Small Businesses Benefit From Efforts by Bridgeton UEZ
Harlan Miller, Stephanie Gonzalez, and Tony Hill at Cumberland County Fairgrounds on Aug. 3, 2025. Photo by Ashley Ward
BY ASHLEY WARD | For AC JosepH Media
BRIDGETON — Bridgeton’s Urban Enterprise Zone has developed important partnerships to play a vital role in uplifting underserved small businesses and giving them an opportunity to grow and thrive.
Led by UEZ coordinator Stephanie Gonzalez, the Bridgeton UEZ has stepped up to sponsor and provide support for numerous events throughout the year, including Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth celebrations.
The UEZ is a New Jersey program that boosts local businesses in urban areas through reduced sales tax rates and reinvestment in business incentives. Through various events, as many as 45 vendors have been able to highlight their products and services.
UEZ has partnered with KYMO, Games on the Go, and the Heart Organization in the past to offer free family entertainment, which included bouncy houses, go-karts, pickleball, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, and a gaming truck.
KYMO, which stands for Keeping Young Minds Occupied, is a nonprofit founded in 2001 by
Harlan Miller and his late twin brother, Haron. It began as a recording studio for local youth, then later grew into a mentorship program offering hands-on activities with their mission being to keep kids engaged, off the streets, and surrounded by positive influences.
READ: Harlan Miller Carries On KYMO Legacy
“From go-karts to chess, every activity we do teaches a lesson the kids can use in life,” Miller said.
Those partnerships have given an opportunity to vendors to take part in different community events. Queen Sips, a handcrafted lemonade brand blending Puerto Rican and Trinidadian flavors, founded by partners LaShae Davison and Kadisha Belford.
Belford’s recovery from a leg injury inspired her passion for creating unique drinks, which she and Davison now share with the community at different festivals and celebrations.
To learn more about the work of the Bridgeton UEZ, contact GonzalezS@cityofbridgeton.com.
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