It was a unique gathering at the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Tuesday morning, where Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles was joined by mayors of two neighboring towns – Mike Reina of Jackson and Bob Arace of Manchester – to discuss how Lakewood’s business sector is spreading jobs and prosperity throughout the region.

The “Mayors and Coffee” event at the Harrogate community Event Hall, off Locust Street, featured dozens of area business owners, financing experts and government officials, who spent their morning networking to help Lakewood businesses succeed.

Lakewood Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller, who serves as Executive Director of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, opened the event and asked each attendee to introduce themselves and their line of work to the audience.

Mayor Coles, who is both an elected official and business owner in Lakewood for decades, exclaimed, “It’s amazing how much the Lakewood business sector has grown into one of the economic engines of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Other towns struggle with how to fill Class A office space, often turning them into housing. In Lakewood we can’t build them fast enough.”

Mayor Reina spoke of the rapid population and business growth Jackson has seen in recent years, largely as a result of its proximity to Lakewood, which he termed, “a shining star of business.” Mayor Arace similarly spoke of how Manchester’s median income and stature amongst major corporations has risen in recent years, marking a turning point in the local economy.

Mayor Coles pointed out that despite Lakewood’s rapid growth, where it is now New Jersey’s fourth largest municipality, he and his fellow Township Committee members are personally accessible to help any resident looking to start and/or grow a local business.

“I would like to thank Mayor Coles, Mayor Reina and Mayor Arace for joining our breakfast and further strengthening our joint efforts to grow our regional economy at a rapid pace,” says Deputy Mayor Miller. “We are proud of the historic contributions that Lakewood Township, the Chamber of Commerce – and, most of all, our local business owners – have made towards our mutual success.”