Trenton, NJ - On December 18th, 2017, the State Chamber delivered testimony before the joint committee on the state of the New Jersey economy, specifically focusing on the recent report prepared by McKinsey & Co. that outlined four factors that have limited New Jersey's competitiveness -- a shortage of young fast-growth companies to drive job creation, costly and inadequate infrastructure, too few middle-skill workers for today's jobs, and modest returns on economic incentives. Michael Egenton of the State Chamber discussed two specific areas: transportation infrastructure and regulatory reform. Regarding Infrastructure, he said the Governor and legislative leaders are to be commended for replenishing and constitutionally protecting the NJ Transportation Trust Fund.
He suggested the state analyze the potential of public-private partnerships regarding transportation projects and focus on transit-oriented projects to attract millennials to our urban centers. In the area of regulatory reform, he suggested the state consider maintaining both the Red Tape Review Commission as well as the Business Action Center, since both have provided the regulated community with access to state government and the ability to get an expedited response.
Assembly Appropriations Committee
Garden State Growth Zones - A-4510 (Mazzeo/D-2)/S-2872 (Pou/D35; Bell/D-2): Assembly committee passed. Senate passed 37-0. Provides certain incentives to qualified businesses in Garden State Growth Zones; and creates a Garden State Growth Zone at Atlantic City International Airport and surrounding area. Since their creation at the dawn of the last recession, GrowNJ and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth programs have greatly contributed to the recovery of the port district and gold coast of Northern New Jersey, as well as Camden and Newark. However, other cities, such as Atlantic City in particular, need additional support. This bill would assist these programs in attracting businesses and developers to the region. Additionally, this legislation would expand the FAA William J. Hughes Technology Center and the Atlantic City Airport support zone, which would contribute to the creation of additional industry clusters within the state. The Technical Center is the only one of its kind in the country and can put New Jersey at the forefront of Aviation Research and Development. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-4510 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Caride, Marlene - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - No; Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; Phoebus, Gail - No; Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes; Quijano, Annette - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Schepisi, Holly - No
Senate Economic Growth Committee
Economic Recovery Districts - S-1254 (Vitale/D-19)/A-2740 (Coughlin/D-19; Holley/D-20; Pintor Marin/D-29): Senate committee passed. Authorizes creation of economic recovery districts under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant (ERGG) program. These districts will be designated by municipalities to promote new project development. This bill allows municipalities with these districts to provide additional funding through local incentive grants or bonds from the municipality's economic recovery district management corporation to developers for the purpose of securing private financing for their development project. These municipalities will also be able to levy and collect a special assessment lien on the project to cover any shortfall between the grant and the debt service on bonds issued by the district utility. Allowing municipalities to monetize the ERGG program upfront will encourage the approval of new development projects. Contact: Michael Egenton
Senate Economic Growth Committee S-1254 Vote: Lesniak, Raymond J. (C) - Yes; Cruz-Perez, Nilsa (VC) - Yes; Bell, Colin - Yes; Kyrillos, Joseph M., Jr. - Yes; Oroho, Steven V. - Not Voting
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and Assembly Appropriations Committee
NJ Community College Consortium - S-3534 (Cunningham/D-31/Bateman/R-16)/A-5163 (Lampitt/D-6; Huttle/D-37; DeAngelo/D-14; Danielsen/D-17): Senate committee passed. Assembly committee passed. This bill allocates $3 million from the Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills (SWFBS) to an account in that fund dedicated to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. Currently, only 13 percent of all moneys are appropriated to that fund, which has been insufficient in carrying out the Consortium's duties. This allocation would be used for basic skills training at one-stop career centers. The State Chamber works with the Consortium to promote the program. Contact: Michael Egenton
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee S-3534 Vote: Sarlo, Paul A. (C) - Yes; Stack, Brian P. (VC) - Yes; Beck, Jennifer - Yes; Bell, Colin - Yes; Bucco, Anthony R. - Yes; Corrado, Kristin M. - Yes; Cunningham, Sandra B. - Yes; Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - Yes; Greenstein, Linda R. - Yes; Madden, Fred H., Jr. - Yes; Oroho, Steven V. - Not Voting; Thompson, Samuel D. - Yes; Van Drew, Jeff - Yes
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-5163 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Caride, Marlene - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - Yes; Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; Phoebus, Gail - Yes; Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes; Quijano, Annette - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Schepisi, Holly - Yes
Assembly Appropriations Committee
Garden State Growth Zones - A-4510 (Mazzeo/D-2)/S-2872 (Pou/D35; Bell/D-2): Assembly committee passed. Senate passed 37-0. Provides certain incentives to qualified businesses in Garden State Growth Zones; and creates a Garden State Growth Zone at Atlantic City International Airport and surrounding area. Since their creation at the dawn of the last recession, GrowNJ and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth programs have greatly contributed to the recovery of the port district and gold coast of Northern New Jersey, as well as Camden and Newark. However, other cities, such as Atlantic City in particular, need additional support. This bill would assist these programs in attracting businesses and developers to the region. Additionally, this legislation would expand the FAA William J. Hughes Technology Center and the Atlantic City Airport support zone, which would contribute to the creation of additional industry clusters within the state. The Technical Center is the only one of its kind in the country and can put New Jersey at the forefront of Aviation Research and Development. Contact: Michael Egenton
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-4510 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Caride, Marlene - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - No; Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; Phoebus, Gail - No; Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes; Quijano, Annette - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Schepisi, Holly - No
Senate Economic Growth Committee
Economic Recovery Districts - S-1254 (Vitale/D-19)/A-2740 (Coughlin/D-19; Holley/D-20; Pintor Marin/D-29): Senate committee passed. Authorizes creation of economic recovery districts under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant (ERGG) program. These districts will be designated by municipalities to promote new project development. This bill allows municipalities with these districts to provide additional funding through local incentive grants or bonds from the municipality's economic recovery district management corporation to developers for the purpose of securing private financing for their development project. These municipalities will also be able to levy and collect a special assessment lien on the project to cover any shortfall between the grant and the debt service on bonds issued by the district utility. Allowing municipalities to monetize the ERGG program upfront will encourage the approval of new development projects. Contact: Michael Egenton
Senate Economic Growth Committee S-1254 Vote: Lesniak, Raymond J. (C) - Yes; Cruz-Perez, Nilsa (VC) - Yes; Bell, Colin - Yes; Kyrillos, Joseph M., Jr. - Yes; Oroho, Steven V. - Not Voting
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and Assembly Appropriations Committee
NJ Community College Consortium - S-3534 (Cunningham/D-31/Bateman/R-16)/A-5163 (Lampitt/D-6; Huttle/D-37; DeAngelo/D-14; Danielsen/D-17): Senate committee passed. Assembly committee passed. This bill allocates $3 million from the Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills (SWFBS) to an account in that fund dedicated to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. Currently, only 13 percent of all moneys are appropriated to that fund, which has been insufficient in carrying out the Consortium's duties. This allocation would be used for basic skills training at one-stop career centers. The State Chamber works with the Consortium to promote the program. Contact: Michael Egenton
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee S-3534 Vote: Sarlo, Paul A. (C) - Yes; Stack, Brian P. (VC) - Yes; Beck, Jennifer - Yes; Bell, Colin - Yes; Bucco, Anthony R. - Yes; Corrado, Kristin M. - Yes; Cunningham, Sandra B. - Yes; Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - Yes; Greenstein, Linda R. - Yes; Madden, Fred H., Jr. - Yes; Oroho, Steven V. - Not Voting; Thompson, Samuel D. - Yes; Van Drew, Jeff - Yes
Assembly Appropriations Committee A-5163 Vote: Burzichelli, John J. (C) - Yes; Caride, Marlene - Yes; Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes; DiMaio, John - Yes; Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes; Lampitt, Pamela R. - Yes; Phoebus, Gail - Yes; Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes; Quijano, Annette - Yes; Schaer, Gary S. - Yes; Schepisi, Holly - Yes
