New Jersey The Smart Choice

Situated in one of America’s most globally connected regions, New Jersey is a major hub for the world’s brightest minds and has all the assets that companies desire. A state overflowing withpossibilityhasnochoicebut to produce solutions for tomorrow’s problems today. Top-ranked nationwide in public education, diversity and quality of life, New Jersey is a haven for businesses and families alike.

As a leader in innovation, New Jersey is forward-thinking and moves quickly with ideas. Our influence is rapidly expanding across North America, Europe, India and beyond. Companies looking to scale on a global level need world-class support, and that is exactly what they get when they choose New Jersey.

New Jersey’s strategic location gives companies access to one of the most affluent consumer markets in the world. New Jersey is at the center of the Boston-

New York City-Washington D.C. train line known as the Northeast Corridor. The state boasts 56.5 million people and $3.75 trillion in economic output. We are always on the move, and our unparalleled infrastructure ensures people get where they need to be — fast. Thanks to NJ Transit, PATH, Amtrak and the NY Waterway Ferry, getting to Manhattan is quick and easy. Add over 600 daily nonstop domestic and international flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and nearby New York and Philadelphia airports, and no destination is off-limits. New Jersey is well-positioned and ideal for trade. A $1.3 billion investment by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2017 raised the clearance of the Bayonne Bridge at Port Newark/ Elizabeth - the busiest seaport in North America - allowing for the passage of super containerships. That means up to 18,000 TEUs are now authorized to navigate beneath the bridge. While we bolster companies of all sizes looking to reach the North American market, New Jersey continues to shine on the world stage of the global economy. After a successful trade mission led by Governor Murphy to Ireland in April 2022, Choose New Jersey opened a second European office in Ireland to strengthen New Jersey’s roots in Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. Choose New Jersey continues to explore opportunities to expand New Jersey’s influence internationallyandisconsidering opportunities in Israel, Canada and East Asia in the near term.

When it comes to education, New Jersey is unrivaled. U.S. News and World Report not only ranks Princeton University as the best in the nation but also ranks New Jersey as the top state for pre-K through 12th-grade education. Our educational opportunities are unparalleled, made possible through our leading public school system, consecutively ranked No.

1 by Education Week.

From Pre-K to doctorate programs, New Jersey is fostering some of the best and brightest minds in the country. Our 19 county colleges and 63 colleges and universities, including the state’s largest and top-ranked public research institution, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, boast more than 523,000 students working toward an associate, undergraduate and professional degrees. New Jersey outranks the national average when it comes to earning degrees, with 42% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to the national average of 32.6%) and 16% holding an advanced degree.

Companies seek out our graduates by looking to New Jersey’s intelligent, diverse talent pool. We are No. 2 in the country when it comes to STEM degrees and have the highest concentration of scientists and engineers per capita in the U.S. It is no wonder top companies in high-growth sectors, such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Prudential Financial, choose to make New Jersey their world headquarters.

A melting pot of identities and ideas, New Jersey celebrates diversity as one of its core strengths. The country’s most diverse city, Jersey City, lies right within our borders. According to WalletHub, New Jersey is the No. 4 most diverse state in the nation with 45% of the population identifying as people of color. WalletHub ranks New Jersey third when it comes to the Economic Impact of Immigration, a testament to highly valued contributions made by our foreign-born citizens. The same list ranked New Jersey first for immigrantworkforceandpercentage of jobs created by immigrant-owned businesses.

New Jersey has the resources to develop globalized leaders from the early stages of childhood development. Our K-12 schools rank No. 1 in the nation for enrollment in foreign language classes, which encourages students to explore multiculturalism at home and beyond. Our commitment to inclusion does not stop there - New Jersey is only the second state to require public schools to adopt a history curriculum about LGBTQ communities and populations with disabilities.

With endless possibilities to live, work and play, there is no better state to call home. WalletHub ranked New Jersey the No. 2 best state to live in the U.S. Save the Children ranked New Jersey the best state to raise a child, making it the perfect place for families from all walks of life. Ourenvironmentaldiversitymakes planting roots easy for farmers, city lovers and everyone in between. Those yearning to experience all four seasons can enjoy the bright flora of spring and the magic of the first winter’s snow. No one is ever far from mountains for a scenic hike, beaches for relaxation and sprawling downtowns full of culture for an exciting night out. New Jersey is a thriving entertainment destination,burstingwithmuseums, performing arts centers, concert venues, golf courses and sports stadiums. It’s home to major league teams in football, hockey and soccer. FIFA has even chosen New Jersey and NYC as a Candidate City hosts for the 2026 World CupTM with the games played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Aptly nicknamed “The Garden State,” New Jersey is a top grower of produce, including cranberries, peaches and the best tomatoes in the country. Look no further than the small town of Hammonton, known as the Blueberry Capital of the World. There are even more “Jersey Fresh” fruit and vegetables at farmers’ markets run for and by our communities and local farmers. But the good eats do not stop there. Named the “food capital of America” by Public Radio International, New Jersey’s food culture reflects the palettes of communities across the globe. America’s best Indian food can be found in Edison and Iselin. Head to Palisades Park for authentic Korean eats. Enjoy the flavors of Latin America in Newark’s Ironbound District, home to authentic Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish fare. Stop in any local pizzeria or bagel shop and learn why other states will never compare.

Living in New Jersey means being immersed in an environment of welcoming communities with a history of upholding fundamental values. We don’t just talk about opportunity, prosperity and liberty; we lead with them, with some of the strongest laws in the country on women’s reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights and paid family leave. Home to some of the safest communities in the U.S, New Jersey is a place for everyone to grow.

New Jersey has always been a place where innovation happens. We are a leadinghubforboomingindustries, includinglifesciences,technology, clean energy, healthcare and film and digital media. Fourteen of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world are headquartered right here, as are over 3,200 life sciences companies operating across all sectors. We rank second in the country for cancer drugs in development and house 139 FDA biopharma manufacturing facilities. Whether they work in incubators or in stand-alone laboratory spaces, our scientistsarebackedbyworld-class research universities, medical schools and the top-ranking hospitals in the U.S.

NewJerseyishometohigh technology and innovation. Ranked No. 1 globally in its concentration of womenfounded startups, New Jersey supports tech companies looking to defy convention and redefine traditional portraits of leadership. No matter the stage of growth, startups have a home in New Jersey. We support new companies and help them get where they need to be quickly.

Our innovators are bolstered by the state’s broadband access, ranked No. 1 in the country by BroadBandNow.com. We are also the No. 1 region for software and web development jobs.

As a clean energy leader, New Jersey is one of few states with a detailed plan to fight climate change head-on. Our state is on target to be 50% clean energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050. Our optimal geographic location will serve as a capital for the offshore industry with project Ocean Wind, the largest purposebuilt offshore wind port in the U.S., currently under development.

It’snowondercelebritiesand filmmakers have been flocking to New Jersey since the creation of film. The history of filmmaking in New Jersey can be traced back to Thomas Edison’s Black Maria studio in West Orange, where the country’s first motion picture to be copyrighted was shot in 1893. Lionsgate Newark Studios will be the first purposebuilt studio in New Jersey specifically constructed for TV and film production, set to be completed in 2024. Supported by both the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, our robust 35% film and digital media tax credit attracts the world’s most accredited film and television studios. We are located within the New York Studio Film Zone in the 25-mile radius around Columbus Circle.

As New Jersey expands its commitment to diversity across all industries and sectors, we are one of the few states championing a 4% diversity bonus for detailed plans to hire women and minorities behind the camera. Plus, New Jersey has been a major star in the credits for the world’s most notable movies and television shows, from The Sopranos and Succession to the Irishman and Many Saints of Newark.

Asthedesignatedmarketing organization for the state, we promote New Jersey as the best place to live, work and play. Our mission is to stimulate job creation and attract capital investment to New Jersey. Through our free and confidential resources, we guide companies at every stage of establishing or expanding operations in New Jersey. From startups to multinationals, Choose New Jersey has supported companies in diverse industries from all over the world. We implement and lead business attraction advertising campaignstargetedatdomesticand international decision-makers looking to expand in the U.S. Since 2010, we have helped 350 companies create 39,000 new and retained jobs while generating $7.7 billion in capital investment.

Discover growth opportunities in New Jersey by visiting choosenj.com and tell us how we can help.