GOVERNOR’S PLAN AND ALLIANCE ‘ISSUES PAPER’ SHARE ECONOMIC GROWTH GOALS
The New Jersey Alliance for Action has much to support and commend in Governor Jon Corzine’s recently unveiled “Economic Growth Strategy.”

In the comprehensive 34-page plan, the Governor included a number of key initiatives and programs recommended by the Alliance for Action in its “Issues paper” for candidates for Governor and the Legislature in 2005 entitled “Issues for New Jersey’s Future.”

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem was invited to attend the program at New Jersey Institute of Technology where Governor Corzine’s proposals were made public.

Beachem said the “Issues paper” represented considerable input and consensus by the Alliance’s members from the fields of business, labor, the professions, academia and government. We hope that their work helped the Governor and his staff in developing the strategic plan.

Beachem noted that the Governor’s economic growth theme and the Alliance’s mission statement share similar goals.

GOVERNOR CORZINE
“To remain competitive, the state needs to upgrade its infrastructure with strategic investments designed to encourage economic growth and improve the quality of life of the state’s residents.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“The mission of the Alliance for Action is to improve the quality of life for every resident of New Jersey through economic progress, creation of jobs and investment in infrastructure.”

The following are excerpts from Governor Corzine’s Strategic plan and recommendations from the Alliance’s “Issues paper”:

TRANSPORTATION
GOVERNOR CORZINE
“The state will continue to work to ensure that there are adequate transportation connections within the state and between New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia. Some of the major improvements include the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC).”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Move ahead on the proposed third rail tunnel under the Hudson River from New Jersey to Manhattan as part of the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) program.”

GOVERNOR CORZINE
“Liberty Corridor, a project with regional and national significance, integrates transportation infrastructure improvement, research and development incentives and freight movement strategies. By improving the movement of freight throughout the region, the Corridor will ensure that New Jersey remains at the forefront of international trade while at the same time easing congestion on our roads.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Promote and support the Liberty International Corridor as part of the renewal of the federal transportation system.”

EDUCATION
GOVERNOR CORZINE
“The State’s knowledge-driven economy demands a high quality higher education system…Our success in strengthening higher education institutions will, in turn, convince more of our best and brightest high school graduates to attend colleges and universities in New Jersey.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Fund capital construction needs at New Jersey’s public and private colleges and universities. As part of the effort, New Jersey must stem the loss of students now attracted to out-of-state institutions by providing competitive facilities.”

GOVERNOR CORZINE
“The state will establish High Skill Partnership Institutes for key industry sectors. These institutes located at two and four-year post-secondary institutions, vocational-technical schools and other training providers will be charged with helping the state’s residents to acquire the skills needed by the state’s key industries.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Develop a comprehensive plan to support vocational schools in the effort to develop a highly skilled workforce.”

ENERGY AND UTILITIES
GOVERNOR CORZINE
“The state will create an Energy Master Plan. The Office of Economic Growth will support the efforts of the Board of Public Utilities which, in consultation with the commissioners of all relevant departments and authorities, will lead the preparation of the Energy Master Plan. It will address all aspects of New Jersey’s energy economy…”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“The State Board of Public Utilities (BPU) should be the generator of economic activity and foster competition, including incentives for better service, similar to how the State Economic Development Authority transitioned from a loan processing organization to an economic development proponent.”

GOVERNOR CORZINE
“The state will establish an aggressive incentive system to develop the renewable energy supply in innovative ways and will work to create a strong, stable capital market for renewable energy resources to signal to investors the importance of this industry to New Jersey.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Support proposals to coordinate utility construction and improvement work consistent with BPU smart growth initiatives and permit recapturing of those investments by the utilities…”

GOVERNOR CORZINE “In order to encourage the redevelopment of the state’s urban centers and other highly developed communities, the state must coordinate its policies and resources to foster the redevelopment of brownfields.”
ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
“Promote establishment of industrial smart-growth districts to expedite brownfield clean-ups and return the sites to productive use.”

The Governor previously signed into law the statewide municipal cable franchise legislation which was also strongly supported in the Alliance’s “Issues paper",

STATE TO WIDEN BUSY ROUTE 1 STRETCH IN EDISON
        The State Department of Transportation has announced plans to widen to three lanes in each direction a heavily traveled 2.5-mile stretch of Route 1 in Edison between I-287 and the Garden State Parkway.

Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said the $53.9 million three-year project will begin this month. The busy corridor is home to the Menlo Park shopping mall and a number of strip malls and restaurants.

ALLIANCE MEMBERS ON GOVERNOR’S ECONOMIC GROWTH COUNCIL
The Alliance for Action is well represented on Governor Corzine’s recently appointed New Jersey Economic Growth Council. Alliance members serving on the Council include: Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch, Ph.D., Dennis M. Bone, Thomas A. Bracken, Laurence M. Downes, Robert Medina, Kenneth J. Parker, Raymond Pocino, and Frank Spencer.

AVIATION RESEARCH PARK PROPOSED FOR EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP
A proposal to create an aviation research and technology park on a 55-acre site in Egg Harbor Township was announced by Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo, R-2nd District. The seven-building complex would employ 400 people in high-technology positions, in addition to support staff.

Endorsing the project are the Atlantic County Improvement Authority, Richard Stockton College and the New Jersey Aviation Research and Technology Consortium. Several federal grants totaling $700,000 have been secured for the projects.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Joseph T. Walsh has been named president of J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., Contractors to oversee and run operations for the company. He has been with the Creamer organization for 11 years.
-Patrick R. Brannigan is the new executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. A veteran of 40 years of experience in state government and higher education, his most recent position was deputy chief of management and operations for the Governor’s office.
-Louis J. Gambaccini, former State Transportation Commissioner, has been honored by the renaming for him of NJ Transit headquarters in downtown Newark across from Penn Station. Gambaccini is credited with being the “founding father” of the transit agency in the late 1970’s.
-Scott Kisch has been named chief of staff at the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
-Stuart Rabner’s nomination by the Governor to serve as the state's Attorney General was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
-Kenneth Zimmerman is a former senior federal official and the current Executive Director of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. He will serve as Chief Counsel to the Governor.

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