Trenton Makes — The World Takes.
The iconic sign on the Lower Trenton Bridge, which went up in 1935, is more than a symbol of yesterday.
That’s how state Sen. Mike Testa (R-Vineland) sees it.
Testa told a crowd of more than 1,200 at the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program-sponsored Made in New Jersey Manufacturing Day on Friday that it is an inspiration for him to help build the sector.
“There’s about 9,500 manufacturers in the state of New Jersey making products that truly make the world go ’round,” he said. “And what we’ve been trying to do in the Legislature, working hand-in-hand with NJMEP, (the New Jersey Business & Industry Association), the (New Jersey) Chamber of Commerce, (is) trying to allow manufacturers not merely to survive in the state of New Jersey, but to thrive in the state of New Jersey, and give great meaning to that wonderful sign.”
Testa said he has made the sector a priority since he became a co-chair of the New Jersey Legislative Manufacturing Caucus in 2021 — during the pandemic, which tested manufacturing more than anything else in a generation.
Testa said he knew then that the relationship with the sector needed to change.
“I started doing the rounds and asking manufacturers, ‘What do you need from us, rather than us in the Legislature imposing laws and regulations on manufacturers?’” he said. “Manufacturers have been in survival mode; that needs to change.”
Testa said the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, a $500 million tax-credit program he helped draft, is a good step forward. But it’s not necessarily enough.
“The $500 million in tax credits going to manufacturing is going to make New Jersey at least competitive with our neighboring states, but (Republican gubernatorial candidate) Jack Ciattarelli is 100% right — with an 11.5% Corporate Business Tax, it’s still going to be very difficult.”
The payoff for change, Testa said, could be huge. Especially in workforce development.
“There are about 40,000 vacant manufacturing jobs today — with an average salary of about $67,000 a year,” he said.
Testa said there’s room for more jobs — because there is room for more companies in New Jersey.
“President (Donald) Trump is working to bring manufacturing back to the United States,” he said. “The Next N.J. bill provides really strong incentives for manufacturers to remain here and scale here.
“Perhaps some of those large manufacturers that we lost overseas will repatriate. Let’s bring them to New Jersey.”
Which would only help a bridge sign that is nearly 100 years old become a little more relevant today.
