Auctions will support Food Desert Relief efforts and Innovation Evergreen Fund

TRENTON, N.J. (July 24, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction and the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund Tax Credit Auction. The proceeds from the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction will fund programs that increase access to healthy and affordable food in the state’s 50 Food Desert Communities (FDCs). The New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund Tax Credit Auction will support the Authority’s co-investments into NJ-based innovative high-growth businesses through the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF).

WHAT: Up to $10 million in tax credits will be up for sale through the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction and proceeds will fund programs that advance the priorities established by the Food Desert Relief Act. These future grants, loans, and/or technical assistance initiatives will complement the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Program, a tax credit program to support the development and operation of new supermarkets in FDCs, by supporting other entities involved in strengthening food security, including smaller retailers and nonprofits.

The New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund Tax Credit Auction will sell up to $50 million in tax credits to fuel the NJIEF. Under the NJIEF, the State will become an equity investor in startups deploying up to $600 million into companies alongside professional venture capital firms. This strategic investment will not only support New Jersey’s entrepreneurs, but will also ensure that more companies start, grow, and stay in state. The funds raised from the auction will later be matched by professional venture capital firms and invested into high-growth, early-stage businesses across the Garden State.

WHO: New Jersey Corporate Tax Payers or Insurance Companies that want to reduce their New Jersey 2025 tax liability and support the State’s economic development efforts. Companies do not need to be in a food desert, in the food industry, or in the innovation space to buy tax credits through the auctions. Companies can bid for tax credits at a discount of up to 15 to 25 percent through the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction and New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund Tax Credit Auction, respectively.

WHEN: Applications for both auctions will open on September 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and close on October 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Applications for the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction can be found here. Applications for the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund Tax Credit Auction can be found here.

An informational webinar that will provide an overview of both auctions will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. For more information and to register for the webinar, click here. 

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Centers in Camden and Mullica Hill will bolster early-stage medtech companies and promote scientific and commercial collaboration

CAMDEN, N.J. (July 21, 2025) – Today, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced it will partner with Rowan University to create a new multi-location Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) in Camden and Mullica Hill. The SIC, operated by Plug and Play, will support the research, development, and commercialization of novel medical technologies and devices, serving as an accelerator for South Jersey’s burgeoning medtech ecosystem. The SIC will have locations in Camden and at Rowan University’s West Campus in Mullica Hill, serving as a world-class accelerator for early-stage companies and promoting overall scientific collaboration in the region.

Cooper University Health Care will serve as the anchor commercial affiliate and Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) will invest in select participating accelerator companies. The SIC will support early-stage ideas emerging from southern New Jersey labs and pull companies from across the region into the state, helping to provide specialized lab space to meet the needs of companies that might otherwise be forced to seek expansion outside New Jersey. 

“Due to the ingenuity of its entrepreneurs and its breadth of state resources to promote startup growth, New Jersey has long been a hub for innovation in medical technology,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Through robust investment in our innovation economy and partnerships with storied medical and academic institutions, New Jersey is poised to maintain its leadership in the research and development of inventive healthcare technologies.”  

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is leveraging partnerships with the private sector and academic institutions to bolster the state’s startup community, ensuring that entrepreneurs have access to capital and opportunities for meaningful collaboration with industry stakeholders,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Through the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center initiative, the Garden State’s leadership in medtech and healthcare innovation will be strengthened, enhancing New Jersey’s economic competitiveness.”

The SIC will encompass 8,500 square feet of space within two locations in Camden: the Joint Health Sciences Center and the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. It will also have space on Rowan University’s West Campus in Mullica Hill, alongside the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine and Virtua Health College Research Center of Rowan University, when open. The SIC will include comprehensive laboratory, diagnostic, and testing spaces for research and development of new technologies in a collaborative environment.

Pending approval by its Board, the NJEDA will invest $9.55 million into the SIC, including $5.5 million into a seed and early-stage fund for companies in the accelerator program and those that choose to locate and grow their operations in the State. 20 percent of participating companies must be from New Jersey, and the remaining participants will include companies from out of state that may relocate to New Jersey with support from programs that support early-stage startups, such as NJ Accelerate.  

Rowan University is among the nation’s top 100 research universities, the nation’s third fastest-growing public research institution, and one of two public universities nationwide with three medical schools. Along with the Cooper Medical School, the SIC will partner with the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine and the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences, leveraging the university’s world-class facilities and faculty expertise to support startup creation.

 “Nothing like the SIC exists to draw investments of this type to New Jersey,” said Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand. “Governor Murphy’s vision helps health care innovators, entrepreneurs and investors take a giant leap forward in developing novel solutions. The SIC will add value to strong partnerships like those we have throughout the state with health care leaders as a result of our medical education and research excellence. We’re eager to see the SIC and GSVP attract startups that will thrive alongside Cooper, Rowan, and our other partners.” 

GSVP is a New Jersey-based venture capital firm committed to driving innovation and economic growth across the state. GSVP-managed funds will deploy up to $7 million in seed and later-stage investments into select companies participating in the initiative. As part of its investment strategy, GSVP seeks to accelerate the commercialization of breakthrough technologies emerging from Rowan University, other leading research institutions, universities, healthcare organizations, and innovation centers throughout New Jersey.

“Partnering with the NJEDA, Rowan University, Cooper University Health Care and Plug and Play to launch the State’s newest Strategic Innovation Center marks a pivotal milestone for Garden State Venture Partners and for New Jersey’s innovation economy,” said Michael Connallon, Managing Partner at Garden State Venture Partners. “By aligning both early and later-stage capital with world-class academic research and the clinical expertise of leading health systems, we are building a powerful platform to accelerate breakthroughs in healthcare and medical technologies—sectors that are vital to both public health and long-term economic growth across the state.”

Cooper University Health Care is a leading New Jersey academic health system, consistently recognized as one of the top health systems in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area. As its anchor commercial affiliate, Cooper University Health Care will provide engagement and support to companies operating at the SIC.

“Supporting innovations and business creation that work to improve lives is a major focus of the work of Cooper’s Innovation Center,” said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care. “We are excited to play a supporting role in work that will generate jobs as well as technologies and devices to improve and save lives.”

Plug and Play, an innovation platform and startup accelerator, will be the SIC’s operator, overseeing two cohorts of at least 25 companies a year. The NJEDA previously partnered with Plug and Play on the Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ FAST), a financial technology and insurance technology SIC.

“We’re proud to partner with NJEDA, Rowan University, and Cooper University Health Care to accelerate medtech innovation in South Jersey,” said Plug and Play Chief Revenue Officer and Partner Michael Olmstead. “This Strategic Innovation Center reflects our belief that meaningful progress happens when startups, healthcare leaders, academia, and the public sector come together with a shared mission. Our goal is to help the next generation of healthcare companies scale their impact faster — right here in New Jersey.”

“Throughout his administration, Governor Murphy has been committed to creating an environment where entrepreneurs can pursue innovative ideas with the capital and resources needed to succeed,” said NJEDA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “The NJEDA’s newest SIC in Camden and Mullica Hill will foster a culture of collaboration among South Jersey’s healthcare, academic, and technology sectors, ensuring that startup businesses in the medtech space have access to cutting-edge research and funding opportunities.”

“Through programs like the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center initiative, New Jersey is continuing to invest in high-growth, strategic sectors that will define the economic future of the state,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “Our newest SIC investment will leverage Rowan University’s academic prowess in medical technology to boost inventive startup companies and promote novel discoveries, furthering South Jersey’s standing as a regional leader in medtech innovation.”

SICs are facilities that support research and development, innovation, and entrepreneurship through mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services, and education opportunities. SICs can be accelerators, incubators, or research centers. Having a physical location where entrepreneurs can collaborate will help support new, diverse innovators and help drive long-term economic growth.

The NJEDA has announced investments into 12 SICs in New Jersey, focused on industries such as artificial intelligence, fintech, aerospace, life sciences, and biotech. To learn more about the NJEDA’s SIC initiative, visit https://www.njeda.gov/strategic-innovation-centers/. 

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

A meeting of the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board has been scheduled for Friday, July 25, 2025, at 10:00 am.

A copy of the proposed agenda can be found at https://www.njcsit.gov/.

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER:              551-220-2262

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE:                    661 611 035#

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s next public Board Meeting will be held via conference call, and via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 10:00 am.

Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in on the conference line or joining via Microsoft Teams. Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting. The following conference number and Microsoft Teams link are being provided:  

MEETING NAME: NJEDA BOARD MEETING (JULY 23, 2025)

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER:       1-888-790-3708

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE:             7825427

MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING ACCESS LINK

Members of the public are encouraged to call in prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to begin to avoid any delays.

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting on our website: https://www.njeda.gov. The meeting will also be recorded and posted to the NJEDA website shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.

Please be advised that a Capital City Redevelopment Corporation Informational Meeting will be held in person and via teleconference on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 4:00 pm. 

Members of the public who wish to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting may attend in person or call into the meeting by using the conference number and are encouraged to call in prior to the meeting start time to avoid any delays.

IN PERSON:

NJEDA Board Room

36 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625

TELECONFERENCE:

CONFERENCE NAME:                                CCRC HISTORICAL MARKERS INFORMATIONAL MEETING

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER:              551-220-2262

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE:                   333 906 514#

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting on the website: www.njeda.gov/ccrc.

TRENTON, N.J. (July 15, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is seeking public input on proposed amendments to the Historic Property Reinvestment Program Rules. The program’s focus is historic preservation as a component of community development, aiming to attract long-term private investment into New Jersey while preserving properties that have historic value.

WHAT: A summary of the proposed changes can be found here.  The final amendments will be presented to the NJEDA Board for its review and consideration for approval. If approved, the amendments will be published in the New Jersey Register for formal public comment as required by the Administrative Procedure Act before adoption.

WHEN: Feedback must be submitted through the NJEDA’s website by Monday, July 21, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. 

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Please be advised that the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission Annual Board Meeting will be held in person and via teleconference on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10:30 am. 

Members of the public who wish to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting, pertaining to agenda items, may attend in person or call into the meeting by using the conference number, and are encouraged to call in prior to the meeting start time to avoid any delays.

IN PERSON:

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

One Gateway Center

11-43 Raymond Plaza West, 14th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102

The agenda and teleconference number can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting here.

TRENTON, N.J. (July 8, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding potential programs and funding allocations from the NJEDA to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial and industrial fleets in the State. The RFI can be found here.   

WHAT:              The NJEDA is seeking information on the opportunities, barriers, potential partnerships, and best practices for new programs that will accelerate investment in charging infrastructure that can support fleet electrification. Currently, the Authority has programs that support transportation decarbonization by addressing the purchase price of medium and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles. The NJEDA is seeking additional insight regarding the associated investments required for charging infrastructure to support continued electrification of vehicle fleets in New Jersey.

WHO:                 The RFI is seeking responses from all interested stakeholders, including owners and operators of private commercial and industrial fleets, charging-as-a-service providers, electric vehicle technical assistance providers, and other subject matter experts or entities involved in fleet electrification. Qualified entities do not need to be located in the State of New Jersey to provide a response.

WHEN:            All questions must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2025, via email to cleanenergy@njeda.gov. The subject line of the email should read: “Questions-2025-RFI-258.” Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the Authority’s website at Bidding Opportunities – NJEDA as Addenda.

                        All RFI responses must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 30, 2025, via email to cleanenergy@njeda.gov. The subject line of the email should state “RFI Response-2025-RFI-258.”

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (June 27, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for the Apprenticeship Training Centers Construction Grant Program on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The program will support the construction of workforce training facilities in New Jersey’s Overburdened Communities, preparing local residents for high-paying jobs, eliminating transportation barriers, and creating positive economic benefits for communities.

WHAT:          The $9.7 million Apprenticeship Training Centers Construction Grant Program will award grants between $500,000 and $6.5 million for new construction or the substantial rehabilitation of facilities in Overburdened Communities. Grants will cover up to 70 percent of all eligible project costs, and up to 80 percent of eligible project costs in a Government Restricted Municipality.

Funding for the Apprenticeship Training Centers Construction Grant Program will be utilized from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) Workforce Development Partnership Fund. 

WHO:            The program will be open to sponsors of a Registered Apprenticeship Program as defined by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and must have been in continuous operation for a minimum of 10 years at the time of application. Applicants will be required to be in and conduct training for the building and construction trades in the funded facility. For more eligibility requirements, and a full list of eligible occupations covered, click here. 

WHEN:          Applications for the Apprenticeship Training Centers Construction Grant Program will open on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Applications will close on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. For more information, and to apply, click here.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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NJ BASE will provide office space and marketing services to businesses seeking to expand in the United States

TRENTON, N.J. (June 25, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals for an Operator to manage and oversee the New Jersey Business Acceleration and Softlanding Ecosystem (NJ BASE) in Jersey City. NJ BASE will serve as the state’s first ever facility to attract foreign companies in key industries by offering a supportive co-working space and marketing services, helping businesses expand and grow in the United States.

WHAT:            NJ BASE will serve as a launchpad for foreign companies seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States, offering complimentary coworking space, tailored business support, and a structured six-week Business Immersion Program designed to integrate participants into New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem. The intent of this RFP is to award a contract for a term of three years, with two optional one-year extensions, to an Operator that will manage the NJEDA’s leased office space and oversee the day-to-day operations of NJ BASE.

WHO:               The Operator’s experience should include the following:

  • Developing/managing innovation centers or business ecosystems with government partners, accelerators, or similar types of facilities (especially for government entities);
  • Experience with United States laws and regulations (preferably New Jersey) regarding operational compliance;
  • Experience supporting the growth of and market access to international and domestic U.S. businesses;
  • Management of office space, including in coworking areas or other corporate facilities with multiple tenants; and
  • Experience in social media management, content creation, and marketing, including, but not limited to, online engagement and in-person events.

The RFP and complete list of eligibility requirements can be found here.

WHEN:           All questions must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025, on the NJEDA’s Bidding Opportunities page. Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the NJEDA’s website as Addendum.

All RFP responses must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, on the NJEDA’s Bidding Opportunities page.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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