Candidates running for governor in 2025 will be asked to share their plans to bolster New Jersey’s small diverse businesses at an upcoming gubernatorial forum hosted by the New Jersey Diverse Business Advisory Council (NJDBAC).
The 10 gubernatorial candidates have been invited to participate in the discussion at noon on Wednesday, March 19, in the Jim Wise Theatre in Kupfrian Hall, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. The event is free to the public, but pre-registration is required here.
The forum will provide 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 gubernatorial candidates running in the GOP primary are state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former state Sen. Ed Durr and conservative radio host Bill Spadea. Candidates running in the Democratic primary include Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
The winner of each political party’s June 10 primary will face off in the Nov. 4 General Election.
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.
