Anew tool that provides businesses with a wide range of local demographic information was unveiled last week at the first meeting of the county’s Grow Monmouth Advisory Committee.

Comprised of some 40 business, academic and municipal representatives, the advisory committee announced the new Business Analyst Tool as an enhancement to the county’s Economic Opportunity Mapping program, which is a GIS-based tool that identifies zoning, highways, sewer service areas, flood plains and environmental constraints and demographics for each town in Monmouth County.

“It is a sophisticated research tool,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Thomas A. Arnone, who is spearheading the county’s Grow Monmouth initiative with the Department of Economic Development. “It is for people who are thinking about relocating their business or bringing new business in.”

In addition to providing information such as age, gender and educational background of potential customers, the Business Analyst Tool will supply drive times between two points and data about other businesses located within the targeted area. All Grow Monmouth business tools are free.

Grow Monmouth is a long-term, communitywide initiative with the goal of ensuring the sustained economic health of Monmouth County, according to a press release from the county. Like the New Jersey BusinessAction Center established by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration and overseen by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, its objectives will include retaining and growing businesses, creating jobs and attracting new businesses.

The Grow Monmouth Advisory Committee was formed to gather input from a variety of key sectors that include business, education, nonprofits, community organizations and state and local government. The committee is tasked with developing a strategic plan that will outline goals and the means of achieving them.

Arnone and Economic Development staff have made more than 50 presentations around the county to identify and recruit partners to help make growing a business in Monmouth County easier.

“Since I becoming a freeholder, I wanted to work with municipalities to help them streamline their processes that will make opening and growing a business simpler,” Arnone said. “For businesses to relocate, grow and prosper we need to make the approval process easier. That’s what our presentations have been all about – making it easier for businesses to operate. If we do that, the jobs will follow.”

Also at the meeting, the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) presented its Start Smart Energy Plan, which is available to municipalities as well as businesses.

Using the Start Smart Energy Plan, businesses or towns can request the BPU to conduct a free energy audit of their facilities. In addition, for any recommendations that will improve energy efficiency, the BPU will pay up to 70 percent of the cost.