U.S. State Dept. officials tour County Connection

County office is participating in national pilot program

Freeholder John Curley, County Clerk M. Claire French, U.S. Passport Chief Brenda Sprague, Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and Freeholder Tom Arnone at the County Connection in Neptune, August 28, 2014

NEPTUNE, NJ – Chief of the U.S. State Department’s Passport Office, Brenda Sprague, toured the Monmouth County Connection yesterday with County Clerk M. Claire French and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“It is an honor for the Monmouth County Connection to be recognized by the U.S. Department of State as a Leading Acceptance facility and chosen to participate in a national pilot program studying customer service,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry. “The Connection’s enhanced services include extended hours, photo services and walk-in availabilities, which provide the American traveling public with a more convenient, seamless passport application process.”

In April 2014, the U.S. Department of State designated the County Connection as a Leading Acceptance Facility. As a result of this honor, the Monmouth County Connection has been chosen to participate in a customer service-oriented pilot program to help the Department of State better understand customer preferences. Only eight passport acceptance facilities, out of 8,500, were chosen to participate.

“The County Connection staff and County Clerk Claire French should be very proud of this well-deserved national designation,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. “The invitation to be part of the national pilot program is equally reflective of the staff’s commitment to provide excellent customer service.”

The County Connection was chosen to participate in the pilot because it offers customer-friendly services not available at all passport acceptance facilities. These services include evening and weekend hours, photo services, and walk-ins.

Through this pilot, which will continue through Oct. 17, 2014, the State Department is identifying best practices and learning about what services are important to customers. Customers who visit the County Connection will be offered the opportunity to respond to a survey designed to understand customer preferences about services at U.S. passport acceptance facilities.

Apply for a U.S. Passport today at the Monmouth County Connection to have the ultimate passport application experience. For more information, or to find out how to apply for a U.S. passport, visit www.travel.state.gov or www.visitmonmouth.com.

The Monmouth County Connection is located in Neptune at 3544 State Highway 66 in the strip mall adjacent to the Home Depot and across the street from Wal-Mart.

This office of Monmouth County government offers a variety of services including passports, passport photos, free notary public, veterans’ IDs, election/voter information, senior and veterans’ services, public access computers and more.

The County Connection is under the direction of County Clerk M. Claire French and is supported by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. For directions and more information, call 732-303-2828 or log on to www.visitmonmouth.com and click on the “County Connection” icon.