“We need to turn dialogue into action, but we need to do it in a forceful way,” the organization's president, Tom Bracken, said. “We need to do it with respect. And we need to do it with persistence, both on an individual and a collective basis. What do I mean by that? Everybody in this room needs to engage. You have to engage. And then, collectively, we can engage. That kind of engagement and that kind of unified effort is what’s going to get something done.”

The preparation starts with the moves and investments that the casinos are undertaking.

The state Legislature's top-ranking lawmakers from both sides of the aisle took part in a panel discussion at day two of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's ReNEW Jersey Business Summit in Atlantic City in a conversation that was tinged with quite a bit of agreement and, yes, even bipartisanship.

The governor's keynote address at the ReNEW Jersey event in Atlantic City included details of his administration's goals and plans, what he feels are its achievements, and highlighted the importance of supporting the seaside resort town.

In addition to Gov. Phil Murphy, a number of elected officials will be getting an earful from New Jersey business owners and others at the Chamber’s ReNew Jersey Business Summit.

The infusion of an estimated $8 billion for New Jersey’s highways, roads and bridges as part of the bipartisan federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act means a chance to significantly improve the “health, safety and quality of life” of the state’s residents, according to Gary Dahms, CEO of T&M Associates.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is holding “the single largest business event in the state this year” on April 13 and 14 at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, featuring panel discussions about how to reignite New Jersey’s economy, bringing experts together to explore ways to create jobs and make the state more business friendly.

“Unfortunately, New Jersey’s small employer market is in danger, as steep declines in enrollment and rising premiums are leading employers to leave the market,” said Linda Schwimmer, president and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and a panelist for New Jersey Chamber’s ReNew Jersey Business Summit.

NJBIZ spoke with some Workforce Development panelists from the upcoming Chamber Business Summit to get their thoughts about some solutions.

New Jersey’s got a lot going for it, including easy access to the nation’s largest markets, a great education system and a diverse population. But will the state’s high tax burdens derail efforts to improve economic activity here?

“Let’s not forget that on Election Day, there was a strong message given to everybody that affordability was a big issue for New Jersey,” Tom Bracken, who heads the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said during a press conference hosted by his organization, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses on Dec. 14.

“There were announcements of programs made, but we don’t have transparency to where that money is out on the street yet,” Michele Siekerka, who heads the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, told NJBIZ following a Nov. 16 panel at the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.