The Murphy administration announced Wednesday the availability of $33 million in federal grant dollars to fund preschool facilities expansion projects in school districts around the Garden State. It’s part of the second round of the Universal Preschool Facilities Expansion Grants program. The effort is funded through the American Rescue Plan. The state received $120 million total through this tranche of funding. The first round was announced in March 2023. At that time, New Jersey allocated $86.9 million to a total of 35 projects in 27 school districts. The move created over 3,500 preschool s ..read more

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bipartisan measure into law Wednesday establishing a certification for LGBTQ+-owned businesses. The legislation codifies a program established in May 2022 through Executive Order No. 295. At that time, Murphy stressed that LGBTQ+ businesses are critical to the state’s economic health and growth. He also directed the Treasury Department to establish a business certification to support underrepresented groups in gaining access to certain contracting opportunities and government programs. That program opened last year. Some particulars of the LGBTQ+-owned businesses cer ..read more

A coalition of nearly 40 local and regional chambers of commerce statewide launched an effort Wednesday in opposition to Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 state budget. The Chamber Alliance was convened by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. A May 1 letter to legislators laid out specific concerns about the spending proposal, while also offering some recommendations. The group opposes: The proposed corporate transit fee on the state’s most profitable companies. The topic has loomed over the budget process, and covered extensively by NJBIZ. The proposed “buck-a-truck” tax on trucks ..read more

A threat by the state last week to pull funding for a prestigious museum project in Jersey City has led to inflamed tensions and back-and-forth here in the Garden State. NJBIZ caught up with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan Wednesday for an update. Both held their respective grounds regarding the matter. As previously reported April 26, the NJEDA wrote a letter to Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Diana Jeffrey. The correspondence highlights the JCRA’s operating budget shortfall of some $19 million and expresses con ..read more

Following the April 9 launch of his 2025 gubernatorial bid, Jack Ciattarelli has maintained the same robust pace of public appearances that’s persisted since his 2021 attempt at the seat. NJBIZ recently caught up with the Republican hopeful from the trail for a wide-ranging discussion on several topics. The following conversation is edited for length and clarity. This is part three of four. The series continues May 2. NJBIZ: Two other major issues going on right now in New Jersey politics are the debate over the county ballot line and changes to OPRA [Open Public Record Act]. I’ll start with ..read more

Earlier this month, former Assemblyman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli made official what was long anticipated here in the Garden State – that he would enter the race for governor once again in 2025. Since that narrow, 2021 defeat to Gov. Phil Murphy, Ciattarelli affirmed that intention, keeping up a robust schedule of speeches, appearances and more. He joins a race that includes Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-21st District, on the Republican side. On the Democratic side: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former Senate President Steve Sweeney have offici ..read more

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) wrote a letter to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Friday threatening to pull funding for the city’s controversial Pompidou Museum project unless the JCRA cleans up its books. The Centre Pompidou x New Jersey project aims to create the Garden State’s own version of the Paris museum and serve as a key catalyst in the city’s Journal Square revitalization. The proposed museum once again received funding in last year’s state budge. The $24 million came late in the process. At the time, Republicans highlighted the funding an example of a ba ..read more

Following the tragic news earlier this week of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr.’s untimely passing at 65, tributes and remembrances continue to pour in, from both sides of the aisle and beyond. “Congressman Payne, Jr. experienced a physical accident at home on April 6, 2024, which necessitated hospitalization,” Payne’s office said in an April 24 statement. “During his treatment for this health issue, he faced medical complications due to diabetes and high blood pressure that led to subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest. Despite the dedicated efforts of the medical staff to treat him and improve his h ..read more

Very sad news to report, as U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., D-10th District, died April 24 at the age of 65. Payne had been hospitalized since a cardiac episode earlier this month, based on complications from his diabetes, according to his office. A former union worker and toll collector, the six-term congressman began in local politics in Newark before winning the seat held by his father, the legendary Rep. Donald Payne Sr., who passed away in 2012. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice, and three children – Donald III, Jack and Yvonne. Remembrances and tributes are pouring in from around the Gar ..read more

The New Jersey Treasury Department is out with its 2023 Debt Report, showing the state’s bonded debt is at its lowest level in a decade. The annual report is available here. It was delivered this week to the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning. “The following is an annual report on the debt of the State of New Jersey and the obligation of its various bond-issuing authorities for which the state, by contract or other means, provides payments that secure the debt service on such obligations,” the introduction states. “The Office of Public Finance (OPF) in the Department of t ..read more