Assembly to Move Job Creation & Economic Development Bill Package

Effort Aims to Create New Jobs, More Robust Economy as Part of Sandy Recovery

(TRENTON) – Members of the Assembly Democratic leadership – Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex), Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden) and Budget Committee Chair Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) – on Tuesday issued a multimedia package in which they announced the Assembly will focus much of its December activity to an extensive job creation and economic development initiative.

The multimedia package consists of a video of the news conference announcement by Assembly Democratic leadership and audio of same.

The video can be accessed directly via our website – www.assemblydems.com – or by pasting the following link into a Web browser: https://vimeo.com/54890714 The audio file is available upon request. 

The December effort will build off the final legislative approval (A-2162) recently given by the Assembly to increase New Jersey’s minimum wage to $8.50 per hour and adjust it annually in order to create a more livable wage for working class residents and in turn boost economic activity.

A detailed agenda will be announced soon, but highlights will include:

·         Revised legislation sponsored by Oliver to create the Back to Work NJ job creation and economic growth initiative. The governor has vetoed previous versions of the job training bill modeled after a successful Georgia program, but the Speaker remains committed to fighting for its passage.

·         The New Jobs for New Jersey tax credit program to provide incentives to small private sector employers who increase their workforce by hiring unemployed workers. It’s sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Wayne DeAngelo and Daniel R. Benson (both D-Mercer/Middlesex).

·         Legislation sponsored by Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester/Camden) to authorize creation of a new corporate structure designed to create high-paying manufacturing jobs.

·        Legislation sponsored by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) to help more small-, women- and minority-owned businesses qualify for economic development assistance.

·         Various bills to support veteran-owned businesses and businesses that employ veterans and to help veterans find work.

·         Legislation sponsored by Singleton and Benson to provide tax credits for qualified investment in biotechnology businesses.

·         A bill to provide tax credits for investing in New Jersey’s emerging business technology sector. It’s sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union), Gary Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen), Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland), DeAngelo and Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon).

·         A bill to encourage training in labor fields with workforce shortages. It’s sponsored by Oliver, Greenwald, Mila Jasey (D-Essex/Morris), Watson Coleman, Connie Wagner (D-Bergen/Passaic) and Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington).