberg, Congressman LoBiondo and the rest of New Jersey’s federal delegation, we are confident that the Research Park will continue to progress.”

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