Bill Text: NJ A1104 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates "Economic Gardening Program" in Department of State to provide customized services to certain businesses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-12-03 - Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A1104 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A1104-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Mosquera
SYNOPSIS
Creates "Economic Gardening Program" in Department of State to provide customized services to certain businesses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing an "Economic Gardening Program" in the Department of State and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).
"Center" means the Business Action Center, created in the Department of State pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 003-2011.
"Department" means the Department of State.
"Program" means the "Economic Gardening Program" established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
"Qualified second-stage growth business" means a business that:
a. has maintained its principal place of business in the State for at least the last two years;
b. has annual revenues totaling between $600,000 and $50,000,000;
c. employs at least five but not more than 100 full-time employees in this State;
d. demonstrates growth in annual revenue or jobs, or both, in two of the last five years;
e. delivers products or services to customers outside the business's local market area or demonstrates the capacity to do so;
f. is in a target industry as identified by the center; and
g. is organized for profit to perform a lawful, commercial function.
2. a. The Business Action Center shall establish an "Economic Gardening Program." The program shall consist of customized services provided by the center, pursuant to subsection b. of this section, to a qualified second-stage growth business deemed eligible by the center upon application by a business in a manner established by the center. The center shall work in conjunction with the authority and State, local, and private business assistance entities to develop and promote the program.
b. (1) Through the program, the center shall, upon request and free of charge, provide to a qualified second-stage growth business customized services tailored to the needs of the qualified second-stage growth business, including, but not limited to:
(a) a review of the qualified second-stage growth business's core strategies, including threats and opportunities, business strategy, and niche markets;
(b) qualified second-stage growth business development opportunities through market research and qualified sales leads, including, but not limited to, information about competitors and their strategies, industry trends and forecasts, market size and sales, financial analysis, business planning, strategic planning, market demographics, market research reports, potential market niches, prospective partners and resources, and marketing lists; and
(c) guidance to the qualified second-stage growth business on increasing its visibility and credibility within the market with an improved Internet presence, and advice on how to best use technology to connect with customers.
(2) Customized services addressing the needs of a requesting qualified second-stage growth business, pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, may be provided in the form of personalized counseling or management consulting. The center may partner with business assistance organizations in the State to provide customized services pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) The center, or any organization that is partnered with the center to provide customized services pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not disclose any non-public proprietary information about the requesting qualified second-stage growth business that is obtained while assisting that business to any other business or private entity. Both the center and any organization that is partnered with the center to provide customized services pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not provide any non-public proprietary information to a qualified second-stage growth business requesting customized services. No action may be brought against the State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, for relief in connection with the center's provision of customized services under this subsection.
c. (1) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the department monies as shall be necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(2) The center is authorized to seek and accept gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for funding the costs of the customized services provided pursuant to subsection b. of this section, except that the center may not accept a gift, grant, or donation that is subject to conditions that are inconsistent with any other law of this State.
d. The center shall report annually to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature on the functioning of the program and meeting the needs of qualified second-stage growth businesses. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the number and locations of participating qualified second-stage growth businesses, the number of jobs created or maintained by participating qualified second-stage growth businesses, the amount of any capital investment made by participating qualified second-stage growth businesses as a result of participation in the program, and the type and amount of any financial assistance given to participating qualified second-stage growth businesses.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish a New Jersey "Economic Gardening Program." Economic gardening is an approach to economic growth and development that emphasizes nurturing and cultivating local small businesses by providing strategic assistance to qualified second-stage businesses.
Under the bill, a business qualifies as a "second-stage growth business" if it:
· has maintained its principal place of business in New Jersey for at least the last two years;
· has annual revenues totaling between $600,000 and $50,000,000;
· employs at least five but not more than 100 full-time employees;
· demonstrates growth in annual revenue or jobs, or both, in two of the last five years;
· delivers products or services to customers outside the business's local market area or demonstrates the capacity to do so;
· is in a target industry; and
· is organized for profit to perform a lawful, commercial function.
The bill directs the Business Action Center to establish the program, and to work in conjunction with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and State, local, and private business assistance entities to develop and promote the program.
The program would provide qualified businesses customized services tailored to their needs in the form of personalized counseling or management consulting. These services would include:
· review of core business strategies,
· market research and business development, and
· guidance on increasing a business' visibility and credibility.
The bill authorizes the Business Action Center to partner with business assistance organizations to provide services to qualified businesses.
The bill provides for a General Fund appropriation of an amount necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill and allows the Business Action Center to seek and accept gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for funding the costs of program services.
The bill requires the Business Action Center to report on the program annually to the Governor and the Legislature.
