For Immediate
Release:
September 21, 2021
Commissioners
announce successful
2021 summer
tourism season
KEYPORT, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and
tourism partners concluded the 2021 summer tourism season with a press conference
on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Mini Park located at 55 West Front Street.
“We are excited to announce we had a successful 2021
summer tourism season. Our beaches, parks and small businesses continue to attract
visitors from around the State and Country,” said Commissioner Director Thomas
A. Arnone, liaison to Monmouth County Tourism. “2020 was an exceptional summer
season at the Jersey Shore. The beach was one of the only places people could
go due to travel bans and COVID-19 restrictions. As such, we saw a
record-breaking beach revenue year in 2020. Nearly all towns that have reported
their 2021 totals are ahead of their 2019 totals. This is a great sign that our
beaches continue to be on track with successful seasons when compared to
pre-pandemic years.”
“Keyport saw increased levels of tourism this spring
and summer as people returned to enjoy our waterfront parks, outdoor
music/movie events, restaurants, and stores,” said Keyport Borough Mayor
Collette J. Kennedy. “There will still be plenty of sunshine and we welcome people
to continue to shop, dine, and explore the Bayshore.”
“Our business community took hard hits, in some cases, unjustified hits because
of regulations that were difficult for them but they overcame them and are
bouncing back but it is our job as elected officials to make sure they stay on
that level of success and continue to progress,” said Commissioner Director
Arnone. “We are incredibly proud of how we handled our CARES Act money and we
made sure that money stayed right here in Monmouth County whether it was the 53
municipalities or the small businesses that needed our support.”
“As a small business owner, I looked for federal,
state, county and municipal aid and there was caveat after caveat that precluded
my business from getting any money and I was so proud and happy to go to my dad
and say ‘Thank you so much to Monmouth County’ because they really understood
that small businesses don’t check the boxes that a lot of the bigger companies
do,” said Janet Gallo-Markowski, owner of Pearl Yoga and Fitness in Keyport. “Honestly
without their assistance, I am not sure if Pearl would have been able to survive
so I want to personally thank you for being so aware of where small businesses
were falling through.”
For more information about Monmouth County happenings, go
to tourism.visitmonmouth.com and follow Monmouth County Tourism on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
KEYPORT, NJ - County Commissioner Director
Thomas A. Arnone, County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley and County
Commissioner Nick DiRocco pose for a picture with local business owners in
Keyport after the “End of Summer Tourism” Press Conference. (Left to right) Lawrence
Vecchio, Broker-Owner of VRI Homes, Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone,
Catherine Galli, Owner and Founder of Stress Free Body Wellness Center, Janet
Gallo-Markowski, Owner of Pearl Yoga and Fitness Studio, Commissioner Deputy
Director Susan M. Kiley and Commissioner Nick DiRocco.
KEYPORT, NJ - County Commissioner Director
Thomas A. Arnone, County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley and County
Commissioner Nick DiRocco were in Keyport, NJ to participate in the “End of
Summer Tourism” Press Conference held on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
KEYPORT, NJ - County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone spoke at the "End of Summer Tourism" Press Conference regarding the County's success in distributing CARES Act money to the municipalities and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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