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Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development examines ways to promote affordable housing and community revitalization across New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J.  — For nearly 50 years, New Jersey has been a national trailblazer in creating opportunities for residents to live in housing they can afford anywhere in the state.

This year’s Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, taking place at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City from Thursday, Sept. 28 to Friday, Sept. 29, is an event held by practitioners for practitioners and will help developers, property owners and managers, planners, housing advocates and local officials continue down that trailblazing path by convening experts to facilitate engaging discussions about ways to provide affordable housing and stimulate economic development in their communities.

The conference is co-hosted by New Jersey’s pre-eminent housing and economic development agencies: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA).

“Governor Phil Murphy has made equitable growth and development one of the hallmarks of his administration,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie Walter. “The Governor’s Conference is the annual showcase where administration officials and external stakeholders come together to discuss, educate, and inform each other about the changing conditions and new best practices for development of affordable housing and stimulating community growth in the Garden State.”

The conference will hold a variety of panel discussions and breakout sessions. Attendees will learn ways to engage with communities in planning more equitable futures, revitalizing business and residential districts, and ensuring that every New Jerseyan has the opportunity to benefit from the Garden State’s prosperity and livability.

Attendees at the breakout panels can receive continuing education credits from the National Affordable Housing Management Association, certification maintenance credits from the American Institute of City Planners and continuing legal education credits from the NJRA’s Redevelopment Training Institute for each session pertaining to their fields.

Breakout panels will explore a wide range of topics relating to the financing, siting, development, construction and management of affordable housing and supportive housing for seniors. Topics include the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program, eviction prevention programs, landlord-tenant laws, infill development, property management, funding opportunities through new state programs, access to new data sources, and policy and regulatory changes from NJHMFA, EDA, and DCA.

In addition to the informative panels, conference attendees will hear from nationally renowned industry professionals during the conference’s two keynote speeches:

Don Peebles, chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, will be the keynote speaker on Sept. 28. As one of America’s most successful real estate entrepreneurs, he is a longtime backer of what his company calls “affirmative development” to empower women and minorities to close the wealth gap. Peebles’ multi-billion-dollar project portfolio spans the nation, exemplifying a commitment to sustainable construction, innovative design, and equitable community development.

Jerrod Delaine, CEO of Legacy Real Estate Development, a company that puts private capital to work building better communities for all, will be the keynote speaker on Sept. 29. Delaine is a renowned scholar and thought leader in urban housing policy, bringing to the conference more than a decade of real estate experience spanning financing, construction, asset management, and design. He also serves as an adjunct professor at New York University, educating the next generation in development, urban economics, and related issues.

Registration: To learn more and register for the 2023 Governor’s Conference, visit njhousingconference.com.

 

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA, visit: https://NJHousing.gov/

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County to give unserviceable flags a proper sendoff

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Mercer County Office of Veteran Services invite the public to an official flag decommissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. at Veterans Park (Klockner Road entrance) in Hamilton Township.

Each year, the Mercer County Office of Veteran Services holds the time-honored decommissioning, also known as “flag retirement.” American flags that have become tattered, soiled or are otherwise no longer fit for display will be burned in a dignified manner in a large pit during the ceremony and the flames will be doused by the Hamilton Township Fire Division.

Individuals and organizations that wish to have an American flag properly disposed of at this year’s ceremony should bring the flag to Mercer County Veteran Services, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing; Mercer County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton; or the County Administration Building, 640 South Broad St., Trenton, no later than Monday, Sept. 11.

The rain date for flag retirement is Sept. 20.

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Heat advisory issued; cooling sites open

TRENTON, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Mercer County and the surrounding area for today, Sept. 6, until 8 p.m. County Executive Brian M. Hughes reminds residents that many cooling sites will be open.

Temperatures today are expected to reach the mid 90s with a heat index (a measure of the combination of heat and humidity) of up to 103 degrees, and Thursday’s forecast is calling for mid-90s temperatures with a heat index of up to 101 degrees. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets are most at risk during excessive temperatures.

The New Jersey Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer the following recommendations for staying safe during hot weather:

  • Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
  • People without air conditioning should reach out to NJ 2-1-1 for information regarding Cooling Centers: nj211.org/nj-cooling-centers
  • Take cool showers or baths.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
  • If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  • Avoid high-energy activities or working outdoors if possible.
  • Check on family members, older adults and neighbors.
  • Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Consider pet safety. If pets are outdoors, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
  • If using a mask, use one that is made of breathable fabric, such as cotton instead of polyester. Don’t wear a mask if you feel yourself overheating or have trouble breathing.

Mercer County Library System branches and municipal senior centers serve as cooling sites, although daily hours of operation vary. These locations are open to all residents. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers, and West Windsor library branches are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hollowbrook Branch is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches are open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays during the school year.

Call individual senior centers for hours of operation, restrictions and accommodations. Call your local senior center if you don’t see it on the list of confirmed cooling sites below.

Mercer County library branch locations

  • Ewing, 61 Scotch Road
  • Hickory Corner, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
  • Hightstown Memorial, 114 Franklin St.
  • Hollowbrook, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing
  • Hopewell, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
  • Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike
  • Robbinsville, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road
  • Twin Rivers, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor
  • West Windsor, 333 North Post Road

Municipal senior center locations

  • Ewing – Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive; 609-883-1199
  • Hamilton Senior Center, 409 Cypress Lane; 609-890-3686;
  • Hopewell Valley Senior Center, 395 Reading St., Pennington; 609-537-0236;
  • John O. Wilson Center, 169 Wilfred Avenue, Hamilton; 609-393-6480;
  • Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road, Building B; Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St.; 609-751-9699
  • Robbinsville Township Senior Center, 1117 Route 130; 609-259-1567
  • Samuel Naples Senior Center (covering all of Trenton), 611 Chestnut Ave.; 609-989-3462
  • West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road; 609-799-9068

For assistance in coping with the heat or to contact your local cooling site, please call the Mercer County Office on Aging at (609) 989-6661 or toll-free at (877) 222-3737. During non-business hours, residents are encouraged to call 911 if they experience heat-related problems.

For more information regarding heat-related emergencies, please visit www.ready.nj.gov, the National Weather Service Heat Safety Tips and Resourcespage or the National Institute on Aging Hot Weather Safety page.

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Southwest Ohio Carpenters plan will restore benefits through receipt of Special Financial Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced Friday that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the Southwest Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters Pension Plan (Southwest Ohio Carpenters Plan).

The plan, based in Monroe, Ohio, covers 5,399 participants in the construction industry.

On April 1, 2019, the Southwest Ohio Carpenters Plan implemented a benefit suspension under the terms of the Multi-employer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA) in order to address the plan’s troubled financial condition at that time and its projected insolvency. The plan reduced benefits of about 4,300 plan participants. On average, affected participants’ benefits were reduced by 18 percent.

PBGC’s approval of the SFA application enables the plan to restore benefits suspended under the terms of MPRA and to make payments to retirees to cover prior benefit suspensions. SFA will enable the plan to pay retirement benefits without reduction for many years into the future. The plan will receive $182.6 million in SFA, including interest to the expected date of payment to the plan.

“Millions of people work for years, looking forward to the day when the promise of a secure, dignified retirement is kept,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su.

“Today, the Biden-Harris administration is delivering on that promise for 5,399 construction workers across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana by providing Special Financial Assistance to the Southwest Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters Pension Plan so that they can retire with the dignity they deserve.”

About the Special Financial Assistance Program

The SFA Program was enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The program provides funding to severely underfunded multi-employer pension plans and will ensure that millions of America’s workers, retirees, and their families receive the pension benefits they earned.

The SFA Program requires plans to demonstrate eligibility for SFA and to calculate the amount of assistance pursuant to ARP and PBGC’s regulations. SFA and earnings thereon must be segregated from other plan assets and may be used only to pay plan benefits and administrative expenses. Plans are not obligated to repay SFA to PBGC. Plans receiving SFA are also subject to certain terms, conditions and reporting requirements, including an annual statement documenting compliance with the terms and conditions. PBGC is authorized to conduct periodic audits of multi-employer plans that receive SFA.

As of Aug. 15, 2023, PBGC has approved nearly $52.4 billion in SFA to plans that cover over 756,000 workers, retirees, and beneficiaries.

The SFA Program operates under a final rule, published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2022, which became effective Aug. 8, 2022, and was amended effective Jan. 26, 2023.

About PBGC

PBGC protects the retirement security of over 33 million American workers, retirees, and beneficiaries in both single-employer and multiemployer private sector pension plans. The agency’s two insurance programs are legally separate and operationally and financially independent. PBGC is directly responsible for the benefits of more than 1.5 million participants and beneficiaries in failed single-employer pension plans. The Single-Employer Program is financed by insurance premiums, investment income, and assets and recoveries from failed single-employer plans. The Multi-employer Program is financed by insurance premiums. Special financial assistance for financially troubled multi-employer plans is financed by general taxpayer monies.

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Daring rescue unfolds moment by heart-pounding moment in escape from Dachau

BOSTON, Mass. — The tragic events of the Holocaust are remembered as some of the darkest moments in human history. As Nazis rummaged through towns and homes, the Jews had one goal: to not be found. Apprehension by the Nazis meant they would be carted off to concentration camps, where their chances of survival were slim to none.

 

Kathe Mueller Slonim tells the remarkable story of the daring rescue mission that helped her father escape from Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp in Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil.

 

Before her death in 2021, Slonim documented her family story and memories, including her father being taken to Germany’s first concentration camp when she was a young girl and the daring rescue mission undertaken by her father’s cousin that plays out moment by heart-pounding moment in this book.

 

The book begins with the rich, rarely told history of the Jewish people living in Germanic lands from the Middle Ages through WWII and how that led to the persecution of Jews.

 

All of this sets the stage for the harrowing mission undertaken by former First Reich official Max Immanuel, who climbed into his car in Berlin on a rainy night in December 1938 with one profoundly dangerous goal in mind: to rescue his cousin from Dachau — Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp.

 

Max’s mission was particularly risky and unusual because this former German government official was a Jew himself. Born Imanuel Rosenfeld, Max had changed his name and his religion, living in fear that his truth would be discovered.

 

Torn between his own plans to flee Germany and the chance to save a family member from the clutches of the Nazis, Max makes the excruciating choice to go to Dachau. It is a journey that will require him to risk his life as he passes through one Nazi checkpoint after another, brandishing expired Third Reich papers, claiming that he is a loyal member of the Nazi Party on official business.

 

Brought to life with 30 archival photos, Escape from Dachau pays tribute to the bravery, sacrifice and resilience of those who sought to flee the horrors of Nazi Germany during one of the darkest periods of human history and serves as a dramatic example of how the human spirit can overcome even the worst atrocities.

 

About the Author
Escape from Dachau is the true story of the life of Kathe Mueller Slonim. Prior to her passing in 2021, Slonim wrote down the major events of her life. Her own documentation, along with a brief family history written by her uncle, Julius Falk, together form the backbone of this story.

 

For more information about the book, please visit www.csepublishing.com

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County Exec. Hughes not long ago, announces Certified Diverse Vendor Directory

Building on his Small Business Set-Aside Program, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced that a digital directory of participating businesses is now available online on Mercer County’s website.

The  Mercer County New Jersey Certified Diverse Vendor Directory will include New Jersey State certified Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Veteran Owned/Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (VOB/DVOB) and Small Business Enterprises (SBE).

“The online directory is an effort to support the business enterprises of women, minorities and veterans, along with small businesses,”  Mr. Hughes said.

“Small  businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, and our goal is to create and identify ways to increase business traffic to certified small businesses and encourage others to become certified. This online directory, managed by our Small Business Outreach Department, is another tool to support our business community.”

In his 2023 State of the County address, County Executive Hughes recognized Job One Lawn and Landscape, a Woman and Minority-owned small business in Ewing. Owned by Jocelyn and Stan Tucker of Ewing, Job One recently won a county contract for $75,000, and are just one of Mercer County’s set-aside success stories.

How will my business benefit?

No-cost advertising. The digital directory will be accessible to all Mercer County departments and the public, and for even greater exposure for businesses listed in the directory Mercer County will share information with municipal purchasing departments within the county. All businesses will be displayed by category and will include the business’s contact information and Capability Statement.

Hands-on help. Mercer’s Small Business Outreach pros will walk you through the process to learn how to participate in the county’s formal bidding process.

Free training. Mercer partners with the Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey to review business plans, and obtain funding from the UCEDC.

Please note, only current certified businesses registered with The State of New Jersey SAVI Selective Assistance Vendor Information Portal will be included.

Digital directory accessible at www.mercercounty.org

Sign me up!

 

Questions? Please contact James Chambers, Coordinator of Small Business Outreach at (609) 989-6212, jchambers@mercercounty.org.

Adopted in July 2018, the Qualified Minority-, Women-, Veteran-owned Business or Small Business Set-Aside Program reserves 10 percent of the dollar value of all the county’s goods, professional services and construction contracts to be utilized for qualified businesses. Of that 10 percent, 30 percent is allocated for qualified minority businesses; 30 percent for qualified women-owned businesses; 30 percent for qualified veteran-owned businesses; and 10 percent for small businesses. The Set-Aside Program makes it easier for qualified businesses to contract with the county, as it provides access to $70 million in procurement. An estimated $7 million worth of contracts will be available to eligible businesses as part of the new program.

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Veterans: VA extends deadline to Aug. 14 for Veterans and survivors to apply for PACT Act benefits

Extension will ensure that no Veteran or survivor misses out on a single day of backdated PACT Act benefits

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced lately that Veterans and survivors who apply (or submit their intent to file) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law.

This is an extension from the original deadline of Aug. 9, 2023. Mercer County Veteran Services encourages all Veterans and their survivors to apply – or submit their intent to file – for PACT Act benefits now by visiting VA.gov/PACT.

Mercer County Veteran Services, in an effort to assist all Mercer veterans and their surviving family members, were to submit intent to file forms to the VA for Veterans and their survivors who have appropriate ID on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. They may also submit their forms Monday Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and 2 to 3 p.m.

Please note, Veteran Services will only submit the “Intent to File” forms during these hours. No appointment needed for these help sessions.

Walk-ins are welcome.

For more information, call Mercer County Veteran Services at 609-989-6120.

The office is located at 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing, N.J.

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PBGC approves SFA application for Newspaper Guild International Plan

Newspaper Guild International Plan averts insolvency and reduction of benefits through receipt of Special Financial Assistance

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) recently announced that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the the Newspaper Guild International Pension Plan (Newspaper Guild International Plan). The plan, based in Washington, D.C., covers 5,824 participants in the printing industry.

The Newspaper Guild International Plan will receive approximately $62 million in special financial assistance, including interest to the expected date of payment to the plan. The plan was projected to become insolvent and run out of money in 2034.

Without the SFA Program, the Newspaper Guild International Plan would have been required to reduce participants’ benefits to the PBGC guarantee levels upon plan insolvency, which is roughly 15 percent below the benefits payable under the terms of the plan. SFA will enable the plan to continue to pay retirement benefits without reduction for many years into the future.

“Today, the Biden-Harris administration kept our promise to fight for America’s workers and retirees by taking action to protect the retirement security of 5,824 workers across America,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.

“As part of the American Rescue Plan, Special Financial Assistance will ensure workers get the secure and dignified retirement they deserve as we grow our economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”

 

About the Special Financial Assistance Program

The SFA Program was enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The program provides funding to severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans and will ensure that millions of America’s workers, retirees, and their families receive the pension benefits they earned.

The SFA Program requires plans to demonstrate eligibility for SFA and to calculate the amount of assistance pursuant to ARP and PBGC’s regulations. SFA and earnings thereon must be segregated from other plan assets and may be used only to pay plan benefits and administrative expenses. Plans are not obligated to repay SFA to PBGC. Plans receiving SFA are also subject to certain terms, conditions and reporting requirements, including an annual statement documenting compliance with the terms and conditions. PBGC is authorized to conduct periodic audits of multiemployer plans that receive SFA.

As of August 1, 2023, PBGC has approved nearly $52.2 billion in SFA to plans that cover over 751,000 workers, retirees, and beneficiaries.

The SFA Program operates under a final rule, published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2022, which became effective August 8, 2022, and was amended effective January 26, 2023.

About PBGC

PBGC protects the retirement security of over 33 million American workers, retirees, and beneficiaries in both single-employer and multiemployer private sector pension plans. The agency’s two insurance programs are legally separate and operationally and financially independent. PBGC is directly responsible for the benefits of more than 1.5 million participants and beneficiaries in failed single-employer pension plans. The Single-Employer Program is financed by insurance premiums, investment income, and assets and recoveries from failed single-employer plans. The Multiemployer Program is financed by insurance premiums. Special financial assistance for financially troubled multiemployer plans is financed by general taxpayer monies.

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Mercer County Clerk continues to issue warnings to passport applicants

TRENTON — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello is again issuing warnings to constituents in order to prevent them from wasting their precious time and money.

Residents should know the following:

Passport fees are required at all passport facilities

The U.S. Department of State advises all passport applicants that there are no free passports, nor fee waivers. Instead, it is true that a fee is required for all passport applications.

Payment is required at all Passport Acceptance Facilities, including the Mercer County Connection in Hamilton Township, and the Mercer County Clerk’s Office in Trenton.

There are recent social media videos circulating on the internet, which advise customers that passports can be free by submitting form I-912, but these are false, misleading and incorrect.

The form they are referring to is for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and not for Passport Services. The form is NOT a Department of State form and it is not honored by them.

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello explained that videos on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, are not being produced by government officials, and have created confusion among constituents who believe they (the videos) are accurate.

For further information on the Form I-192 and the individuals eligible, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-192 for clear instructions and additional information.

It is recommended for those who are planning international travel to begin submitting their paperwork well in advance of any travel dates, to allow for any unforeseen delays. The current wait times for passport services are 7-9 weeks for expedited services and up to 14 weeks from the time of submission for a regular application. Please note, these times are estimates; if the workload is significantly heavy or light, that number can change.

For detailed information on documentation required for a passport, or office hours at the Mercer County Clerk’s Office, please visit https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk-/office-services/passportsand for detailed information on services at the Mercer County Connection in Hamilton, please visit https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/county-connection/passport-application-information

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Mercer County Clerk issues warning to passport applicants and to veterans

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello is issuing two warnings to constituents that could cause a waste of precious time and money, the two things no one needs to lose, she says.

Passport Fees Required at all Passport Facilities

The U.S. Department of State advises all passport applicants that there are no free passports nor fee waivers, and that a fee is required for all passport applications.  Payment is required at all Passport Acceptance Facilities, including the Mercer County Connection in Hamilton Township and the Mercer County Clerk’s Office in Trenton.

Recent social media videos circulating on the internet, which advise customers that passports can be free by submitting form I-912 are false, misleading and incorrect. The form they are referring to is for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and not for Passport Services. The form is NOT a Department of State form and it is not honored by them.

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello explained that videos on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are not being produced by government officials, and have created confusion among constituents who believe them to be accurate.

For further information on the Form I-192 and the individuals eligible, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-192 for clear instructions and additional information.

For detailed information on documentation required for a passport, or office hours at the Mercer County Clerk’s Office, please visit https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk-/office-services/passportsand for detailed information on services at the Mercer County Connection in Hamilton, please visit https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/county-connection/passport-application-information.

Veterans Filing Scam

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello is alerting all Veterans of a fraudulent solicitation targeting those seeking assistance with filing their DD-214 discharge papers. The DD-214, or Certificate of Release or Honorable Discharge from Active Duty, is a vital document that verifies a Veteran’s military service and is often required when accessing various military benefits and entitlements. The Mercer County Clerk’s Office records such items free of charge, without the need for a middle man.

“Unfortunately, at least one opportunistic company is preying on Veterans by offering to file or obtain their DD-214 on their behalf in exchange for significant payments” said Covello.  A Company called “DD-214 DIRECT” out of Phoenix, Arizona is soliciting Veterans to pay to record copies of their discharge papers (DD-214).

We want to emphasize that the Mercer County Clerk’s Office files and provides certified copies of DD-214 discharge papers free of charge. Veterans can visit our office or contact us directly to receive guidance and support throughout the process, without incurring any unnecessary fees. Often, we record such documents when a Veteran visits our office to obtain a US Veteran ID Card.

For additional information on Veteran Services, please call 609-278-7108 or 609-989-6465 or visit the Clerk’s Office online at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk