Christopher Emigholz, chief government affairs officer at the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, discussed the top concerns of small businesses in New Jersey during an interview with NJ101.5 morning host Bill Spadea on March 17.
The conversation focused on what small business owners hope to see from Governor Mikie Sherrill’s administration, especially regarding regulatory reform. This topic is important because many small businesses lack the resources to handle complex compliance requirements that larger companies can more easily manage.
“If you’re a small business, you don’t have lots of people working for you to do compliance and legal stuff,” Emigholz said. “And you might have the same guy making your product, opening the doors, doing the billing while having to worry about all the HR and all the environment and all the other compliance stuff. So, if we make it easier to do business and to get out of the way of businesses, regulatory reform, I think that helps a lot.”
Emigholz also said that Governor Sherrill has been “very focused on her saving time and money agenda to make it easier to do business in New Jersey.” He added: “She has used this quote a couple times, that in New Jersey we need a ‘get to yes’ culture instead of just finding ways to say no, which I think in recent years we’ve been seeing too much in state government.”
He pointed out two specific ways for supporting small manufacturers: adjusting eligibility for a new manufacturing tax credit so smaller firms can benefit and restoring the Manufacturing Voucher Program that previously helped these businesses buy equipment. “Typical manufacturing size business in New Jersey is 30 to 40 employees,” he said. “We have a brand-new manufacturing tax credit, but you have to get a $10 million buy-in to access that program. That’s not going to help small businesses. It’s good for big manufacturers, but we’ve got to make that easier to get for the small guys.” He continued: “And number two, there was a great manufacturing program called the Manufacturing Voucher Program that allowed small manufacturers to buy capital equipment. And unfortunately, in the last year of the prior administration, they got rid of that program. We would love to see that restored under Governor Sherrill, and it’s a priority of ours.”
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association serves as the nation’s largest statewide employer association representing employers across various sectors according to its official website. The association advances competitive excellence and financial success for its members while providing essential information and services according to its official website. Michele Siekerka serves as president and chief executive officer according to its official website. The organization supports private-sector employers throughout New Jersey according to its official website, facilitates partnerships among businesses, government entities, and academic institutions according to its official website, and offers advocacy along with practical information and cost-saving benefits according to its official website.
A replay of Spadea’s broadcast is available online.
