The EDA has been an ongoing concern since tax incentive programs instituted during the Christie administration were allowed to expire in June amid contentions the breaks went to big companies and the politically well connected, particularly in Camden.
Murphy is shifting emphasis to smaller firms and startups, insisting to reporters in Trenton that "it has to work for the whole community. It has to work for everybody, not just some, whether that’s in Camden, Trenton, Newark, Paterson wherever it may be."
Christie’s five appointees will be gone by month’s end, two by resignation and three as their terms expire. A Murphy pick chairs the panel and four women have been tapped for board seats, including Rosemari Hicks, who owns CoWork Street, a Camden-based collaborative workspace.
"I believe that I represent microbusiness," Hicks said, "and I’m very clear in saying microbusiness because that’s what most small businesses are. And as a business in the city of Camden, we have an opportunity to make sure that those folks are represented."
As for the expired programs, talks continue with legislative leaders to come up with a new plan with caps on grants and better oversight of awards.