Southeast NJ’s Economy: Competition for Land and Resources
Gov. Jim Florio Joined Atlantic City and Other South Jersey Leaders at Conference Co-Sponsored by PlanSmart NJ and Stockton College
(Atlantic City, NJ) -- Few would doubt that South Jersey is poised to become the chief economic engine for New Jersey in the next decade or so.
But could job growth in the region be hampered by the lack of affordable housing in a state with the highest real estate costs in the nation? What about other concerns related to the water supply, mobility, and other infrastructure challenges?
These were some of the topics that were be addressed on Feb. 14 in Atlantic City at a conference sponsored by Stockton College and PlanSmart NJ, the state’s premier regional land use planning organization.
“Atlantic City and the gaming industry investment are the future of the state; we are the driving economic force in NJ for investment and job creation,” said Tom Carver, head of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, who will speak that the PlanSmart NJ conference. “We have millions of visitors a year and we are expecting millions more with the casino expansions. We need to have transportation and housing be hand in glove with the new jobs and new visitors.”
A number of other high-profile speakers participated in the event, “Southeast NJ’s Economy: Competition for Land and Resources,” including:
- Gov. James Florio, of Florio Perrucci
- Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
- Rod Ritchie, Builders League of South Jersey
- Sharon Gordon, SJ Transportation Authority
- Bert Lopez, Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County
- Richard Dovey, Atlantic County Utilities Authority
- Ed Graham, SJ Industries
- Sharon Shulman, of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy (Stockton College)
Two members of PlanSmart NJ’s Board of Directors will serve as moderators. They are Karen Alexander, of the NJ Utilities Association, and Michael Willmann, of WMSH Marketing Communications. (For bios of all the speakers, click here.)
Dianne Brake, president of PlanSmart NJ, said more regional planning was needed in South Jersey, which has the potential to become the smart growth center of NJ if state and local leaders work together.
“Government has a real opportunity to apply what they’ve learned from past experience in the northern part of New Jersey,” said Brake. “South Jersey has many unique natural resources that must be protected, but it has many assets to support strong economic development as well. Both need to be considered as all levels of government make decisions that will affect the land.”
Brake added: “We want decision-makers to abandon today's fragmented system and connect the dots – that is, plan for needed jobs and housing, and locate them in such a way as to optimize public transit, protect natural resources and reduce disparities and segregation. It can be done.”
Noelle Reeve, the Vice President of Planning for PlanSmart NJ, served as the emcee. She also organized the morning event.
The event sponsors were The Carnegie Library Center; The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; the Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Atlantic City Electric; South Jersey Gas; Real Estate Media; and Atlantic County.