Indeed, Eckstein plans to spend another $15 million over the next six months to bring in high-density electric and fiber-optic lines to the Garden State Technology Center, as it's called. And state officials liked the idea so much that when the marketing program for the building was unveiled last week, the Whitman administration itself unveiled a grant program aimed at creating a series of so-called cyberdistricts throughout the state.

"This will soon be the Internet heart of Middlesex County," Gov. Christie Whitman told attendees at the project's unveiling at a news conference.

As far as the new state grant program, several municipalities have quickly lined up for the cash, including New Brunswick, Elizabeth and Franklin Twp. Garden State Technology Center is well beyond the grant stage, but Sayreville itself is asking for $50,000 in planning funds with an eye on transforming a 937-acre waterfront site near Garden State Technology Center. The site includes the former NL Industries property, a brownfields plot in need of remediation.