Background:
The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NJMEP) is a 5.01 C-3, Not-for-Loss company established to assist small and medium-sized maufacturers in NJ to become more productive, profitable and globally competitive. NJMEP provides knowledge, resources and advocacy for NJ manufacturers. Since 1999, NJMEP has worked with more than 1,500 small to medium sized manufacturers in the state and has completed more than 2,700 projects with them. This has saved more than 5,500 jobs; more than 1,200 jobs created; more than $174 million in new sales generated and $322 million in existing sales retained in the state.

Action:
NJMEP needs your help. Please join the NJTC is writing our legislative leaders to let them know that eliminating the NJMEP is a short-sighted exercise in budget balancing.
Below is a sample letter you can copy and send to the following legislators.
After sending your letters, please either fax or email a copy of the letter to:
NJMEP President Bob Loderstedt
bloderstedt@njmep.org
(973)860-4637 (fax)

List of Legislators:
Honorable Jon Corzine
Governor, State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald
Chairman, Assembly Budget Committee
1103 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 142
Voorhees, NJ 08043
AsmGreenwald@njleg.org

Senator Barbara Buono
Chairwoman, Senate Budget Committee
100 Plainfield Ave., Suite 1
Edison, NJ 08817
SenBuono@njleg.org

Speaker Joseph Roberts
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Rt. 130 and Browning Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
AsmRoberts@njleg.org

Senator Richard Codey
President, NJ State Senate
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
SenCodey@njleg.org

Minority Leader Alex DeCroce
101 Gibraltar Drive, Suite 1-A
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
AsmDeCroce@njleg.org

Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr.
203 Elm Street, 1st Floor
Westfield, NJ 07090
SenKean@njleg.org


Dear

I am writing to respectfully request that you support reinstatement of state investment in the amount of $1.2 million for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) in FY 2009, which has been completely eliminated from the budget of the NJ Commission on Science & Technology. This important program has been a critical resource to New Jersey manufacturing companies in helping them to become more productive, profitable and globally competitive.

The value of having a strong and growing manufacturing economy that produces goods here in our own state and preserves well paying jobs for New Jersey workers is invaluable. A strong manufacturing base creates jobs in other sectors of the state’s economy by procuring raw materials and services furnished by such sectors as financial services and construction to name but a few.

The independently gathered survey data, thru the U.S. Department of Commerce, about the NJMEP indicates that the state’s minimum investment, this program has been able to work with more than 1,500 small to medium sized manufacturers in the state and has completed more than 2,700 projects with them since 1999. The results of this valuable program are astounding: more than 5,500 jobs saved; more than 1,200 jobs created; more than $174 million in new sales generated and $322 million in existing sales retained in the state; cost savings of more than $67 million and; $116 million in new investments. All of these benefits accrue to the New Jersey economy.

Additionally, the State economic model, administered by the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission shows that for the period 1999 through 2006 total anticipated tax revenues to the State from NJMEP’s work is $30.1 million.

Eliminating the NJMEP is a short-sighted exercise in budget balancing. The benefit of just the increased tax revenues from a vibrant manufacturing base more than pays for this program. I urge you to reinstate the full investment of $1.2 million for the NJMEP.

Respectfully,

Company contact
Contact Title
Company Name

cc: Robert Loderstedt – NJMEP