(TRENTON) – To employ more local residents, Assembly Democrats Annette Chaparro (D-Hudson), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Hunterdon, Mercer), and Joe Danielsen (D-Middlesex, Somerset) sponsor legislation, passed by the full Assembly on Monday 69-2-1, requiring the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to adopt rules and regulations providing incentives for entities running environmental infrastructure projects. The NJIB provides loans for the construction of environmental projects, some of which ensure the safety of drinking water, and protect ground and surface water.
Under the current law, the NJIB requires local government units conducting environmental infrastructure projects to establish an affirmative action program. The bill (A-5018) would further that initiative to develop local employment and require that the NJIB provide incentives for entities who employ residents who live in the municipality where the infrastructure project is happening. The measure would also direct the Department of Environmental Protection to provide additional priority points to certain applicants that seek funding for sewerage and drinking water infrastructure projects.
Following Assembly approval of the measure, Chaparro, Reynolds-Jackson, and Danielsen issued the following joint statement:
“Hiring Local residents creates quality jobs and propels career paths for individuals who live in municipalities where environmental projects are located. The main goal of this bill is to focus on training local talent and keep jobs within our own communities.”
“Every municipality has a goal towards lowering their unemployment rate. The incentives given to contractors by the NJIB will help keep local residents employed and give them a skillset they can continue to use when the projects are completed.”