County of Union, New Jersey

What County of Union, New Jersey does

County of Union, New Jersey is a county-level government entity established in 1857 and headquartered at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ, serving all 21 constituent municipalities (including Elizabeth, Plainfield, Linden, Union, Westfield, Summit, Cranford, and others) and approximately 500,000+ residents. The County delivers the full scope of municipal-tier public services — public safety (Sheriff, Police, Fire/EMS, Emergency Services, Medical Examiner), human services (Aging, Workforce Development, Children and Youth, Social Services, Paratransit), parks and recreation, public works, engineering, solid waste management, elections, taxation, economic development, and prosecution — through 22+ departments and offices.

Its operational technology stack is a standard public-sector configuration: the official ucnj.org website runs on WordPress; UKG handles personnel/timekeeping; EPEC supports finance/ERP workflows; Jotform powers online forms including the newsletter sign-up and Sponsorship Request Form; and the Explore Union County native mobile app (iOS/Android) serves as the primary consumer-facing digital touchpoint. The County also maintains a privacy-compliant web platform (no cookies, WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance) overseen by the Bureau of ADA Compliance, a live Falcon Camera streaming feed for environmental engagement, and an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) public records request portal.

The County is funded primarily through an annually adopted County budget financed by property taxes, state aid, and grants, supplemented by user fees for recreation facilities, pistol range use, and (effective January 29, 2026) county-owned equipment rental, plus transaction fees on electronic receipts (Ord. 865-2026). Capital improvements are financed through bond ordinances issued in conjunction with the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA), and the County co-administers the voter-approved Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Trust Fund (created November 2000) and long-term solid waste agreements with Covanta Union, Inc. and the Union County Utilities Authority (UCUA). GTM/engagement is multi-channel — direct-to-consumer via the website, mobile app, social media, TV/radio, mobile van, kiosks, and a telephone infoline — supported by community-led engagement through Public Advisory Boards, OPRA, and volunteer programs.

Name

County of Union, New Jersey

Legal name

County of Union, New Jersey

Website

https://ucnj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1857

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

County of Union, New Jersey is a county government established in 1857, headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, delivering public safety, human services, parks, public works, transportation, and economic development services to 21 constituent municipalities and approximately 500,000+ residents, funded primarily through property taxes and select user fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

County Government Services

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (561210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Non-Communicable Disease Prevention & Chronic Disease Programs (BPAIAJAI)

Keywords

• County government services
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Human services
• Public records access

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabeth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Adopted County Budget (Property Tax / General Fund): Primary funding comes from the annually adopted County budget (Executive Budget, Budget as Introduced, and Adopted Budget) financed through property taxation, state aid, and grants. The 2026 Executive, Introduced, and Adopted Budget documents are published for public review.
2. Bond Financing / Capital Ordinance Proceeds: Capital improvements and major equipment purchases are financed through bond ordinances (e.g., Bond Ordinance No. 713-2010 appropriated $43,892,019; Ord. 723-2011 appropriated $49,557,455; Ord. 740-2012 appropriated $31,938,317; Ord. 865-2026 introduced general fees to offset electronic receipt transaction costs). Bond anticipation notes are issued in anticipation of bonds.
3. User Fees for Recreation and Public Facilities: Recurring fees for use of County recreation facilities (parks, golf courses, pistol range), updated periodically via ordinance (e.g., Ord. 864-2026 amended Chapter 107, Parks and Recreation, Article IV, Fees for Recreation Facilities; Ord. 721-2011 amended pistol range fees). Effective Jan 29, 2026, fees may also be assessed for use of county-owned equipment.
4. Solid Waste Disposal Fees (Covanta / UCUA): Revenue from regulatory waste flow control arrangements with Covanta Union, Inc. (operating the Union County Resource Recovery Facility) and the Union County Utilities Authority, plus local waste agreements with municipalities (Ord. 717-2011, 725-2011). Deficiency agreements provide additional revenue from waste disposal activity.
5. Open Space Trust Fund (Voter-Approved): Trust Fund created by voter referendum in November 2000 to conserve open space, expand recreational opportunities, and preserve historic sites. Administered by the Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Trust Fund office.
6. Grant / Sponsorship Reimbursements: County provides financial and in-kind sponsorships to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Government (Municipal), and Government (Board of Education) organizations, with payments issued as reimbursements upon event conclusion and proof of branding co-sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

County of Union, New Jersey is a county-level government that delivers public administration and resident services across 21 constituent municipalities, including public safety, parks and recreation, human services, transportation, elections, solid waste management, public records access, economic development, and emergency response. It operates supporting digital touchpoints such as the Explore Union County mobile app and OPRA public records request system to make those services accessible to residents, businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit partners.

Product overview

County of Union, New Jersey operates as a single unified county government offering, not a software platform, delivering services through a portfolio of named programs and digital touchpoints rather than a modular product suite. Core service offerings include the Explore Union County mobile app (the primary consumer-facing digital product, distributed on Google Play and Apple App Store for trails, parks, and events), the Paratransit Services and Route 22 Shuttle (fixed and supplemental transportation services), the OPRA Open Public Records Act Request System (citizen records request portal), the On-Demand Micro-Transit Pilot Program (newly announced flexible transit pilot), Free Real Estate License Classes (workforce development program), and supporting online request forms such as the Sponsorship Request Form. These are independent county services accessed via ucnj.org rather than interoperable product modules of a single SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Explore Union County: Mobile application that helps users find local trails, events, parks and more in Union County.

Products and services

• Explore Union County Mobile App Official mobile application of the County of Union, NJ, distributed via Google Play (org.ucnj.exploreuc) and Apple App Store (id6736768811), providing residents and visitors with information on county trails, parks, events, and recreational activities.
• Paratransit Services ADA-accessible shared-ride transportation service for eligible Union County residents who are unable to use the fixed-route public transit system, operated as a County government service under Human Services.
• Route 22 Shuttle Shuttle service operating along the Route 22 corridor in Union County, providing supplemental public transit for commuters and residents traveling within the county.
• OPRA Open Public Records Act Request System Formal request portal enabling members of the public to submit Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests to Union County government departments for access to public records, administered by the Clerk of the Board.
• On-Demand Micro-Transit Pilot Program Newly announced pilot on-demand micro-transit service initiative by the County of Union, designed to provide flexible, app- or call-based ride options within designated zones of the county.
• Free Real Estate License Classes County-sponsored free pre-licensing education program for residents pursuing a New Jersey real estate license, announced as a workforce development initiative.
• Sponsorship Request Form Online Jotform-powered form allowing community organizations and event organizers to apply to the County of Union for sponsorship of events or programs, with reimbursements issued upon event conclusion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,750+ students reached through the Tree Stewards environmental education program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County (Rutgers Co-op)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRutgers University–affiliated cooperative extension embedded in Union County government. Provides research-based educational programs and resources to County residents in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and environmental stewardship. Listed as a County department on ucnj.org.
• Covanta Union, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner operating the Union County Resource Recovery Facility under facility lease and waste disposal agreements incorporated into the Union County District Solid Waste Management Plan (Ord. 717-2011, 725-2011). The partnership is reaffirmed through regulatory waste flow control for processible waste generated in Union County.
• Union County Utilities Authority (UCUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-related utilities authority with which Union County entered into a Deficiency Agreement and Limited Deficiency Agreement (Ord. 724-2011) relating to solid waste disposal, including bonds secured by the County and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission shared services agreement (Ord. 737-2012).
• New Jersey Meadowlands CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner under a solid waste shared services agreement with the Union County Utilities Authority (Ord. 737-2012), designating the Meadowlands Landfill and Disposal Facilities in Kearny, NJ for disposal of solid waste types 13, 13C, 23, and 27 under regulatory waste flow control.
• Waste Management of New Jersey, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling partner included in the Union County District Solid Waste Management Plan as a Class C Recycling Center Facility at 847 Flora Street, Elizabeth, NJ (Ord. 739-2012).
• Rahway Recycling and Materials, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling partner included in the Union County District Solid Waste Management Plan as a Class B Recycling Facility in Rahway, NJ (Ord. 735-2012).
• Full Circle Manufacturing Group, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClass D Recycling Center located in the City of Elizabeth, included in the Union County District Solid Waste Plan (Ord. 718-2011).
• Union County College (County College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-supported higher education partner, with County authorizing lease revenue refunding bonds for the County College Facility Project of the Union County Improvement Authority (Ord. 732-2012).
• Facebook (Meta Platforms)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnion County maintains an official Facebook page (facebook.com/countyofunion/) for two-way public dialogue; the County follows Facebook's hate speech and threat community guidelines.
• Apple App Store and Google PlayminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDistribution channels for the County's "Explore Union County" native mobile application (App Store id6736768811; Google Play org.ucnj.exploreuc).
• Inroads to OpportunitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner whose artists' inspiring artwork is featured at the Union County Commissioners Gallery, per June 15, 2026 press release.
• New Jersey Courts (Union County Vicinage)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJudicial partner; Union County provides courthouse facilities including the Union County Family Court Building Project in Elizabeth (Ord. 728-2012), supported by County-guaranteed lease revenue bonds.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/countyofunionnj

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about County of Union, New Jersey