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Choose New Jersey opened a new West Coast Center in Sunnyvale, Calif. The base will focus on helping local companies in the AI, technology and film industries expand to the East Coast.

“Building upon our successful model of opening New Jersey Centers in key international markets, Choose New Jersey is thrilled to announce the opening of our first domestic center outside of New Jersey,” said Choose New Jersey President and CEO Wesley Mathews in a June 27 announcement.

The New Jersey West Coast Center will be located in the Plug and Play Tech Center. Officially slated to open July 15, it will cover the entire West Coast, from Vancouver to San Diego.

Choose New Jersey Chief Strategy Officer Tim Crouch will serve as the Center’s executive director based in Silicon Valley. Crouch plans to make frequent visits to Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. During his travels, he will meet with leaders of some of the world’s most innovative companies to pitch them on all New Jersey has to offer.

“I’m excited to return to California to tell New Jersey’s story in the world’s biggest innovation ecosystem,” said Crouch. “We have so much to offer our partners on the West Coast. As they are looking to tap into new markets, new ideas and new talent, my job is to make sure they know about the amazing things happening under Gov. Murphy’s leadership.”

NJ at the forefront

Crouch pointed to the state’s unmatched talent pool, world-class institutions and financial incentives as attractive selling points for any business “that wants to be a part of a forward-thinking environment that propels advancements and success.”

Officials say the Center will collaborate closely with the New Jersey Asia Pacific Center in Taiwan. The partners will support U.S. growth of Asian Pacific Center companies already established on the West Coast.

The Center will also work closely with the new AI Hub and the NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission.

The Plug and Play Tech Center location builds on the recently announced Stevens Institute-based fintech accelerator – NJ FAST, which Plug and Play is a partner on.

“The West Coast has long been considered the home of the tech and film industries, but a whole new world of opportunity is emerging right here in the Garden State,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “The New Jersey West Coast Center will allow us to put New Jersey at the forefront – pioneering AI and innovation and creating good-paying jobs.”

“New Jersey is the perfect East Coast complement to the Bay Area’s large and well-funded innovation ecosystem,” Mathews added.