JCDC is affiliated with The Tabernacle, a non-denominational church in Piscataway, New Jersey, whose congregation works to create jobs in disadvantaged local communities and which raised funds to help acquire and operate the Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchise. JCDC was incorporated by The Tabernacle in 2000.

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “The Joy Community Development Corporation is opening a Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchise to manage a business that will create jobs and financial opportunities for members of The Tabernacle congregation and residents of central New Jersey. We welcome JCDC and The Tabernacle congregation to the Stratus Building Solutions family across the United States.”

De’Andre Salter, Senior Pastor of The Tabernacle, said, “Our church has an entrepreneurial commitment which supports our faith and dedication to improve quality of life for our congregation and community. Stratus Building Solutions of Central New Jersey will be managed and staffed by church members to create new businesses and promote entrepreneurship.

“One of our chief goals is to gain referrals for the business and to offer sub-franchises for sale so we can make a positive, productive economic impact in this region and for our church,” adds Salter, who is CEO Stratus Building Solutions of Central New Jersey.

Jerome J. Williams, a successful franchise industry executive who has served as a member of the Greater Princeton Jaycees and mentor-volunteer in the United Way Big Brothers Program, is President of Stratus Building Solutions of Central New Jersey. Williams says, “JCDC and Tabernacle church members chose to invest in a Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchise because it is a great opportunity for people to start a business and generate income by providing high-quality contract cleaning services to building owners and managers.

“Stratus Building Solutions has a track record of minority-owned business support, employee training excellence, top quality cleaning solutions and environmental responsibility based on a franchise model that is recession-resistant,” Williams adds.

Stratus Building Solutions of Central New Jersey, located at 4365 Route 1 South, South Brunswick, New Jersey; 609.468.6702, is offering services and sub-franchise opportunities in a mid-state region including the cities of Elizabeth, Union, Trenton, Perth Amboy and The Plainfields.

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different cleaning service franchise plans providing state-of-the-art “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services and marketing support to franchisees. Franchise benefits include orientation and training; customer referrals; administrative and accounting support; pre-arranged credit lines; access to insurance and surety bonds, financing options, business reviews; promotional support; and other turn-key advantages.

Dennis Jarrett and Pete Frese, President of the company, founded Stratus Building Solutions after each worked as top corporate executives for more than ten years in commercial cleaning franchise industries. “Our vision is to become the dominant global franchisor in the commercial cleaning industry,” Jarrett said. “We strive to deliver unparalleled satisfaction to all our franchise clients by offering a full range of cleaning systems, employee training, business management solutions and environmentally-friendly products and services.”

Stratus Building Solutions now offers franchises in Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico in addition to New Jersey, with plans for more expansion in 2007. The firm’s headquarters are at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in suburban St. Louis.