Beth Fitzgerald joined NJBIZ in October 2008 after 34 years a beat reporter, business writer and business editor at the Star-Ledger in Newark. An NJBIZ deputy editor and reporter, Beth covers a wide range of issues facing New Jersey businesses, including the rising cost of health coverage and the availability of finance and credit. 
Noting that the Jon S. Corzine administration cut state support for the NJSBDC from $1 million to $250,000, “we urge Governor Christie to support the state’s investment in small business assistance and services through the NJSBDC,” Brenda Hopper, state director of the NJSBDC, said in a statement today.
Associate State Director Deb Smarth said she doesn’t know what level of funding Christie will propose for the NJSBDC. The governor will make his budget address to a joint session of the Legislature next Tuesday, where he will unveil his proposed state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
“We have not heard anything from the Christie administration — we have visited with
In January, the economic development subcommittee's report to Christie’s transition team proposed using the existing SBDC network as an outreach vehicle for a new “Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.”
Last year, the NJSBDC said its 11 offices statewide counseled and trained more than 21,000 entrepreneurs and small-business owners, helping clients to save and create 12,636 jobs and 730 clients to start new businesses. In addition, the NJSBDC said it facilitated $30.4 million in financing for its clients, and assisted small-business owners with securing federal, state and commercial contracts valued at $150 million.
E-mail Beth Fitzgerald at bfitzgerald@njbiz.com
