The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the nation's largest state-level employer association, recently presented its New Good Neighbor Award to Kohler Distributing Company for its new company facility in Hawthorne.

NJBIA President Philip Kirschner presented the award to Kohler President Gary Graham at the 44th Annual New Good Neighbor Awards luncheon, held June 8 at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.

Kohler, Northern New Jersey's largest malt beverage distributor, has been a fixture of Bergen County's business community for 56 years. Substantial growth forced Kohler to seek larger quarters for their warehouse, offices, and their 175 full-time employees. So the company settled on the Wagaraw site in Hawthorne.

"The new Kohler facility is the best kind of new development," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said. "Not only does it contribute to the local economy and create jobs, but it also puts to use an idle industrial property and sets aside land for recreation and parking. The Kohler Distributing Company is everything you want in a new good neighbor."

The $10.4 million redevelopment of a brownfields site required the expertise of 165 people during construction and was completed in late 2003. The company also donated 3.2 acres of land for recreation and parking. Furthermore, the company will contribute to the construction of baseball, softball and soccer fields.

"Kohler's generosity is in keeping with company tradition," said Hawthorne Mayor Fred Criscitelli, who nominated the facility. "Over the past 10 years, KDC has raised over $500,000 for St. Judes Children's Hospital."

The project was designed by GMA Design Groups of Clearwater, Florida and built by ARCO Design/Build of Atlanta, Georgia.

The New Good Neighbor Awards are presented annually to new developments or renovations that exhibit architectural excellence, create jobs, and enhance the community. An independent panel of judges selected the winners. In 2004, NJBIA received 31 New Good Neighbor Award nominations representing nearly $600 million worth of construction and creating 5,600 jobs. NJBIA represents more than 22,000 member companies throughout New Jersey.