The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) is heading to Passaic County to help local entrepreneurs cut through red tape and scale their operations.
In partnership with the Passaic County Division of Economic Development and the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at William Paterson University, the NJBAC will host its signature “Resources for Growth” networking and resource expo on Thursday, May 21.
The free event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at William Paterson University’s main campus.
The business expo is designed specifically to eliminate the hurdles small business owners face when trying to locate government assistance. By centralizing approximately 40 state agencies and community partners in one room, the event offers attendees unique, one-on-one access to key decision-makers and advisors.
Entrepreneurs and start-ups can expect individual consultations with representatives from a wide array of state departments, including:
- New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC)
- New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
- NJ Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC)
- New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
- Regional Chambers of Commerce
Attendees will be able to gather critical data on diverse, growth-oriented topics such as securing low-interest financing, navigate state contracting and corporate certifications, optimizing hiring pipelines, and securing valuable energy rebates.
State and local leaders emphasized that supporting local commerce is paramount to keeping New Jersey’s economy stable and vibrant.
“The small business community is the backbone of New Jersey’s economy. Events like ‘Resources for Growth’ are important outreach vehicles, showcasing the various programs and initiatives that are available to our small business community directly to attendees,” said Lt. Governor Dr. Dale Caldwell, who oversees the NJBAC in his executive role as Secretary of State. “I encourage all business owners and entrepreneurs to take advantage of this in-person opportunity.”
Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director of the NJBAC, reiterated that the event’s ultimate goal is efficiency.
“Small business owners often contend with lengthy and ever-expanding to-do lists,” Willoughby noted. “Our ‘Resources for Growth’ event is crafted to remove obstacles and facilitate businesses’ identification of available support, bringing together representatives from the relevant resource providers conveniently in one location.”
While the event is completely free to attend for both established enterprises and early-stage start-ups, advance registration is required to manage capacity.
- Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Location: William Paterson University (Main Campus), Wayne, N.J.
- Registration Link: Passaic County Resources for Growth Eventbrite
“Small businesses are the engine of Passaic County’s economy, and their success is our priority,” Commissioner Director Sandi Lazzara of the Passaic County Board of Commissioners said. “I encourage all business owners to join us and take full advantage of this free opportunity.”
