Seven of the Democrats and Republicans who are seeking their political party’s nomination to run for governor this year will share their plans to bolster New Jersey’s small diverse businesses at forum next month hosted by the New Jersey Diverse Business Advisory Council (NJDBAC).
The event at noon on Wednesday, March 19 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark is free to the public, but pre-registration is required here.
Three Republican and four Democratic gubernatorial candidates have confirmed their participation at the NJDBAC forum. The Republicans include Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and former radio host Bill Spadea. The Democrats include Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
The event offers an opportunity to hear directly from gubernatorial candidates on their plans for fostering a more inclusive business environment at a time when the nation is moving away from traditional initiatives that support small diverse businesses, event organizers said.
“New Jersey thrives when its diverse business community thrives,” said Elisa Charters, co-founder of Latina Surge and a member of the NJDBAC. “This event is a vital platform to hold our candidates accountable for creating policies that support opportunities for all businesses.”
Key topics to be addressed include:
- What can be done immediately to affect a change that supports more procurement opportunities for small & diverse businesses
- Building upon recommendations from the state’s 2024 Disparity Study, which highlighted systemic gaps and challenges facing small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the procurement of state contracts
- Enhancing resources and support for minority owned, women owned, LGBTQ+ owned, and veteran-owned businesses
- Developing legislative and executive strategies to promote inclusivity
The NJDBAC is a coalition of chambers of commerce and advocacy groups working to increase procurement opportunities for small diverse businesses, including women owned, Black owned, LGBTQ+ owned, Hispanic owned, Asian owned, and veteran owned businesses.
NJBAC partners include NJBIA, the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Black Business Alliance of New Jersey, the Korean American Association, the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations representing diverse businesses.
Ten candidates in all are seeking their party’s nomination for governor in the June 10 primary. The winners of the Democrat and Republican primaries will run against each other in the Nov. 4 General Election.
