Over 550,000 people live and work in this culturally diverse and economically healthy market. Retail sales in the Jersey City metropolitan area top $4.3 billion, effective buying income (EBI) averages $41,902 and the median age is 34.

The Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) commuter rail system, which links Journal Square with nearby Manhattan and the recently redeveloped Jersey City waterfront, brings nearly 30,000 commuters through the area each day. Local bus lines that utilize the PATH terminal as their hub transport an additional 26,000 plus commuters through the area.

The ongoing presence of the Hudson County Community College's (HCCC) Journal Square Campus will ensure a continued influx of students to the area. Campus locations in the Square include: Joseph Cundari Center (870 Bergen Avenue), Culinary Arts Institute (161 Newkirk Street), Science Building (168 Sip Avenue), College Services Building (162 Sip Avenue), and Pathside Building (? Address). The college book store and business offices are located at 26 Journal Square. Additional classrooms and offices are located at 83-87 Sip Avenue.

Parking accommodations for the college include parking lots on Sip Avenue between Tonnelle Avenue and Bergen Avenue and on Academy Street just east of Bergen Avenue.

The College recently announced its receipt of a Title V Federal Grant from the Department of Education, which will make available to the school $2.3 million over the next 5 years. The funds are earmarked for the creation of a new Academic Center, job placement center, continuing education offices and financial aid office developed at 70 Sip Avenue the former Independence Bank site. The College hopes to acquire an additional 10,000 sq. ft. of space by 2010.

Current enrollments at HCCC include approximately 6000 students in credit programs and more than 7000 in continuing education. The College also maintains a campus in West New York, which serves approximately 1000 students.

Recently renovated buildings in Journal Square include 26 Journal Square, the offices of the Trust Company of New Jersey, and the conversion of a vacant hotel property to market-rental apartments. Finance giant ADP has set up offices at Journal Square in a newly constructed 250,000 square foot facility. Proposed projects for the future include:

· The development of Journal Square Three (adjacent to ADP Plaza), to include 500,000 sq. ft. of office space
· The redevelopment of the State Theater site into a 15 story mixed use building. The project will include 130 residential units with retail on the ground floor and bring an additional 250-300 parking spaces for shoppers.
· The development of two 22-story 'class A' office towers with a retail plaza to be built above existing rail lines that run through the square. A platform will be built above the rail lines which will support the plaza.

The Square serves as the headquarters for the county's daily newspaper of record, The Jersey Journal, as well as two major New Jersey based banks- Provident Bank and Trust Company Bank--and is also home to such leading national and regional retailers such as Radio Shack, Foot Locker, Payless Shoes, Rite Aid and Ashley Stewart Woman. Additionally, Journal Square is in close proximity to Hudson County government offices because of Jersey City's status as the County Seat.