In a speech that was powerful, insightful and quick, Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell explained how the Sherrill administration is working to make New Jersey the No. 1 small business state in the country — and how he’s bringing lessons from his ministry at Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield into government service.
Speaking Thursday night at the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey gala in Garfield, Caldwell told the overflow crowd that he is creating new collaborative networks across religious organizations and chambers of commerce.
“Why are we doing that — and how does that relate to business?” he asked. “Anybody who knows business knows that distribution networks are where the dollar is. If we can create this, we can share information and talk about some of the products we are making here in New Jersey.
“You’re going to start to see business being ‘Job One.’”
Caldwell highlighted a faith‑based initiative that will bring diverse religious perspectives into the administration’s economic strategy. He also emphasized the close partnership between the administration and the African American Chamber under its longtime CEO, John Harmon, that will be part of a chambers of commerce initiative.
“John and I have been friends for a long time,” he said. “He and I have been fighting on the outside. Now, I’m on the inside. We’re going to work together to make sure New Jersey is the number one small business state in the United States.”
Strengthening the economy, he said, starts with improving workforce readiness.
Caldwell, who also serves as secretary of state, said the administration intends to use the state’s Business Action Center to help companies — large and small — hire as many New Jersey residents as possible.
“The reality is: In order to make New Jersey more affordable, we have to have the best-trained workforce in the United States of America — so that companies come here because of the quality of our workers,” he said.
Growing the workforce, he noted, is the surest way to expand the tax base without raising taxes.
“We need to make sure that businesses are as successful as possible in the state of New Jersey, which means clearing up bureaucracy and making sure that businesses can do what they need to do not only to make money, but to employ folks,” he said.
Caldwell delivered his remarks as acting governor, a title he assumed when Gov. Mikie Sherrill left the state to attend the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C.
He noted he is just the sixth Black person to hold the role of acting governor. While two recent examples — Sheila Oliver and Tahesha Way — served under Gov. Phil Murphy, the first instance goes back more than 50 years: Assembly Speaker S. Howard Woodson, who briefly served as acting governor in March 1974 when Gov. Brendan Byrne left the state.
