Tilcon places a great deal of importance on being a good neighbor to the communities in which we live and work. We have built relations with our local residents, schools, Fire and Police services, colleges and universities and other local businesses. Below are examples of some of our Community Relations activities.

Community Participation and Service

Building goodwill by developing collaborative efforts with local communities is a key element of our programs.

1. Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School – Tilcon works closely with the school, located close to our Mt. Hope facility. We regularly sweep at the school playground and we are working with the school on planning a new playground project. Students from the school take part in organized, educational tours of the Mt. Hope facility.
2. Emergency First Responders – Tilcon works closely with local fire departments and emergency first responders to provide training sessions at Tilcon sites.
3. Earth Day, Woodbridge Community Center – Tilcon helped celebrate Earth Day by displaying a table about the importance of recycling at the Woodbridge Community Center’s Earth Day Fair. Children received many fun and educational handouts and enjoyed the activities provided by Tilcon.

Education

Open Houses – We host two Open House events each year, one in New Jersey and one in New York. At each location employee volunteers organize bus tours, children’s activities, educational booths and refreshments. Heavy construction equipment is on display, vendor booths are present, local mineralogical and historical societies are on hand along with representatives of local police, fire and rescue squads. Open House events usually take place in June Annual Facility Tours – Every year Tilcon hosts facility tours providing students with an opportunity to learn more about mining operations. Recent tours have been completed by NJIT, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Rowan University and West Point Military Academy. Liberty Science Center ‘Touch a Truck’ – in conjunction with Binder Machinery, Tilcon participated in the ‘Touch-A-Truck’ program at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. A bright, shiny Komatsu WA380 wheel loader was transported to the event for the weekend display.

Material Donations

1. Support for Students – this program focuses on assisting schools in New York and New Jersey that are underfunded. As part of the program Tilcon provided 250 new backpacks to elementary school students K to 8th Grade in Prospect Park Schools, Prospect Park, NJ.
2. Book Drive - Tilcon partnered with Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School in Rockaway, New Jersey for a book drive in February 2009. New and gently used books were contributed to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

Communication

1. Residents – We believe that open and honest communication with residents is important. Tilcon meets with residents to address issues and concerns.
2. Community Leaders – Tilcon builds relationships with community leaders and looks for ways in which we can use our resources to benefit the community.
3. Local and State Government – Getting to know the local governing body is a good way to learn what is important to a particular community and makes it easier to work through issues as they may arise.