Business census find few use Web sites

Vernon — A recently completed township-wide survey conducted by Vernon’s Economic Development Advisory Committee identified 265 businesses. The largest private employer is Mountain Creek, and the largest government/private employer is the Vernon Township Board of Education. Details from the survey reveal that the majority of business locations are in the Town Center; the next most populous business location is McAfee, followed by the Route 94 South corridor. The most common types of businesses are professional services and personal services, which each listed 43 businesses. Following closely on the heels of those two are the 40 medical businesses and the 39 retail establishments. Last, the township has 36 contractors. The survey also found that business tends to be conducted in person. Committee members found that fewer than 50 percent of the businesses say they use a business Web site. “We want existing businesses in the township to be successful,” said Vernon’s Mayor Sally Rinker. “We are also actively pursuing complementary new businesses for our community,” she said. The Economic Development Advisory Committee meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Vernon Municipal Center. Meetings are open to the public. For additional information log on to www.vernonedc.com.

Vernon Township by the numbers
70 square miles
265 businesses
202 operate from storefronts
63 home-based businesses
75 located in Town Center
46 in McAfee
28 along Route 94 S. corridor