While Buena Vista Township has its limitations on growth because of the Pinelands Regulations, we are still making some progress. In 2018, the long awaited completion of Weymouth Road from Route 54 to the Hamilton Township border will be complete. Weymouth Road has been a long time short cut for motorists going across the county. The road has been reconstructed with the use of State Aid grant money over the past five years. Motorists will find a smoother ride, but a reduced speed limit. Buena Vista Township also has its own local road program this year totaling just over $800,000 in work that will replace older sections of nine different roads throughout our community.
Work has also begun on a new Buena Vista Township Public Works facility. By this time in 2019 the older section (which dates back to the 1950’s) of the building will be replaced with a new “State-of-the-Art” garage.
The Township has also gained a new eating establishment in Richland Village called The Pickwickian Tavern & Smokery which is at the former site of The Rail Tavern, and has been remodeled inside and out with a wonderful menu to choose from.
Also opening this year is an expanded Luna’s Outdoor Bar & Grill at Merighi’s Savoy Inn located in East Vineland. The outdoor venue features a number of new innovations that will make Luna’s even better.
The biggest news for Buena Vista Township in 2018 is the completion of the new expansion at Teligent Pharma, Inc. located on Lincoln Avenue in the East Vineland/Buena area of the Township. The project which started several years ago has produced a 75,000 square foot expansion to the existing facility and has added over 100 new jobs. The entire complex has been completely renovated and incorporated into the new expansion. A grand opening ribbon cutting and jamboree was held on August 31, 2018 with Governor Phil Murphy in attendance. Teligent is a specialty generic pharmaceutical company committed to the development, manufacturing and marketing of topical, injectable, complex and ophthalmic generic pharmaceutical products in the United States and Canada.
Originally known as IGI Laboratories and founded in 1997, Teligent has come a long way to what is now a “State-of-the-Art” facility. It is quite unusual to have a pharmaceutical company based in this part of the State let alone the western part of the Atlantic County. Teligent is committed to strong research and development and the ability to finding niches in the pharmaceutical market place.
Buena Vista Township has had a direct relationship with Teligent since the ground was broken a couple years ago for the new facility. Teligent has a wonderful staff including Vice President of Strategic Affairs, Peter Gallagher in which the Township has worked hand in hand with in order to help them transition through the wave of government regulations and advice for them to have a good, sound business operation for the long term future. Teligent is based on the foundation of “work hard and be nice to people.” Teligent has certainly been a boom for our economy here in Buena Vista Township. The total space of the facility is now 110,000 square feet and the older buildings have been retrofitted with the new modern European design. Their new facility and expansion costs were approximately a $60 million dollar investment in our community. We are so proud to welcome Teligent to Buena Vista Township. They will be a good neighbor for years to come.
By Mayor Chuck Chiarello