Democratic candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill spoke to more than 1,200 people last Friday at the Made in New Jersey Manufacturing Day, sponsored by the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program.
For background: There are nearly 10,000 manufacturing companies in New Jersey, which combined to contribute $58 billion to the state’s GDP last year, the fourth-highest sector in the state.
Many don’t realize this.
Sherrill, in both opening remarks and in a Q&A session with the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship’s Ben Dworkin, offered many thoughts on the state of manufacturing in New Jersey. Here are some, offered in an easier-to-read Q&A format where various points were combined.
BINJE did a similar story with Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
Q: Detail how you’ve helped the manufacturing sector while serving in Congress as the state’s representative in the House for the 11th District?
A: I’ve had the pleasure of working with NJMEP since 2019 and have worked incredibly hard with all of you on supply-chain issues across the country, certainly here in New Jersey. Our state is facing a huge number of economic and affordability issues and, for too long, leaders here haven’t been responsive enough to the economic challenges in the Garden State. Nowhere is this more true than in the manufacturing sector. Permitting and approvals for new facilities take too long, costs and fees that you pay are too high and your energy costs are now skyrocketing. That’s unacceptable, and that’s what I’m going to change as governor.
I get things done by listening, starting with experts on the ground, building something together, and then constantly working to improve that so we can deliver better results. That mindset has guided my work in Congress, and I know it’s guided a lot of the work I’ve done with you.
So, as we saw our veterans struggling to find good-paying jobs in the aftermath of the pandemic, I was proud to work with NJMEP and the County College of Morris to secure $5 million in federal funding to train 600 veterans and their families in partnership with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Picatinny Arsenal and the African American, Hispanic and Veterans chambers of commerce. This funding supported the establishment of the New Jersey Manufacturing Defense Community Consortium — and is supporting workers and businesses throughout our state.
When NJMEP’s previous CEO, John Kennedy, came to me in 2021 with strong concerns about New Jersey’s supply chain, I pushed Congress to develop a robust MEP-led national supply-chain database. I was so proud to enact this new supply-chain optimization and intelligence network as part of the Chips and Science Act. It’s now helping our manufacturers to address supply-chain disruptions and reduce prices for families.
Last year, I secured a $2 million grant award for NJMEP to boost New Jersey’s defense supply chains, expand clean-energy innovation and create good-paying jobs. You know my record. I’ll bring that same mindset to Trenton. I’ll stop at nothing to support manufacturing in our state.
Q: How can the state be more competitive in manufacturing — and improve workforce development?
A: It’s clear to me that there are four major areas the state has got to do better. Permitting is too slow, unpredictable and unaccountable. Taxes and fees are prohibitively expensive. Businesses’ energy costs are skyrocketing. And workforce development programs aren’t well coordinated or accessible.
Here’s my plan: I’ll streamline and simplify the business approvals process and overhaul the state permitting process to reduce the costs and delays that are holding up manufacturing projects.
On taxes and fees, it’s too expensive to operate in New Jersey, and it’s making it hard for our manufacturers to compete. I’ll eliminate the new business registration fees to provide immediate tax relief. I’ll also develop new revenue sources that don’t rely on taxes.
Skyrocketing energy costs are imposing a huge tax on manufacturers. That’s why I’ll declare a state of emergency on utility costs on Day One as governor, freezing the rate hikes.
I’ll make significant investments in our vocational-technical and workforce training programs in close coordination with the private sector and institutions of higher education.
Q: Is there an opportunity to employ more intellectually disabled individuals in manufacturing?
A: (We have to make) sure that we are meeting students where they are, at all levels. Sometimes that’s ensuring that they have easier access, that they have the ability to get to their job if they don’t drive, (by having) a dedicated source of transportation. And, sometimes it’s making pathways for students who don’t have the ability to work a full-time job or work at a certain level to still have access to those jobs.
Q: Are there manufacturing opportunities in South Jersey?
A: New Jersey is a logistics state, and we have a lot of great jobs in that area. The Atlantic City International Airport could be a southern logistics port in our state that could bring a whole host of different jobs there with easy access. The ‘Eds and Meds’ corridor (in Camden) is another great opportunity. But I continue to remain focused on how we can build out the whole state appropriately.
