Camden project awaits a vote

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority on Thursday will consider giving a metal recycling company almost $253 million in tax incentives for a Camden project.

EMR Eastern L.L.C. and its affiliates are requesting the credits over a period of 10 years, according to an agenda posted on the EDA website this week. The national and international European Metal Recycling company owns Camden Iron & Metal, which has facilities in Camden and Bellmawr, N.J., as well as in Philadelphia.

The EDA will vote on that and other matters at its regular meeting in Trenton on Thursday. If approved, it would be the second-largest such project to be approved for Camden since the Grow New Jersey program was expanded in 2013. Energy company Holtec International was approved to receive $260 million in tax credits last year in order for the company to move from Marlton to Camden.

No information was available on whether EMR would build a new facility in Camden, or on the number of jobs involved with the project. A Camden Iron & Metal spokesman did not return a call for comment, but a representative of the firm confirmed Wednesday that the EDA application was linked to the company.

Camden Iron & Metal currently operates out of three locations in the city's waterfront south section, according to its website.

The EDA's Grow New Jersey program rewards employers that invest in struggling cities as part of the 2013 Economic Opportunity Act. U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a South Jersey Democrat, championed the law as a state senator, saying the use of tax incentives would lure employers to Camden, but critics say the program has mostly served to relocate jobs from elsewhere in the state.

The EDA has funneled more than $860 million in tax credits to businesses that plan to relocate to Camden, including two with ties to Norcross' brother George E. Norcross III, a powerful New Jersey Democrat. George Norcross is chairman of the board of trustees of Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital, which last year was awarded $40 million in incentives to move about 350 office jobs from Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel. Norcross also sits on Holtec's board.

The EDA also has awarded $118 million in credits to Subaru to move from Cherry Hill, and $107 million to defense contractor Lockheed Martin to move from Moorestown.

Camden Iron & Metal, which began in 1929, previously tried to expand in Pennsylvania. The company has long operated a South Philadelphia scrap yard. The company planned to consolidate operations nearby but faced community resistance due to noise complaints stemming from the scrap yard, and in 2012, then-Gov Tom Corbett's administration rescinded $31.1 million in state money that had been pledged by former Gov. Rendell for the company to build a pier on the Delaware River.

President Joseph Balzano told The Inquirer in 2012 that the company spent nearly $30 million trying to relocate to Philadelphia before deciding to install what he said was a modern, quieter shredder at Atlantic and Front Streets in Camden, instead.

"In a lot of ways, we are happy that we are staying in Camden, despite the fact we've spent a lot of money to come full circle," Balzano said then. "We know we're not pretty. But we are steady. We maintain our jobs, and we are Teamsters. We pay full medical benefits. We do all the things that we claim."

The company is a frequent donor to political parties in South Jersey, with contributions going back more than 15 years, state records show. The company has given money to local Democratic and Republican committees, as well as individual candidates including Donald Norcross, Gov. Christie and Sen. Stephen Sweeney.