Choose New Jersey assisted 43 companies in relocating or expanding to New Jersey, resulting in 4,708 new and retained jobs and generating over $3 billion in capital investments, the organization said in its 2022 Annual Report (read it here).
In 2022, Choose New Jersey also opened the New Jersey Ireland Center, making New Jersey the first state with an economic development office in Ireland.
These accomplishments were the highlights of the first year of Wes Mathews serving as CEO — in what the organization is calling a return to its pre-pandemic routine of conducting business.
Ralph LaRossa, chairman of Choose New Jersey and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group, said the organization’s impact is huge.
“Choose New Jersey spent 2022 putting a global spotlight on our state and reconnecting with business leaders in New Jersey, the U.S. and all over the world,” he said. “Innovation and opportunity continue to thrive in this environment.
“The success of this past year is a testament to this organization’s efforts and the fact that New Jersey is the best place to establish and grow a business.”
The annual report highlights Choose New Jersey’s several significant accomplishments in 2022, which resulted in the following accomplishments:
- Netflix announcing a nearly $1 billion production facility, solidifying New Jersey’s top spot in the world of entertainment;
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup choosing the Meadowlands as a host venue, putting New Jersey in the spotlight for one of the world’s premier sporting events;
- A $10 million grant from the state of New Jersey for a targeted advertising campaign to attract new business and investment to the state;
- The CEO Council, founded to help the state navigate economic headwinds during the pandemic, becoming a permanent part of Choose New Jersey, connecting leaders of some of the world’s biggest companies headquartered in New Jersey;
- The opening of the New Jersey Ireland Center in Dublin, making New Jersey the first state to open an economic development office in Ireland and expanding Choose New Jersey’s European presence;
- Reengagement with India, Choose New Jersey’s largest international market for business development, marked by a five-day, four-city mission in December 2022.
Gov. Phil Murphy applauded the efforts.
“Through Choose New Jersey’s focus on connections, our state’s 2022 successes include a nearly $1 billion Netflix production facility, a $126 million investment in Applegreen’s new headquarters in the state and an exciting announcement that New Jersey will be a host venue for the FIFA World Cup,” he said.
“I am thrilled by these great wins for New Jersey and look forward to continuing this momentum in 2023.”
As the lead marketing organization for the state, Choose New Jersey highlights New Jersey’s assets to decision-makers around the world. The Annual Report notes that the marketing campaign garnered 1.5 billion impressions in fiscal year 2022.
Last quarter, Choose New Jersey was awarded a $10 million grant from the state to continue the work of marketing New Jersey. The state’s continued multimillion-dollar investment in Choose New Jersey’s business attraction marketing campaign is a testament to the value of the work the organization does to market the state.
The annual report states that in 2022, Choose New Jersey strengthened global connections and highlighted New Jersey as a premier business destination to foreign audiences by welcoming delegations from over a dozen countries. In addition, the team participated in a number of trade shows and showcased New Jersey’s key sectors, cultivating relationships and generating high-quality leads.
Mathews said he is looking forward to moving ahead.
“We have the momentum, more than ever, to market the state as a premier destination for businesses to succeed,” he said. “We have returned to our pre-pandemic posture, welcoming delegations and companies from around the globe, and our team is back on the road doing what they do best. And we have a great story to tell: New Jersey is the geographical, intellectual and cultural crossroad where businesses can thrive.”
Since 2011, New Jersey’s efforts have helped more than 360 companies, generating $8.6 billion in capital investments, which created and retained nearly 40,000 jobs in the state.
