SENATORS SWEENEY, GREENSTEIN, TESTA ATTEND NJMEP VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ON STATE OF STATE MANUFACTURING

July 30, 2021

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Linda Greenstein, and Senator Michael Testa today participated in the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program’s (NJMEP) State of the State Manufacturing event to discuss training opportunities for employees, offshore wind projects, and the new NJMEP South Jersey office. NJMEP, a private, non-profit organization, has helped New Jersey’s manufacturers remain on the cutting edge technologically, and stay competitive in an ever-changing world.

“Some 80 years ago, in the early days of World War II, New Jersey’s manufacturers sprang into action and helped support the war effort, producing planes, weaponry and munitions. Shipbuilders in Camden and Kearny built one-fourth of the destroyers delivered to the Navy,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic invaded our state, our manufacturing industry stepped up again, this time adjusting work orders and altering operations to provide masks, gloves and ventilator parts, as well as other materials as the demand called for.

“In coming years, our state will again play a central part in the fight against global climate change, as we stand primed to become a national leader in solar energy production, as well as offshore wind projects, which will require skilled labor, such as painting and skilled metal work,” Senator Sweeney added. “The NJMEP will no doubt lead the way in helping prepare these laborers, and matching jobs with opportunity.”

One challenge facing the manufacturing workforce will be the ongoing shift brought on by technological advances, and the continuing evolution in regard to clean energy development and delivery. New Jersey’s public education system, as well as private and public-private partnerships, will be needed to make sure tomorrow’s workforce is trained up and ready to go as we move into the middle of the 21st century.

“New Jersey’s manufacturers have, time and again, proven their worth to our state by providing good-paying jobs to hard-working people, stabilizing our communities and often providing valuable service to our state and country,” Senator Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “We must continue to stress training for our young people in the skilled trades, and especially as we expand into cleaner and more sustainable energy sources going forward. New Jersey has the opportunity to play a big role in this industry, and we need to be ready for it.”

“As the economy bounces back from the pandemic, New Jersey’s manufacturing sector is once again poised to anchor the recovery,” said Senator Testa (R-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “The industry is building significant momentum, and working together with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, we can expect to see the power and potential of a new breed of producers creating jobs, solving problems, and leading our comeback.

“As manufacturers continue to grow, the demand for more skilled workers for lucrative job opportunities will skyrocket. Effective job training and achievable career pathways are essential to meeting the needs of business and the State,” added Senator Testa.

The NJMEP is currently in the process of opening a new office and training facility in Bellmawr, New Jersey, with the goal of better serving the manufacturers located in South Jersey. There are over 11,000 manufacturers located throughout New Jersey, and the facility will be an asset in providing in-person training services for South Jersey manufacturers.

“We would like to thank Senate President Sweeney for his tireless support of the manufacturing industry. He recognizes that the workers, innovators, and industries they support help drive the New Jersey economy and are essential to its success,” said Dr. John W. Kennedy, CEO of the NJMEP. “His help in establishing our South Jersey Office proves his desire to make sure manufacturers and workers throughout the state of New Jersey have the same opportunity to grow and succeed. His passion to provide state-wide workforce training shows what it takes to drive the economy for the entire state of New Jersey. We look forward to continuing our long-time relationship.”