Today's CNBC's 2026 America's Top States for Business rankings reinforce what the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has long been saying: New Jersey must make economic competitiveness and support for the business community a top priority.
We are disappointed that New Jersey slipped in the overall rankings from 30th to 31st as a state for doing business. Even more troubling, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut all ranked ahead of New Jersey. Those are the very states we compete with every day for jobs, investment and economic growth. We cannot afford to continue falling behind our regional neighbors.
With Gov. Mikie Sherrill's signing of New Jersey's record-setting $60.7 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, another budget cycle has come to a close. It’s now time to look ahead and begin to focus on the state’s most pressing need: strengthening our economy. Attention should turn to advancing policies that encourage investment, promote growth and improve New Jersey's long-term competitiveness, all of which have been virtually ignored for way too long.
Supporting economic growth and the business community was not a central focus of this budget. New Jersey’s employers – those who create jobs, drive investment, and fuel our state's economy – were given minimal support.
President & CEO Tom BrackenNew Jersey stands at an economic crossroads.
Nearly every week, troubling economic reports, business surveys, and corporate announcements signal that the state is losing ground in competitiveness. Declining corporate tax revenues, companies expanding elsewhere, growing pessimism among financial professionals, and struggling small businesses are all warning signs that cannot be ignored.
The good news is that solutions exist. New Jersey needs more thoughtful, pragmatic, pro-business legislation that encourages investment, supports employers, keeps jobs and economic opportunity here at home, and improves our overall business friendly ranking.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors this month elected a new board member: Eileen Mannion, vice president, public policy-state & local government affairs at Verizon.
Mannion, a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and Monmouth University, has spent the past 22 years in government affairs at Verizon. Prior to joining the company, she served as deputy counsel to the New Jersey Assembly and as an assistant counsel in the Governor’s Counsel’s Office. She is also a longtime volunteer with Unite for Her, a nonprofit organization that connects women affected by breast and ovarian cancer with integrative therapies and wellness resources.
For years, I have been saying the same thing: making New Jersey more economically competitive must be the top priority of both the governor and the Legislature.
Some may think I sound like a broken record. That's okay. The message remains the same because the challenge remains the same.
Today, however, the urgency feels greater than ever – and the business community has been patient long enough.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce applauds the Sherrill administration for delaying implementation of the PACT/REAL climate rules by one year to allow for additional study and broader stakeholder engagement on regulations that could have significant economic consequences. While protecting communities from environmental threats is critically important, the business community remains concerned that these rules could dramatically increase the cost of building and redevelopment across New Jersey, ultimately driving up housing prices for residents and making future development extremely difficult.
New Jersey businesses are under growing pressure from rising energy costs. Across our state, employers of every size are feeling the impact of increasing electricity demand and concerns about whether supply can keep pace. In today’s economic climate, helping businesses better manage energy use and costs is essential to maintaining New Jersey’s competitive edge.
One of the most encouraging developments during the first months of the Sherrill administration has been its clear commitment to engaging directly with New Jersey’s business community.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is participating in Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 21-county business outreach tour – an important initiative designed to hear directly from employers across the state about both the opportunities and challenges of operating a business in New Jersey. The Chamber has been assisting the governor’s office in identifying locations for many of these meetings in partnership with local chambers of commerce, associations, and regional business groups.
Bob Podvey and his wife, Deborah, at the Chamber’s 2025 holiday party at Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell. (Russ DeSantis Photo and Video)We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Podvey, one of New Jersey’s most respected attorneys and a longtime member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Bob’s leadership, friendship, and dedication to the state and its business community will be greatly missed.
At the recent ReNew Jersey Business Summit & Expo, we centered our conversations on a single, defining theme: New Jersey’s economic competitiveness.
More than 850 leaders from across business, government, and the nonprofit community gathered in Atlantic City, and there was an overarching conclusion: New Jersey’s ability to compete depends on how well we prepare for the opportunities in front of us.
That focus could not be timelier.
In just a few months, we will have one of the most unique opportunities in our state’s history. The FIFA World Cup (games are June 11 through July 19), will kick off in the U.S. New Jersey will host eight matches, including the Final at MetLife Stadium — which is expected to be one of the most watched sporting events in history.