County and local officials and business leaders announced the launch of the Open for Business in Monmouth initiative at Bell Works Fort Monmouth June 11.
SUNAYANA PRABHU
By Sunayana Prabhu
TINTON FALLS – Small businesses planning to open or celebrate a milestone can now count on the Monmouth County Commissioners for participation and support.
Open for Business in Monmouth, a new county-wide initiative to maximize visibility and promotion of new or expanding businesses, was launched by Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone June 11 at Bell Works Fort Monmouth.
“Small businesses remain the backbone of our local economy, and we continue to see strong entrepreneurship and expansion across the county,” Arnone said, noting that small businesses make up about 95% of the local economy.
Under the Open for Business initiative, businesses will be able to request county participation in ribbon-cutting ceremonies, relocations, expansions or grand openings.
Businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries will receive a commemorative certificate recognizing contributions to their communities and local economies. The county will also highlight these businesses on its official social media channels.
Arnone encouraged businesses having upcoming events to fill out the online form on the county’s official website, visitmonmouth.com, or to send an email to county officials at openforbusiness@visitmonmouth.com. The county will then reach out to the municipalities and chambers of commerce to coordinate the event to maximize promotion and add more “visibility to the businesses,” Arnone said. “The goal is to get patrons into businesses. It’s the ultimate goal; that’s what we’re here for. If they’re successful, everybody else is successful,” Arnone said.
Arnone was joined at the launch of the initiative by Tinton Falls Mayor Risa Clay, Bell Works’ controller and COO for Inspired by Somerset Development Mordechai Sidell, and executive director of the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Jhanna Evan.
“I’m especially encouraged by the opportunities emerging throughout our region,” Clay said. “By supporting small business, attracting investment and fostering innovation, we strengthen our economy. We create jobs, and we enhance the quality of life for our residents.”
Speaking at the third Bell Works location in Fort Monmouth – the others are in Holmdel and Chicago – Sidell said the Tinton Falls location is “now nearly fully leased.” Bell Works Fort Monmouth has a mix of corporate headquarters, retailers and community-focused amenities. “We constantly have ribbon cuttings and openings of small businesses in our retail and office sectors, and every time it’s a matter of coordination with local and county officials to figure out who can attend, when they can attend, and how we can make that event successful,” Sidell said. He noted that small business owners spend “months or even years planning, preparing, and hoping that they would be able to get the word out once they finally open for business. So we’re excited that we’ll have this ability to work with Monmouth County,” Sidell said.
Monmouth County is undergoing “incredible” growth, he said. Major upcoming businesses in the area include Netflix at Fort Monmouth, the continued growth of Bell Works Fort Monmouth, and the redevelopment of Monmouth Square in Eatontown, among other businesses.
The article originally appeared in the June 18 – 24, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
