GOTTHEIMER ANNOUNCES JUMPSTART JERSEY INITIATIVE

Continues to Meet with Leaders & Collect the Best Ideas from Around Jersey

WYCKOFF, NJ — Today, Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced the next round of his JumpStart Jersey Initiative, where he continues to highlight the best ideas from around Jersey. As he has for more than seven years, Gottheimer will continue to bring those ideas to his work for families in the Fifth District, and share them with other leaders across Jersey.

In this latest round, Rep. Gottheimer is highlighting the great work of Mayor Bollwage of Elizabeth, Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos, and of the hardworking men and women of New Jersey’s Carpenters Union. Through their work, they have made their communities even better places to live, work, and raise a family.

This set of ideas covers everything from cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield sites; to establishing business improvement districts that will promote jobs, economic growth, small businesses, and better property maintenance; to supporting underrepresented populations in New Jersey to thrive in the building trades and other industries.

“As I meet with local leaders in labor, from the faith community, and our mayors and other elected officials, I’m always encouraged about the future of our great state. We need to have more conversations like them, and share their great ideas with others across our great state. There is no need to reinvent the wheel,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D, NJ-5).

To boost his Jumpstart Jersey initiative, and encourage others to share their ideas, Gottheimer announced a six-figure ad buy in November. The video is included below. Those previously highlighted include Fair Lawn Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone, Bayonne City Mayor Jimmy Davis, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac, Mayor Mark Sokolich and the Fort Lee Council, including President Paul Yoon and Councilmember Ila Kasofsky, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, and Orange City Mayor Dwayne Warren.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

A brief summary of each leader and initiative is included below:

Mayor Bollwage: Revitalizing Brownfield Sites in Elizabeth.

During his 32 years serving the city of Elizabeth, NJ, Mayor Christian Bollwage has made it a priority to clean up and redevelop numerous brownfield sites throughout the city in an effort to reinvigorate the community. Mayor Bollwage testified in September 2023 before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee about the benefits of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program, sharing how Elizabeth City’s brownfield redevelopment has created market-rate and affordable housing, retail, and office buildings that provide new services for residents, commuters, and visitors.

Councilman Ramos: Special Improvement Districts in Newark’s North Ward.

A well-respected leader and Councilman for Newark’s North Ward for more than 18 years, Anibal Ramos has sought to foster economic development via the creation of two Special Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that will promote jobs, economic growth, small businesses, and better property maintenance. Newark’s North Ward is the city’s first ward to have two separate Improvement Districts, which provide funds to local businesses, non-profits, and other organizations to help revitalize the neighborhood, provide sanitation and security services, and improve property exteriors.

New Jersey Carpenters Union: Putting More People into Good Union, Building Trades Jobs.

The New Jersey Carpenters Union started Progress 360, a nonprofit organization that supports under-represented populations, including women and minorities, to thrive in the building trades, including carpentry, hospitality, manufacturing, and the service industry. In partnership with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC), which represents more than 13,000 carpenters in New Jersey, Progress360 advocates for socially responsible employment practices and accountability for workers. It supports them through education, training, and advancement opportunities.

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