PAULSBORO As groundbreaking on the $250 million Port of Paulsboro quickly approaches, officials reached out to local businesses and industrial representatives at a special meeting Monday to let them know that the project is well on its way.

John Burzichelli, borough mayor and state assemblyman for the third district, said the meeting, hosted by Valero and arranged by the Southern New Jersey Development Council, is part of the continued outreach associated with the regional port project.

"This is the most significant economic development project in the southern part of the state," Burzichelli said. "It has the greatest potential regional impact of anything presently. This community recognizes that."

Marlin Peterson, director of port development for the Gloucester County Improvement Authority, focused on the idea that the Paulsboro Marine Terminal will operate as a bulk and break-bulk facility, rather than a port for container goods.

"Those that are doing well are also looking at it," Peterson said, explaining that the biggest and most successful ports in Europe, including the largest container port in Rotterdam, are focusing on this method of shipment.

In traditional container shipment operations, the port acts merely as a conduit for the transported goods, Peterson explained, since the containered goods are transferred from the ships to the trucks with little processing.

"One of the things about the Paulsboro Port is that it's a little different than the standard maritime operation that you typically see," Peterson said. "At it's backbone, the focus at Paulsboro is currently to do a processing facility-type arrangement, if you would, at an industrial park adjacent to the deep water."

There, tenant companies would be able to ship, store and repackage everyday commodities like fruit, cocoa beans, cashews, lumber, scrap metal destined for recycling or even soybeans.

"We want to focus on commodities that you can do something to, which adds value, labor and thus jobs," Peterson said.

The processing, along with long-term contracts, would ensure the commitment between companies and the port, Peterson explained. With container shipping, it's much easier for a company to alter its port of call at will.

Camden's Beckett Street Terminal also owned by the South Jersey Port Corporation, which is helming development of Paulsboro's port along with the Gloucester County Improvement Authority specializes in break-bulk shipping and has found much success.

It is the largest plywood-handling port in the country and remains a leader in the shipment of cocoa beans. The Camden port, which will serve as a model for Paulsboro's operations, is also fruit company Del Monte's largest distribution center in the world, having worked with them for over 20 years.

"I think one of the big secrets of operating a port is you have to have a partner," said Joe Balzano, executive director of the port corporation, widely regarded as an expert in his industry. "If you do break-bulk right, you've locked in a tenant who is then a partner. Each of our tenants in Camden is a success story. And the bigger a tenant gets, the bigger we get."

The labor-intensive nature of break-bulk shipping will only create more jobs associated with the port, Peterson said.

Since the port corporation has agreed to give preference to borough residents when hiring, this will have an especially positive impact on the region. Construction of the facility will also generate jobs, at least in the short term.

"This project now takes on a different life, and that is to create jobs at a time when the federal government and state apparatuses want construction jobs, good-paying jobs in place in time to bring the economy back," Burzichelli said. "We know, from Joe's experience in the Camden operation, that capacity will be needed as the economy and demand comes back. The port will be ready in the three-and-a-half- to four-year range. If the economy isn't back by then, then frankly the world has ended."

Peterson said there are still significant hurdles, like obtaining various permit approvals and financing. Building an overpass connecting the port to Interstate 295 at Exit 19 is critical.

"If we're only on the river without access to the state's highway systems, it won't work," Peterson said.

Without the overpass, Paulsboro's Billingsport Road would be the port's main access road, and about 75 to 100 properties would be impacted by that traffic on a daily basis, according to Peterson.

The meeting was also an opportunity to present current business opportunities to the Southern New Jersey Development Council members in attendance.

"The reason they're here is because they want a piece of the pie," said John Viviano, chairman of the council. "It's at a critical mass. Things are going to happen faster. So we wanted to raise awareness and make sure our members are aware that this thing is really happening."

Peterson said there are opportunities for final design and project management; special consulting for submerged aquatic vegetation; property appraisals; ship modeling; site preparation; deep soil compaction; storm water management and utility rough-in; electrical service connection and distribution; and site lighting.

In the meantime, the GCIA and SJPC will work to complete necessary permits, arrange the balance of funding and execute use and tenant agreements, Peterson said.

"The project is well-received in all corners, residentially and business community-wide," Burzichelli said. "We've just gotta build it."