Long Story Short: South Jersey – A Busy Policymaker’s Guide to Understanding a Misunderstood Region

VOORHEES, NJ – The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) is proud to announce the release of its most recent policy report entitled, “Long Story Short: South Jersey – A Busy Policymaker’s Guide to Understanding a Misunderstood Region.”

This report details, in a short but not shallow format, the possibilities and hurdles to economic growth and workforce development county by county in South Jersey, and the four key issues that stunt economic progress across the region. Filled with demographic information, fun facts and critical policy suggestions, statewide policymakers will walk away from reviewing this report with a new appreciation for the southern portion of the state and better understanding of its unique needs.

CCSNJ President & CEO and co-author of the report, Christina M. Renna stated, “South Jersey is deeply misunderstood by policymakers. Although the region has many similarities, its differences make holistic policy measures difficult to enact. As a result, South Jersey is at times neglected when well-intentioned policies are crafted and intended to have a statewide benefit.”

“With the release of this report, the CCSNJ aims to educate readers about what makes South Jersey, South Jersey. If successful, our hope is that future economic policies will be constructed with the region’s unique landscape and needs in mind,” added Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs and co-author of the report.

Although each county’s possibilities and hurdles to economic growth vary, the CCSNJ concludes the report with four overarching issues that impact development across all corners of South Jersey. They are:

• Lack of public transportation/transportation infrastructure.
• Equitable incentives tailored to South Jersey’s unique needs and underserved areas.
• Broadband accessibility.
• Shortage of housing options.

The research for this report began in March of 2023 and consisted of interviews with over 30 economic development leaders from across South Jersey, as well as information gleaned from the CCSNJ’s 1,200 member companies.

The full report can be found here.