MONTVALE—Montvale wants to become a healthcare hub, or central locale for fulfilling all medical needs of a growing Pascack Valley population, officials said at a Nov. 2 forum at the municipal complex.
More than a dozen medical-related businesses convened for the first Healthcare Industry Forum Nov. 2 and shared information about needs and why they chose Montvale for their business, and heard from local and county officials about ways to work together to enhance local business.
“There’s a lot of excitement for Montvale becoming a medical hub. Clearly it’s been sought after by a lot of businesses. We heard that from the landlords, that they’re getting a lot of applicants,” said Raffi Joukhadarian, chair of the Montvale Economic Development and Retention Committee, after the session.
He said Valley Medical Group and Memorial Sloan Kettering said they were planning to add services and expand locally. Also, the Spine & Health Center is moving into a new facility on Grand Avenue, doubling their space, he said.
Joukhadarian said, “Existing facilities are expanding. New facilities are coming in. This is all fitting into our bigger dream of creating an ecosystem around a medical hub in Montvale.
He said an ecosystem would be composed of complementary medical businesses where clients could have all medical needs met in Montvale.
Healthcare-related businesses can call Joukhadarian at (917) 697-3781 or email him at raffijou@yahoo.com for more information about opportunities in Montvale.
The first Healthcare Industry Forum—sponsored by the borough’s Economic Development and Retention Committee and Chamber of Commerce—offered a wide-ranging dialogue among business leaders, local and county officials, and featured stories about success and plans.
In an email to residents prior to the session, Mayor Mike Ghassali, a former Republican contender for Congress in District 5, wrote, “Post-Covid, hybrid work space resulted in office buildings’ vacancy. Our goal now is to work with the office building owners to help do all that we can from the town’s end to attract quality businesses. A medical use is the perfect fit for us.”
Ghassali noted, “Many of our residents are doctors and healthcare professionals. I am asking you and looking for any assistance on how to let your peers who are looking for space to choose Montvale as a location.”
The local businesses participating included: Bearbrook Dental, Bergen Prosthodontics, Bergen Physical Medicine, DDS Dental Supplies, Dr. Jessica McCarthy, Empowered Pelvic Health, Kayal Medical Group, Montvale Acupuncture & Pain Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Other participants included Push to Walk, Refuah Health Center, The Spine & Health Center of Montvale, Thrive at Montvale (Senior Living), and Valley Medical Group. In addition, medical intern students from Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools, and St. Joseph’s High School attended the meeting.
Ghassali said, “I think the sharing of new ideas and sharing of new services is not only helping them now, it’s helping us now,” with marketing our space. Ghassali noted that several participants highlighted the need for more local mental health services and knowing this need will help them market available space.
He said the healthcare forum offered businesses an “opportunity” to make connections with other medical businesses and professions, He noted one business had learned of more available space at the meeting and was talking with a property landlord about leasing.
On Nov. 6 Ghassali posted, “Progress continues with more exceptional medical uses moving to Montvale. I am excited to announce three ribbon cutting ceremonies to welcome three great doctors and medical uses. On Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. we will be welcoming Empowered Pelvic Health, Center for Resiliency and Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center to 160 Summit Ave.,” a 32,000-square-foot, two-story office building owned by Montvale Real Estate Ventures LLC.
He said, “Montvale is set up just right to support more medical uses. If you or you know of anyone interested to move their practice to Montvale, contact me directly at mghassali@montvaleboro.org.”
One healthcare business owner told Pascack Press that she did not realize all the medical-related local businesses and possibilities for connections and partnering to boost business and enhance medical services available.
Montvale economic development officials also said they were planning on conducting a professionals’ job fair, similar to one offered in 2019, to assist job seekers in finding employment.
Joanne Cimiluca, county director of Economic Development, said Bergen County offers two types of grants including a small business lease grant, and small business improvement grant, plus a small business e-commerce support grant program to assist and grow local businesses, said Cimiluca.
Small business grants provide funding to offset a portion of lease payments for businesses leasing new or additional space. Small business improvement grants help reimburse business owners for costs associated with making interior/exterior building improvements, including furniture purchase/installation, fixtures and equipment.
Moreover, the e-commerce support program provides free e-commerce and digital marketing consulting services to small businesses in restaurant, retail, and personal care industries that operate from commercial locations.
In addition, the county has a Business Resource Network, (BRN) created by the county executive and Board of Commissioners in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cimiluca said. The network works to provide personalized guidance, and programs and services, to assist local businesses. Business owners may access information at Bergen ForBusiness.com, she said.
The BRN helps businesses discover key things about a business using a business data intelligence tool called SizeUp. Moreover, owners can work directly with one of Bergen County College’s Student Support Specialists to assist digital marketing, as well as keep apprised of business grant opportunities.
Cimiluca can be reached at (201) 336-7336 and jcimiluca@co.bergen.nj.us.
Economics officials said two areas of growth were expected in Montvale: young families moving in (aged 24–54) and what their needs are; and the senior population has grown recently and other senior facilities are coming to town.
Business leaders from some medical facilities, such as Sloan Kettering, said they would likely be expanding their local footprint due to an increased volume of customers coming from the region. Officials said post-Covid, residents prefer accessing medical services closer to home rather than traveling to New York City.
Also, there is a need for customers to access medical procedures, such as MRIs and CAT scans at a local medical facility. A Valley Medical Group official suggested potential patients can contact the medical facility’s nurse navigators for scheduling procedures in areas such as radiology, or medical imaging.
Ghassali said Montvale’s location, destination and geography “is primed to be a medical hub” noting the borough was planning for that after it lost the Sony, Mercedes-Benz and A&P headquarters about five years ago.
He said the town can rezone to “make it easier” for local businesses to do business, as well as “fast-track all the permits you need.”
The mayor noted Montvale is home to natives of 55 countries and 27 languages are spoken in town. He said businesses in Montvale communicate with 110 countries globally on a weekly basis.
He said a remaining 44-unit affordable rental complex is yet to be built on a third lot in the former Mercedes-Benz property opposite the Shoppes at DePiero Farm plaza, as part of the borough’s affordable housing settlement.
Moreover, he said the borough hoped to “pause and reassess” before adding any more housing units, and was behind efforts to delay affordable housing’s next round until 2028, rather than July 2025 when slated to begin.
In September, Ghassali—who is Hillsdale’s business administrator—was instrumental in establishing and steering that municipality’s first quarterly business breakfast. Participants there agreed to form a local chamber of commerce.
