2023 Meadowlands Economic Development & Relocation Guide

Meeting Your Community'sMobility Needs

Shuttles

Safe and reliable shuttle services with our vehicles and drivers to destinations throughout New Jersey will benefit your employees, residents, tenants, or members.

EZ Ryde4Life

Statewide personal transportation with Lyft and Uber. Smart phones are not required. We arrange rides for everyone ages 18 and up.

Biking & Walking

We promote health and active living, safety, and bike and pedestrian programs. Discover how you can partner with us to implement a program in your community

EZ Electric

Our newest program for fleet operators including municipalities and schools to help you transition from gas powered to an electric fleet.

Carpools

Rideshare matches save commuters time and money. We even provide solutions for emergency rides home, so no one is ever stranded.

Vanpools

A New Jersey Transit subsidized Vanpool is an affordable and comfortable solution for long commutes and we can help you set it up.

THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE IS HERE

Hackensack University Medical Center

Helena Theurer Pavilion

Hackensack University Medical Center’s Helena Theurer Pavilion is now open and ready for you. And our team members are ready for you, too. From orthopedic and colorectal surgery to complex cardiac and neurosurgery cases, our experts are here to deliver high-quality, compassionate care in our thoughtfully designed, state-of-the-art tower. The pavilion includes the latest advancements in surgical and critical care for patients - now and in the future. From a pandemic/health emergency-ready environment to operating rooms with all of the latest robotic technology, we’re ready. View our virtual tour or learn more at HackensackUMC.org.

Table of Contents

Reaching New Heights, Envisioning the Future, Delivering Solutions

Quality of Life | Forward Thinking | Embracing Innovation

Welcome to the 2023 edition of the Economic Development and Relocation Guide published by the Meadowlands 2040 Foundation, an affiliate of the Meadowlands Chamber. This annual guide turns a spotlight on the vibrant, diverse economy that comprises the Greater Meadowlands Region and serves as an unparalleled resource for those relocating to the area or researching the Meadowlands for relocation, expansion, and investment.

It’s only been through great foresight and never-ending perseverance that progress, innovation, and opportunities have taken hold and flourished in concert with the marshes, walking trails and nature preserves of the Meadowlands. With its unrivaled location adjacent to New York City, our nation’s biggest, the Greater Meadowlands Region is home to the largest business growth and GDP in the state of New Jersey.

Realizing a Vision for the Meadowlands

The Meadowlands 2040 Foundation was established by local leaders invested in the region’s longterm future and developed a long-term vision plan. Aside from tackling the overall economic development of the region, this think-tank style group tackled infrastructure, mobility issues, flood control, education, workforce development, and the regulatory environment.

As an economic development-focused organization, the 2040 Foundation, along with the Meadowlands Chamber, strive to build out workforce training programs that support and foster business growth. The far-reaching goal is economic sustainability and job generation to help improve the success and quality of life for the region’s businesses, residents, employees, and natural environment.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Beyond

18

23

1099 Wall Street Suite #100 Lyndhurst NJ 07071 (201) 939-0707 www.meadowlands.org

Communications & Content Manager: Cindy Capitani, Meadowlands Media (201) 939-0707, ccapitani@meadowlands.org

Advertising: Martha Morley, Greer

Media & Editorial Production Coordinator: Brianne Hailey Killeen

Design: Stephanie Kowalsky, Eighty6

More than a half-century in the making, the central hub of the Greater Meadowlands Region has come a long way from its early days. Swamps and landfills gave way to the Giants, Jets and the Meadowlands Racetrack, along with headline concerts, world class restaurants and Fortune 500 companies. The opening of the American Dream retail and entertainment center with its many unique and first-of-its-kind offerings, is a new magnetic draw.

Time and again the area has shown it’s not only a vital economic engine and sought-after relocation destination but is resilient in changing and uncertain fiscal times – even after something unfathomable like the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. The Greater Meadowlands region provides strategic access to the world’s trade, financial and regulatory centers, the East Coast’s largest seaport, and Newark International Airport, the busiest in the New York metropolitan area. It’s home to some of the state’s biggest concentrations of wealth and real estate valuations, colleges and universities, hospitals and healthcare providers, and so much more.

The Meadowlands 2040 Foundation’s Board of Trustees are dedicated business leaders with deep roots in the region. Led by Chair Fletch Creamer Jr. and Vice Chair Bill Hanson, the Board is committed to visioning and educating the communities at large and helping facilitate the economic growth and success of this magnificent and diverse area.

Meadowlands 2040 Foundation: Board of Trustees

Angelo J. Genova, Partner & Chairman of Genova Burns

Peter Unanue, COO of Goya Foods

Senator Anthony Scardino Jr., former Mayor & NJ Senator of Anthony Scardino & Associates, Inc.

John Saraceno, Principal of Onyx Equities

Amy Herbold, Director of Development of American Dream

Chairman Fletch Creamer of Creamer Environmental

Vice Chairman Bill Hanson of NAI James E. Hanson

Rich Branca, CEO of Bergen Engineering

Alex Klatskin, CEO of Forsgate Industrial Partners

Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development

Debra Tantleff, Principal of TANTUM Real Estate

Mark Sparta, President & CHE, Hackensack University Medical Center & President, North Region, Hackensack Meridian Health

MEADOWLANDS

REGION OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Located just a few miles outside of New York City, the bustling area comprising the Greater Meadowlands Region is among the powerful economic drivers of the Northeast megalopolis, also known as the Northeast Corridor or Boston–Washington corridor. The world's largest megalopolis in terms of economic output and the second most populous corridor in the country, it’s home to nearly one in six Americans.

The Meadowlands region sits at the geographic core and is crowned by MetLife Stadium, the Meadowlands Racetrack, and the American Dream Meadowlands. Its marshlands, nature preserves and unique ecological

profile cohabitate and flourish in concert with Fortune 500 firms, technology startups, development plans, manufacturing firms and innovation around every corner.

The corridor’s main thoroughfare, Interstate 95, is locally the 117-mile New Jersey Turnpike running through the Meadowlands region. Airports, cargo ships, freight and passenger trains make the area a highly soughtafter locale for businesses seeking to relocate, startup or expand.

We’re open for business. And we invite you to discover how your organization can grow with us here in the Meadowlands.

PUBLISHED BY: SUPPORTED BY:

within NJ — the top-ranked state for education, the fourth for healthcare, and the second-best overall place to live in the nation.

QUICK STATS

Total Population: 982,125

Median Household Income: $80,130

Labor Force: 586,021

Number of Employers: 789,431

Total Establishments: 97,413

WHY THE MEADOWLANDS?

Highly educated and trained workforce, with 43.44% of the population having an associates, bachelors or post-graduate degree.

Easy access to numerous regional and international markets.

Centrally located several miles from Manhattan in the nucleus of the Northeast Corridor, right along the NJ Turnpike, with easy access to numerous major and interstate roadways.

An international logistics and transportation hub that’s home to Teterboro Airport and just 10 miles from Newark International Airport, 16 miles from LaGuardia Airport and 21 miles from John F. Kennedy Airport.

Quick convenient access to the largest container port on the East Coast and the second biggest in the U.S.

Home to 20 colleges and universities with 300 institutions located within 50 miles.

For more information contact (201) 939-0707 or email mrc@meadowlands.org

A special thank you to our economic development partners (see page 24).

HIGHLY TRAINED AND DRUG TESTED WORKFORCE

I.B.E.W. LOCAL 164

Municipality Profiles

BERGEN COUNTY • •

Bogota

Mayor: Robert J Zimmerman

Population: 6,298

Median Household Income: $103,297

Median Home Value: $604,500

Cliffside Park

Mayor: Thomas Calabrese

Population: 25,279

Median Household Income: $73,782

Median Home Value: $507,000

East Rutherford

Mayor: Jeffrey Lahullier

Population: 10,088

Median Household Income: $84,514

Median Home Value: $450,000

Fairview

Mayor: Vincent Bellucci

Population: 14,560

Median Household Income: $62,287

Median Home Value: $579,500

Garfield

Mayor: Richard Rigogliosi

Population: 32,175

Median Household Income: $60,681

Median Home Value: $399,000

Hackensack

Mayor: John P. Labrosse, Jr

Population: 45,926

Median Household Income: $66,704

Median Home Value: $345,000

Hasbrouck Heights

Mayor: John DeLorenzo

Population: 12,195

Median Household Income: $93,218

Median Home Value: $583,000

Leonia

Mayor: Judah Ziegler

Population: 9,590

Median Household Income: $90,671

Median Home Value: $695,000

Little Ferry

Mayor: Mauro D. Raguseo

Population: 10,955

Median Household Income: $67,393

Median Home Value: $450,000

Lodi

Mayor: Scott A. Luna

Population: 24,986

Median Household Income: $62,200

Median Home Value: $425,000

Lyndhurst

Mayor: Robert Giangeruso

Population: 22,649

Median Household Income: $80,487

Median Home Value: $522,500

Moonachie

Mayor: Dennis Vaccaro

Population: 2,899

Median Household Income: $74,422

Median Home Value: $462,500

North Arlington

Mayor: Daniel Pronti

Population: 16,000

Median Household Income: $82,447

Median Home Value: $469,500

Palisades Park

Mayor: Christopher Chung

Population: 21,050

Median Household Income: $70,807

Median Home Value: $775,000

Ridgefield

Mayor: Anthony Suarez

Population: 11,449

Median Household Income: $74,185

Median Home Value: $615,000

Rutherford

Mayor: Frank Nunziato

Population: 18,756

Median Household Income: $97,890

Median Home Value: $599,000

South Hackensack

Mayor: Frank Cagas

Population: 2,502

Median Household Income: $70,683

Median Home Value: $515,000

Teaneck

Mayor: Jim Dunleavy

Population: 41,510

Median Household Income: $115,084

Median Home Value: $514,900

Teterboro

Mayor: John P. Watt

Population: 70

Median Household Income: $62,499

Median Home Value: $1.6M

Wallington

Mayor: Melissa Dabal

Population: 12,200

Median Household Income: $68,342

Median Home Value: $525,000

Wood Ridge

Mayor: Paul A. Sarlo

Population: 9,319

Median Household Income: $108,556

Median Home Value: $552,500

BERGEN ENGINEERING CO.

Building Contractors – Construction Managers

375 Murray Hill Parkway East Rutherford, NJ 07073

Phone: 201-438-4700 Fax: 201-438-0034

Richard Branca, President 60 Years of Construction Excellence

www.BEConline.com

375 Murray Hill Parkway East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Phone: 201-438-4994 Fax: 201-935-2850

Richard Branca, President

Quality Ownership, Management, and Development Since 1975

www.BrancaProperties.com

405 Murray Hill Parkway

HUDSON COUNTY • •

East Newark

Mayor: Dina M. Grilo

Population: 2,641

Median Household Income: $63,994

Median Home Value: $325,000

Harrison

Mayor: Lou Manzo

Population: 19,171

Median Household Income: $65,297

Median Home Value: $419,000

Jersey City

Mayor: Steven M. Fulop

Population: 276,012

Median Household Income: $71,109

Median Home Value: $559,900

Kearny

Mayor: Alberto G. Santos

Population: 43,218

Median Household Income: $67,746

Median Home Value: $469,000

North Bergen

Mayor: Nicholas J. Sacco

Population: 63,751

Median Household Income: $62,819

Median Home Value: $407,500

Secaucus

Mayor: Michael Gonnelli

Population: 20,885

Median Household Income: $99,548

Median Home Value: $428,500 •

Nutley

Mayor: Joseph P. Scarpelli

Population: 28,854

Median Household Income: $94,696

Median Home Value: $499,900 •

Clifton

Mayor: James A. Anzaldi

Population: 86,764

Median Household Income: $80,642

Median Home Value: $465,000

Passaic

Mayor: Hector C. Lora

Population: 71,381

Median Household Income: $41,101

Median Home Value: $399,000

Bergen County

Small businesses get free resources through county’s collaboration with Bergen Community College

The heart of Bergen County’s economy and community is small business and that has never been more true than it is today as we grow through a tricky economy following a worldwide pandemic.

To meet these challenges headon, Bergen County introduced the Business Resource Network (BRN) in March 2022 offering information and free services to help new companies successfully launch, build and grow. A key component of this multifaceted network comes through a collaboration with Bergen Community College (BCC).

The partnership forged between BCC President Eric Friedman and Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco offers entrepreneurs the chance to learn valuable skills from students trained as business support specialists.

Close to 600 companies have signed up for this free service and have gotten students’ help with creating business plans and websites, tracking customers and sales, balancing the books, and much more. This is all offered to businesses at no charge, and we’ve had nothing but good feedback.

For students, the collaboration can help develop connections and opportunities that can lead to jobs in the future or can give them insight into how to start a business themselves. The program helps students use skills they have that go beyond textbook learning and ties everything together. In addition, it’s considered a work-study program and students are compensated.

The county-college partnership has been a win-win for everyone involved, with both businesses and students benefiting from new learning experiences. Students in the program speak a total of eight languages, an added perk that’s helped get the concept of the program across to some small business owners.

Students have also been trained to help small firms in the county navigate the BRN’s SizeUp tool, which provides market research and business intelligence. Using a variety of metrics, SizeUp gives small business owners insight into how they compare to their competitors.

The data offered by the tool can guide businesses in knowing how to best invest their advertising dollars, how much to compensate employees, and even the best location in the county to situate their operation based on the competition.

Bergen County at a glance

•AAA Bond Rating

• Tax Base of Nearly $170 Billion

•More Than 979,000+ Residents

•Median HH Income of $103,915...55% > Nation

•49,000+. Businesses

•499,000+ Skilled Workers

•9000+ Acres of Parks & Recreation

•73 Highly Sought After School Districts

•Nationally Ranked Medical Centers & Hospitals

•Over 15 Colleges and Universities

•2,350+ Eateries

•Vibrant Downtowns

•Shopping & Entertainment Destinations

•Theaters, Arenas & Concert Halls

•Home of Two Major NFL Teams

Photo by Joanne DiStasi/Stolen Moments, Inc.

With nearly 70 vibrant municipalities made up of one million residents Bergen County is no doubt a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Bergen County attracted thousands of visitors each day to our businesses, educational facilities, historical sites and special events – and as we continue to fight our way through this pandemic, it is our hope that even better days lie ahead.

Our retail shopping facilities are second to none and Bergen Community College attracts students from across the county, state and country. Places to visit include the Meadowlands, the Steuben House (home to the Bergen County Historical Society), Overpeck Park, the Bergen County Zoo in Van Saun Park and the New Jersey Naval Museum – just to name a few, all of which are now reopened to the public.

As the largest county in New Jersey, Bergen County offers a sizable pool of diverse, well-educated, highly skilled workers who have adapted well to working remotely during this turbulent time. Our business community is a thriving mix of Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike. My administration is always proud to partner with agencies and organizations to grow our economy and capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships.

We continue to strive every single day to make Bergen County the best place for our residents, businesses and visitors. This guide is a valuable resource of information for anyone who lives or works in Bergen County. I urge you to take advantage of the programs and opportunities available in Bergen County government for future growth and opportunities.

Should you ever need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and my staff by calling (201) 336-7300 or emailing countyexecutive@co.bergen.nj.us. My staff and I are always happy to help.

Sincerely,

Jim Tedesco III

Bergen County Executive

With SizeUp, businesses can develop a targeted marketing campaign based around their ideal customer. The tool includes interactive map demographics, labor force data, and consumer expenditure information with tailored analysis.

Aside from the collaboration with BCC, the BRN also includes:

•Bergen County Economic Development

•Small Business Development Center at Ramapo College

•SCORE Mentors

•Bergen County Job Center

•Bergen County Chambers of Commerce

•New Jersey Economic Development Authority

•New Jersey Business Action Center

For more information on the BRN, Bergen County real estate, business tax incentives, SizeUp and more, visit www.bergenforbusiness.com today or call me at (201) 336-7503. Hope to hear from you.

Michael McPartland is the Deputy Director of the Bergen County Division of Economic Development.

Photo by Joanne DiStasi/Stolen Moments, Inc.

SizeUp

The 4 Core Digital Tools

BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE

See how you size up by comparing your performance to all other competitors in your industry. SizeUp super-crunches millions of data points so businesses know where they rank.

DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Interactively map demographic, labor force, and consumer expenditure data for your area. Tailor your analysis to the area around your address, or to a custom boundary.

DISCOVER NEW CUSTOMERS

Find new customers, suppliers, and better understand the competitive landscape. Visualize new business opportunities through lists of companies and analysis of consumers.

OPTIMIZE ADVERTISING

Target your ideal customers based on the preferred client characteristics that matter to your company. Then, determine the best places to target your next marketing campaign.

New Jersey The Smart Choice

Situated in one of America’s most globally connected regions, New Jersey is a major hub for the world’s brightest minds and has all the assets that companies desire. A state overflowing withpossibilityhasnochoicebut to produce solutions for tomorrow’s problems today. Top-ranked nationwide in public education, diversity and quality of life, New Jersey is a haven for businesses and families alike.

As a leader in innovation, New Jersey is forward-thinking and moves quickly with ideas. Our influence is rapidly expanding across North America, Europe, India and beyond. Companies looking to scale on a global level need world-class support, and that is exactly what they get when they choose New Jersey.

Choose Global Connection

New Jersey’s strategic location gives companies access to one of the most affluent consumer markets in the world. New Jersey is at the center of the Boston-

New York City-Washington D.C. train line known as the Northeast Corridor. The state boasts 56.5 million people and $3.75 trillion in economic output. We are always on the move, and our unparalleled infrastructure ensures people get where they need to be — fast. Thanks to NJ Transit, PATH, Amtrak and the NY Waterway Ferry, getting to Manhattan is quick and easy. Add over 600 daily nonstop domestic and international flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and nearby New York and Philadelphia airports, and no destination is off-limits. New Jersey is well-positioned and ideal for trade. A $1.3 billion investment by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2017 raised the clearance of the Bayonne Bridge at Port Newark/ Elizabeth - the busiest seaport in North America - allowing for the passage of super containerships. That means up to 18,000 TEUs are now authorized to navigate beneath the bridge. While we bolster companies of all

sizes looking to reach the North American market, New Jersey continues to shine on the world stage of the global economy. After a successful trade mission led by Governor Murphy to Ireland in April 2022, Choose New Jersey opened a second European office in Ireland to strengthen New Jersey’s roots in Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. Choose New Jersey continues to explore opportunities to expand New Jersey’s influence internationallyandisconsidering opportunities in Israel, Canada and East Asia in the near term.

Choose Better Education

When it comes to education, New Jersey is unrivaled. U.S. News and World Report not only ranks Princeton University as the best in the nation but also ranks New Jersey as the top state for pre-K through 12th-grade education. Our educational opportunities are unparalleled, made possible through our leading public school system, consecutively ranked No.

1 by Education Week.

From Pre-K to doctorate programs, New Jersey is fostering some of the best and brightest minds in the country. Our 19 county colleges and 63 colleges and universities, including the state’s largest and top-ranked public research institution, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, boast more than 523,000 students working toward an associate, undergraduate and professional degrees. New Jersey outranks the national average when it comes to earning degrees, with 42% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to the national average of 32.6%) and 16% holding an advanced degree.

Companies seek out our graduates by looking to New Jersey’s intelligent, diverse talent pool. We are No. 2 in the country when it comes to STEM degrees and have the highest concentration of scientists and engineers per capita in the U.S. It is no wonder top companies in high-growth sectors, such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Prudential Financial, choose to make New Jersey their world headquarters.

Choose Diversity

A melting pot of identities and ideas, New Jersey celebrates diversity as one of its core strengths. The country’s most diverse city, Jersey City, lies right within our borders. According to WalletHub, New Jersey is the No. 4 most diverse state in the nation with 45% of the population identifying as people of color. WalletHub ranks New Jersey third when it comes to the Economic Impact of Immigration, a testament to highly valued contributions made by our foreign-born citizens. The same list ranked New Jersey first for immigrantworkforceandpercentage of jobs created by immigrant-owned businesses.

New Jersey has the resources to develop globalized leaders from the early stages of childhood development. Our K-12 schools rank No. 1 in the nation for enrollment in foreign language classes, which encourages students to explore multiculturalism at home and beyond. Our commitment to inclusion does not stop there - New Jersey is only the second state to require public schools to adopt a history curriculum about LGBTQ communities and populations with disabilities.

Choose Quality of Life

With endless possibilities to live, work and play, there is no better state to call home. WalletHub ranked New Jersey the No. 2 best state to live in the U.S. Save the Children ranked New Jersey the best state to raise a child, making it the perfect place for families from all walks of life. Ourenvironmentaldiversitymakes planting roots easy for farmers, city lovers and everyone in between. Those yearning to experience all four seasons can enjoy the bright flora of spring and the magic of the first winter’s snow. No one is ever far from mountains for a scenic hike, beaches for relaxation and sprawling downtowns

full of culture for an exciting night out. New Jersey is a thriving entertainment destination,burstingwithmuseums, performing arts centers, concert venues, golf courses and sports stadiums. It’s home to major league teams in football, hockey and soccer. FIFA has even chosen New Jersey and NYC as a Candidate City hosts for the 2026 World CupTM with the games played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Aptly nicknamed “The Garden State,” New Jersey is a top grower of produce, including cranberries, peaches and the best tomatoes in the country. Look no further than the small town of Hammonton,

Courtesy of Choose New Jersey

Courtesy of Choose New Jersey

known as the Blueberry Capital of the World. There are even more “Jersey Fresh” fruit and vegetables at farmers’ markets run for and by our communities and local farmers. But the good eats do not stop there. Named the “food capital of America” by Public Radio International, New Jersey’s food culture reflects the palettes of communities across the globe. America’s best Indian food can be found in Edison and Iselin. Head to Palisades Park for authentic Korean eats. Enjoy the flavors of Latin America in Newark’s Ironbound District, home to authentic Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish fare. Stop in any local pizzeria or bagel shop and learn why other states will never compare.

Living in New Jersey means being immersed in an environment of welcoming communities with a history of upholding fundamental values. We don’t just talk about opportunity, prosperity and liberty; we lead with them, with some of the strongest laws in the country on women’s reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights and paid family leave. Home to some of the safest communities in the U.S, New Jersey is a place for everyone to grow.

Choose Innovation

New Jersey has always been a place where innovation happens. We are a leadinghubforboomingindustries, includinglifesciences,technology, clean energy, healthcare and film and digital media. Fourteen of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world are headquartered right here, as are over 3,200 life sciences companies operating across all sectors. We rank second in the country for cancer drugs in development and house 139 FDA biopharma manufacturing facilities. Whether they work in incubators or in stand-alone laboratory spaces, our scientistsarebackedbyworld-class research universities, medical schools and the top-ranking hospitals in the U.S.

NewJerseyishometohigh technology and innovation. Ranked No. 1 globally in its concentration of womenfounded startups, New Jersey supports tech companies looking to defy convention and redefine traditional portraits of leadership. No matter the stage of growth, startups have a home in New Jersey. We support new companies and help them get where they need to be quickly.

Our innovators are bolstered by the

state’s broadband access, ranked No. 1 in the country by BroadBandNow.com. We are also the No. 1 region for software and web development jobs.

As a clean energy leader, New Jersey is one of few states with a detailed plan to fight climate change head-on. Our state is on target to be 50% clean energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. Our optimal geographic location will serve as a capital for the offshore industry with project Ocean Wind, the largest purposebuilt offshore wind port in the U.S., currently under development.

It’snowondercelebritiesand filmmakers have been flocking to New Jersey since the creation of film. The history of filmmaking in New Jersey can be traced back to Thomas Edison’s Black Maria studio in West Orange, where the country’s first motion picture to be copyrighted was shot in 1893. Lionsgate Newark Studios will be the first purposebuilt studio in New Jersey specifically constructed for TV and film production, set to be completed in 2024. Supported by both the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, our robust 35% film and digital media tax credit attracts the world’s most accredited film and television studios. We are located within the New York Studio Film Zone in the 25-mile radius around Columbus Circle.

As New Jersey expands its commitment to diversity across all industries and sectors, we are one of the few states championing a 4% diversity bonus for detailed plans to hire women and minorities behind the camera. Plus, New Jersey has been a major star in the credits for the world’s most notable movies and television shows, from The Sopranos and Succession to the Irishman and Many Saints of Newark.

Choose New Jersey

Asthedesignatedmarketing organization for the state, we promote New Jersey as the best place to live, work and play. Our mission is to stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to New Jersey. Through our free and confidential resources, we guide companies at every stage of establishing or expanding operations in New Jersey. From startups to multinationals, Choose New Jersey has supported companies in diverse industries from all over the world. We implement and lead business attraction advertising campaignstargetedatdomesticand international decision-makers looking to expand in the U.S. Since 2010, we have helped 350 companies create 39,000 new and retained jobs while generating $7.7 billion in capital investment.

Discover growth opportunities in New Jersey by visiting choosenj.com and tell us how we can help.

The NJBAC is Assisting Business with All Kinds of Unique Needs

The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC), a division of the NJ Secretary of State’s Office, assists entrepreneurs who want to plan, start, operate or grow a business in New Jersey. The NJBAC assists businesses of all sizes and in all stages of their life cycles.

Under the leadership of New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Executive Director Melanie Willoughby, NJBAC is committed to helping businesses access programs and resources that can assist them in achieving their goals and overcoming government or business challenges.

Through our multiple partnerships across federal, state and local government and nongovernmental services, the NJBAC team can help an early-stage business access technical assistance, assist in writing a business plan, find financial resources or navigate the regulatory requirements to maximize their chances of success.

The NJBAC’s Business Advocates can assist with site selection services, navigating complicated regulatory obligations when building or expanding a location. When issues of permitting or other compliance challenges arise, NJBAC advocates are here to shepherd their application through the process to make it more seamless and painless as possible.

The NJBAC’s Export Promotion team can help businesses access global markets, obtain technical assistance and overcome international regulatory challenges. The export team also administers a financial reward program, funded in part by a grant from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), called the New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJSTEP). With a focus this year on food and beverage manufacturers that are new to exporting, a STEP grant can help a business participate in a trade show or pay for other activities that increase export sales. From 2018-2022, the NJBAC has received $5 million of export promotion funding from SBA. Eligible small New Jersey exporters

that received NJSTEP financial awards during this period have reported to date, $138.3 million of actual export sales and created or retained 300 New Jersey jobs.

The Small Business Team at NJBAC assists small businesses with their unique needs. The US Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy Survey reports that 99.6% of all businesses in New Jersey qualify as “small businesses,” and 49.5 % of all employees work for a small business. The economic vitality of New Jersey is dependent on small businesses. The NJBAC assists small businesses to write a business plan, properly form/register their business, or obtain certification as a small, woman or minority owned, veteran owned and service-disabled veteran owned business. A Small Business Advocate helped a business owned by a minority woman obtain a certificate so she could become a vendor at a NJ Port Authority facility. Several qualified businesses also were assisted by obtaining certification so they could apply for a Recreational Cannabis License as a diversely owned business. The Small Business Advocacy team assisted a Bergen County based Micro Brewery to resolve an issue with their Liquor License and assisted an 87-year-old nonprofit corporation obtain copies of their original corporate documents and a tax clearance certificate so they could complete the paperwork necessary to apply for an assistance program.

If you have a business question, a challenge you need to overcome or a vision you want to achieve, contact the NJ Business Action Center and let us help you. You can call 1-800-Jersey-7 or visit Business.nj.gov and use the live chat feature to speak to one of our business experts.

Written by: Donald Newman Small Business Advocacy, Manager Donald.Newman@sos.nj.gov