By Michael Hill
Correspondent
“This my friend, marks a new day. A brand new day in our capital city as we look to develop and move forward,” said Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson.
Jackson launched the 22nd Business Week Trenton by announcing the formation of Greater Trenton – an independent, non-profit organization to target economic development in the core of the capital city.
“A public private partnership doesn’t work unless there’s commitment leadership on both sides,” said Bernie Flynn.
Flynn, an NJTV board member and the President and CEO New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, is co-chair and is among the business and academic heavy hitters who already have committed $2 million over five years to staff the non-profit that will act as a one-stop shop for investors.
“Success will not come easily,” Flynn said.
Trenton’s issues are well documented; the state’s capital that becomes a ghost town after business hours, schools that under-perform and countless abandoned buildings that fall in the shadow of the capitol.
Partners of Greater Trenton say they know the challenges don’t lend themselves to fast solutions or quick fixes. They say this initiative requires commitment and vision.
“It is not an impossible task. Things are already happening,” Co-chair Caren Franzini said.
Franzini was the long-time head of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
“We have to ensure that we’re attracting companies that say what’s happening in the neighborhood two blocks away and is there other investment occurring?” Franzini said.
“I think this initiative helps lend itself to making sustained commitment to seeing us get there like other cities around the state,” Jackson said.
“Where 10,000 men and women made steel there’s not a cheesecake factory,” said Tom Murphy.
Murphy, who served three terms as Pittsburgh Mayor, told city and business leaders what it would take to turn around Trenton. He’s now a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute.
“Every morning I woke up with, ‘how do we give people a sense of future for themselves?’ When you’re talking about young people that is by and large what you’re talking about, people that don’t see a future. And either they’re going to leave or they’re going to end up hanging out and that’s the focus. That needs to be the focus,” Murphy said.
“This is an opportunity not to be wasted,” Flynn said.
Greater Trenton is three years in the making and aims to make a lasting impact here by unchaining the city’s economic potential.