Gov. Phil Murphy signed a joint resolution declaring the second Monday in May as Economic Development Day.
Senate Joint Resolution 72/Assembly Joint Resolution 139 aims to promote job creation and business growth in the state. Murphy signed the measure on Monday.
The resolution requests the governor issue a proclamation annually to encourage business leaders, public officials and residents to engage and organize events discussing job creation, economic resiliency and ways to optimize programs for communities to foster economic growth.
“Designating the second Monday in May as Economic Development Day will encourage our state’s business leaders to focus on creating an ideal environment in which our business community can flourish,” Murphy said in a prepared statement.
Sponsored by Sens. Robert Singer, R-30th District, and Loretta Weinberg, D-37th District, and Assemblymembers Edward Thomson, R-30th District; Sean Kean, R-30th District, and BettyLou DeCroce, R-26th District. According to the governor’s office the measure also garnered strong support from the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.
In a release from the Assembly Republicans, Thomson characterized the move as a yearly reminder that helping small companies to grow, through investments, can create jobs in the state, while Kean said the state can better support businesses by employing New Jersey’s “competitive advantages.”
“The business environment in this state is notorious,” Kean said. “We are consistently ranked the worst in the nation. A variety of incentives, workforce development and economic programs are available to help employers.
“We have tremendous resources in New Jersey that could be enhanced and better coordinated to stimulate economic growth and job creation.”