Glassboro Continues Growth As Rowan University Does The Same
By Mike Dougherty
GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) -- Glassboro, New Jersey -- home to Rowan University -- is experiencing steady growth, as the school continues to increase enrollment. School and borough officials are collaborating to transform it into a traditional college town.
Orange cones and work trucks line High Street, a not so subtle sign of the continuous growth in Glassboro. Rowan's enrollment is pushing 15,000 and increasing every year. Mayor Leo McCabe says the town is committed to keeping students around after graduation, like many other college towns have done.
"Students in New Jersey were going to school outside New Jersey and they were taking jobs outside New Jersey. Today, Rowan has established that and they're really providing jobs."
Recent graduate Kyla is planning to stay.
"I like the people. And I just like the whole hometown atmosphere, but also I think it's great that there's a ton to do now."
Mayor McCabe says more than $350-million is already committed to redevelopment, with more to come:
"Not just Glassboro, but I think the whole South Jersey is benefitting from this."
Wesley Hahn, an 87-year-old resident of nearby Clayton, frequently visits Glassboro to shop:
"I think it's great because more kids, local kids, can go to college and make something of themselves. Very important to make the town grow better and more businesses come in."
Plans for new restaurants and theaters are in the works as hundreds of millions of dollars will go toward redevelopment in the near future.