Governor Mikie Sherrill’s economic plan for New Jersey includes firm deadlines, designated officials responsible for implementation and an acknowledgment that economic policies may need to vary by region and by industry.
For South Jersey, those distinctions are significant. Local officials have long argued that the state’s economic policies often favor North Jersey’s denser, more urban economy while overlooking the challenges and opportunities unique to the southern part of the state.
“The governor’s executive order is extraordinarily comprehensive,” said Christina Renna, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. “Where past governors would just say, ‘Here’s a tax incentive program, I fixed the problem,’ here we have an acknowledgment that there are a lot more factors that go into it, and it’s identifying the various areas the state needs to target.”
For Renna, parts of Sherrill’s plan reflect concerns her chamber has raised with policymakers for years about the limits of a one-size-fits-all approach to economic policy. Compared to North Jersey, South Jersey is less densely populated and more rural, with fewer public transit and housing options.
Take, for example, tax incentives that have population requirements. New Jersey’s most densely populated counties are mostly in the northern part of the state, often making more rural towns ineligible for some programs.
For businesses in Cape May, where employment surges during the peak summer travel months, those programs might exclude them, Renna said.
Sherrill outlined her economic plan in an executive order this week that created a New Jersey Means Business Economic Development Council to coordinate implementation. The council will report to Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette and is chaired by Todd Fisher, senior director of strategic initiatives and economic opportunity.
The order is more of a framework than a plan. It sets deadlines ranging from 90 to 150 days for a series of initiatives, including recommendations to reduce the cost of doing business in New Jersey, plans to prepare publicly owned sites for development, a cross-agency permitting and business navigation service, a review of state incentive programs, expanded contracting opportunities for small businesses, and additional permitting reforms.
State Senator Troy Singleton, who represents Burlington County, also said he sees signs that Sherrill’s administration recognizes the distinct economic challenges facing South Jersey.
“The governor has been down south; she continues to learn about the uniqueness of the industries down here, as well as the competitive pressures faced not just from Pennsylvania, but from Delaware,’’ Singleton said.
“Our challenge collectively is to build on the strengths we have down here, keep reinforcing that message to the governor and her team, and that’ll help us retain and attract businesses to remove those unnecessary barriers to growth and ensure that South Jersey receives the investment and attention it needs to compete and prosper,” Singleton said.
Singleton said one aspect of the order that stood out to him was its focus on economic development in communities facing persistent economic challenges. Atlantic City and Trenton were named as examples.
Sherrill has pointed to Atlantic City as a place where economic growth will require diversification beyond its traditional industries. During a press conference after signing the executive order, she highlighted opportunities around Atlantic City International Airport, including aerospace and drone development.
“What I think they need as far as government work is to help create the structure or incentives there to develop,” Sherrill said.
Atlantic City in particular has been the focus of years of state and local efforts aimed at diversifying its economy beyond gaming and tourism and attracting new investment.
“Those communities have real opportunities to really grow and continue to be economic engines, especially Atlantic City,” Singleton said. “I’m excited that there’s going to be heightened attention to that.”
