Peter Connolly, President and CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), appeared on “Think Tank with Steve Adubato” to discuss current challenges and opportunities facing manufacturers in New Jersey. The interview comes ahead of the 2025 Made in New Jersey Manufacturing Day scheduled for October 3.
During his conversation with Steve Adubato, Connolly addressed several key topics impacting the manufacturing sector, including tariffs, energy costs, and the role of artificial intelligence in manufacturing operations across the state. He also highlighted both advantages and obstacles for businesses considering New Jersey as a location.
“There’s a lot of benefits for working in New Jersey and owning a company in New Jersey,” Connolly said. “We have a skilled workforce. We have great schools. Transportation is great, especially up in North Jersey. But there are issues.”
Connolly pointed out that despite these advantages, there are significant hurdles to business growth within the state. “We are not the best manufacturing-friendly, business-friendly state. Our corporate business tax is higher than our states that are around us. Our corporate transit fee affects a lot of different companies.”
Despite these challenges, Connolly noted manufacturers’ commitment to remaining in New Jersey: “So there are issues. But on the whole, most companies wanna stay here and are trying to grow here,” he said.
The full interview is available online for those interested in hearing more about Connolly’s perspective on the state’s manufacturing climate.
