Senate hearing gathers business leaders and farmers to shape ‘start and grow’ agenda after late‑April frost

Chairwoman Sherwin Cruz Perez convened a Senate committee hearing on how the legislature can help businesses start and grow in New Jersey, drawing testimony from industry groups, agriculture leaders, municipal economic‑development organizations and state agency officials.

The hearing opened with business advocates urging a combination of workforce development, innovation supports and regulatory simplification to make New Jersey a more competitive place to locate and expand. Chris Emighholz of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association told senators, “I really think there's 5 factors that influence... are we growing or are we not in the economy?” He listed workforce development, an innovation ecosystem, and infrastructure as positives, and pointed to cost pressures and a difficult regulatory environment as deterrents. Emighholz urged reforms such as permit modernization, easier occupational licensing, and restoration of targeted manufacturing incentives and funding for manufacturing extension services.

Nut graf: Lawmakers heard common themes across multiple panels: businesses want predictability, reduced administrative complexity and better access to capital and markets; farmers told the committee those needs are compounded by land scarcity, high input costs and growing climate risk. Officials from the Economic Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture summarized the state’s tools and the limits of current programs, and agriculture witnesses asked for immediate and longer‑term help after a damaging frost.

Evan Weiss, executive director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, said the EDA has “a lot of tools” for certain large projects but far fewer tailored options for farmers and midsize firms. Weiss highlighted two technical obstacles: incomplete internal data for policymaking and the high cost companies face when monetizing state tax credits. “Interest rates keep climbing,” he said, noting that bridging tax‑credit value can reduce a $1 credit to roughly half its face value in practice. Weiss urged simplification of application and compliance processes so smaller businesses without legal and accounting offices can access programs.

Agriculture panelists delivered both immediate warnings and structural proposals. Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengreen gave a weather update after the governor issued an emergency declaration for a late‑April frost. Wengreen reported that blueberry production in some areas suffered “30 to 50% loss,” that some grape growers may face up to two years of reduced production, and that peaches and other fruits were also hard hit. To provide relief and maintain farm markets, he said the department would temporarily waive some preserved‑farm market sourcing requirements.

Speakers representing beginning and specialty farmers urged policies to expand land access and affordable capital. Jess Niederer, chair of the Organic and Regenerative Farming Board and owner of Chickadee Creek Farm, described a 2025 needs assessment of 90 growers and said the biggest barriers for new farmers are access to affordable land, equipment and protection from extreme weather. Alan Carter of the New Jersey Farm Bureau proposed a six‑point approach focused on long‑term leases or FarmLink expansion, start‑up grants and loan guarantees, business training linked to grants, shared infrastructure, streamlined regulatory guidance and market access supports.

Stakeholders representing small and diverse businesses called for procurement and transparency reforms. Colonel Jeff Cantore of the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce said the state’s 2015 public law providing a 3% procurement set‑aside for disabled‑veteran‑owned businesses has not produced meaningful spending targets, and he urged stronger enforcement tools — including liquidated‑damages language in procurement documents — plus annual public reporting of state spending with diverse vendors and a dedicated lending fund for veteran and military‑spouse businesses. Chambers and community organizations also advocated a centralized procurement portal, a first‑hire tax credit, and culturally responsive innovation and training centers to help minority and immigrant entrepreneurs scale.

Other witnesses emphasized the cumulative burden of regulatory compliance on small firms and recommended strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require systematic assessment of small‑business impacts when new rules are proposed. Christine Myers of the Employers Association of New Jersey warned that overlapping rules (ADA compliance, cybersecurity, paid‑leave and wage changes) can drain small operators’ capital and time.

The committee did not take any formal votes at the hearing. Chairwoman Cruz Perez closed by thanking witnesses and said the committee and administration will continue to collaborate on legislative packages to support businesses and agriculture; the meeting was then adjourned.

Ending: The committee received a mix of short‑term requests (waivers, emergency assistance for frost losses) and long‑term proposals (procurement transparency, tax‑credit mechanics, land‑access programs and training) that legislators said they will consider as they craft bills and budget language in the coming months.