By Senior Correspondent Desirée Taylor
NJ Today
Park Ridge has been the home Hertz’s headquarters since 1988. Company officials say they would have stayed here, but Hertz’s recent acquisition of another corporation — Thrifty Dollar — prompted the decision to consolidate and move hundreds of jobs to Florida. But Hertz executives say the company will still keep a presence in New Jersey.
Hertz charimain & ceo Mark Frissora
“The state of New Jersey will continue to have 2000 Hertz employees, and we’re going to grow in the state. And our equipment rental and rent-a-car businesses will grow and we will grow the employee base there. We’re also maintaining a lot of our corporate presence there still.”
The two-year transition of up to 700 jobs to Florida will be begin this year, but approximately 150 employees will remain in Park Ridge. Boro officials didn’t express concerns about Hertz’s plans, even though the company is the number one taxpayer in the town.
Said Park Ridge tax assessor Robert Campora, “As far as ratables, it will continue as a 225,000 square foot office building, whether it’s Hertz there or somebody else. It’s an attractive place.”
“We’ll miss having Hertz here in Park Ridge,” said Park Ridge business administrator Kelley O’Donnell. “I was here when the corporate parks were developed up there and the excitement that came with Hertz and Sony coming into the area. But Park Ridge will be OK.”
But the loss of jobs could mean less foot traffic for area businesses.
“As far as Hertz … we send a lot of flowers up there. Sure we’re going to lose some orders. It;s gonna hurt us but not to the extent of the employees that are probably going to be losing their jobs.” said florist Dave Tartaglione.
Other large employers have announced plans to leave New Jersey, among them, pharmaceutical giant Roche, who will be closing its Nutley/Clifton campus. Rutgers economics professor Joseph Seneca says, “this is an example of the intense competition among states for the attraction and retention of investment jobs, and it’s a Darwinian struggle.” He’s not surprised Hertz chose Florida because “Florida also provided incentives — it came down to cost.” Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno did offer Hertz $40 million worth of incentives to stay, but it was apparently too late.”