Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton was recently awarded the Merit Award of Appreciation from U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance and the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award is given to government leaders for their participation and support of the U.S. Communities Purchasing Alliance.
Thornton has been a strong advocate of the U.S. Communities cooperative purchasing program since the Governor signed P.L.2011, c.139 in May 2012, which allowed for cooperative purchasing in New Jersey. Thornton, who oversees the county Purchasing Department, saw the immediate value in cost and time savings and lead Cape May County in joining the Alliance. The U. S. Communities was founded in 1996, as a partnership between the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors.
The award was presented to Thornton by Cape May County Purchasing Director, Kevin Lare, who explained the significance of the receiving recognition by both organizations. “Each year no more than five counties, out of more than 3,000 counties in the United State, are awarded the Merit Award of Appreciation. Under Freeholder Director Thornton, Cape May County has saved money through the cooperative buying power provided of the Alliance”, Lare said.
“I’m honored to receive this award from NACo, but recognition goes to the County Purchasing Department for putting this program into practical use, and as a result, providing our residents real tangible savings of tax dollars by leveraging our buying power through national and regional contracts, and in this case US Communities, ” Thornton said.
U.S. Communities Purchasing Alliance was started in 1999, and is the leading national government cooperative purchasing program providing procurement resources and solutions to local, county and state government agencies. The Alliance aggregates the purchasing power of more than 55,000 public agencies nationwide by offering participating public agencies the ability to make purchases through existing, competitively solicited contracts between a supplier and a the public agency. Since its inception, the program has saved local agencies more the $2 billion.
Contact: Kevin Lare, Purchasing Director 609 465-1125