When people ask me why I believe so deeply in Newark’s future, I tell them it’s personal.
My great-grandfather dug ditches in Newark through the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression and quite literally laid the groundwork for the city we see today. My grandfather worked in a factory on Frelinghuysen Avenue, building parts for rockets and airplanes as part of America’s postwar boom. My father was a teacher in Newark, shaping young minds in a city too often overlooked.
Now, as president of the New Jersey Innovation Institute, I’m proud to carry that legacy forward – not with a shovel, or in a classroom, but by helping Newark become one of the nation’s most important centers of innovation.
Recently, Forbes speculated that Newark could be “the next Silicon Valley.” That may sound bold, but I believe it’s right. Newark has the critical ingredients to lead in the innovation economy: proximity to New York, world-class academic institutions, an increasingly vibrant startup ecosystem, and importantly, a strong workforce ready to take on what’s next.
This city isn’t chasing hype. It’s building a new future from the inside out.
Companies such as Audible have anchored here, generating over $2 billion in annual economic impact and creating a ripple effect through initiatives like Newark Venture Partners and non-dilutive grant programs for entrepreneurs. These aren’t vanity efforts. They’re long-term investments that reflect real confidence in Newark’s potential.
At NJII, we’re contributing to this momentum by launching a $11.8M million Venture Studio in partnership with NJIT and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Over the next few years, we plan to create ten new companies rooted in cutting-edge technologies which will turn innovation into commercial impact.
Newark is no longer a city waiting for revival. It’s a city rewriting its narrative.
And that’s what makes this moment so powerful. This isn’t just a tech story. it’s a Newark story. It’s a story about a city that was built by laborers, factory workers, and teachers, and that’s now being rebuilt by founders, engineers, and investors. I see echoes of my family’s history in this transformation, and I feel a deep responsibility to help guide it in a way that’s intentional, sustainable, and bold.
We don’t want to be a copy of Silicon Valley. We want to build something which ensures the kids growing up in Newark today have the opportunity not just to get jobs in tech, but to lead the companies of the future.
Newark’s rise is already impacting the rest of the state.
Today, Newark is not just rebuilding, it’s hiring. New high-tech startups, advanced manufacturing facilities, healthcare innovation hubs, and research partnerships are bringing hundreds of new jobs into the city. From apprenticeships to PhDs, Newark is becoming a launchpad for careers. The tools may be different, but the mission remains the same: to build, to serve, and to leave behind something better.
Michael Johnson is the president of the New Jersey Innovation Institute.
