TRENTON, N.J. — State Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, said Tuesday that Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s new economic development strategy should give South Jersey a fair share of business investment, and he called for a regional push he dubbed a new business “ERA.”
Singleton made the remarks in a statement issued by the New Jersey Senate Democrats after Sherrill signed her “New Jersey Means Business” executive order on Nov. 10.
“I applaud Governor Sherrill for putting forward a comprehensive economic development strategy that sends a clear message: New Jersey means business,” Singleton said.
The senator said the governor’s approach would let the region pursue what he called expansion, retention and attraction of businesses — the ERA in his slogan — to spur economic growth.
Singleton argued that economic conditions vary across the state and that South Jersey’s needs go beyond recruiting new companies. He said the effort should also focus on keeping existing employers, helping small businesses grow and putting vacant commercial and industrial properties back to use.
“Economic opportunities and challenges are not the same in every corner of our state,” he said. “For South Jersey, this must be about more than attracting new companies.”
Singleton said communities stretching from Burlington County to Cape May have distinct strengths and economic assets, and he called for removing what he described as unnecessary barriers to growth so the region can compete.
He said he plans to work with the governor, regional chambers of commerce, labor organizations and local economic development partners “to ensure that New Jersey’s economic growth reaches every corner of our state.”
The statement did not detail specific legislation or funding tied to the proposal.
This report is based on a press release from the New Jersey Senate Democrats.
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