Creating a more affordable New Jersey has been a talking point for Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill since she announced she was running for the office.
Selecting Evan Weiss to be the next CEO of the ever-important N.J. Economic Development Authority shows how much of a priority that is.
Weiss, the current head of the Newark Alliance, has decades of experience in community and workforce development, two keys to creating a more affordable state.
“New Jersey is the best place to live, work, and raise a family — but, right now, the American dream is unaffordable in our state,” she said. “Housing is too expensive, utility bills are sky high and families and small businesses are struggling to get by.
“I am appointing Evan Weiss to serve as the next CEO of NJEDA because he understands how to bring together government, industry, and communities to create opportunity and find innovative solutions to drive down costs.
“His leadership will help ensure the NJEDA continues to be a strong partner to businesses and entrepreneurs while building an economy that works for families across our state.”
Weiss is known name in the state.
At the beginning of the Murphy administration, he served as a senior advisor for finance and major projects (managing more than $10 billion in federal stimulus money) while helping to deploy capital to advance key statewide priorities, including renewable energy, transit, affordable housing and major infrastructure initiatives, such as the Gateway Project.
He comes to the role as the head of the Newark Alliance, the recently expanded private sector–led, inclusive economic development organization that drives transformational growth and collaboration among business, community and civic partners to strengthen Newark’s economy.
Weiss said he is eager to get started.
“New Jersey has a strong foundation built on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration,” he said. “I look forward to working with partners across the public and private sectors to grow our economy, attract investment, support small businesses and ensure that opportunity reaches every corner of the state.”
Caldwell — who was the first leader of the Newark Alliance, decades ago — said he was thrilled to have Weiss on the team, pointing to his role of attacking the ever-growing affordability crisis.
“At a time when the administration in Washington is raising prices and gutting New Jersey’s fair share of federal funding, it’s critical we have experienced, creative leadership in New Jersey that will not just protect our economy but help grow it,” he said. “I am proud to support the appointment of Evan Weiss because he is exactly the type of leader we need.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity ahead of the World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary to drive meaningful and substantial investments into our communities and economy to ensure all our residents reap the benefits. I look forward to working with him to support small businesses, lower costs, and grow our economy for all New Jerseyans.”
As CEO of the EDA, Weiss will work with Sherrill, Caldwell and industry partners to accelerate economic opportunity, expand access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses, drive innovation across New Jersey’s economy, and help ensure that economic growth delivers real affordability and opportunity for families across the state.
Weiss received praise from the man he succeeds, Tim Sullivan, who ran the EDA for almost the entirety of the Murphy administration.
“Evan is an incredible leader,” he told BINJE. “He’s been a thought partner to me and to lots of us throughout the Murphy administration. He’s driven a ton of key initiatives, and I think he brings a really unique mix of intellect and big ideas and experience and leadership to the table.”
Sullivan said he was equally thrilled to see that affordability will be a major component of the Sherrill administration.
“The governor-elect has set a really strong set of marching orders for the entire administration around affordability — and economic development is a critical component of that,” he said. “When you’re creating more jobs, you’re creating more prosperity and that leads pretty directly to greater affordability.”
