Page 21 - MidJersey Business - September 2014

Many of those restaurant
Trenton is known to have
not pay the taxes that private busi-
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“WHEN WE
owners claim that they left Trenton
great bones in its infrastructure
ness would. How can this situation
GET CRIME
because of the crime. They didn’t
and remaining from its days as an
be softened in Trenton’s favor?
feel safe. Is that just a matter of
industrial power, all of which can
UNDER
If they were a private
stafing up the police force and put-
be built upon.
business, I wouldn’t have a
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CONTROL,
ting more cops on the street?
The structure is here. structural deicit. That’s just fact. PEOPLE WILL
Let me be up front: As we begin to talk to developers
We’re having good conversations JACKSON
WANT TO
Making sure that our violent
and business owners locally and with the governor and with the JACKSON
crime goes down but making sure regionally, they understand what I Department of Community Af- COME TO

our quality of life goes up is a already know: When we get crime fairs about methods that would CREATE NEW
paramount part of that process. under control, people will want
help a city like Trenton that has

It’s important for folks to under- to come to create new business just about two square miles oc- BUSINESS
stand they’re safe to come in with and expand business in this city. cupied by state buildings from
AND EXPAND
their families to have good food People are calling us. The Block 3 which we don’t get our fair share
here in the city . but to sustain project is getting underway. Peo- in taxes. We’re looking at some BUSINESS IN

restaurants and bring in new ones, ple want to come here for retail models that would help to make THIS CITY.”
not only do we have to make sure and commercial use in our city.
it a more level playing ield, but

that crime is a focal point, but we I would love to say it’s because we’re not there and we have to

have to do beautiication projects. Eric Jackson is the mayor, but ind other creative ways to bal-
People want to come into a clean they understand that those bones ance our budget and make that

city where they feel a sense of are already here. With the right uneven scenario a little better
community and pride. Thirdly, leadership, it makes that a perfect for a capital city. The truth of the

people want to come into a city scenario that a capital city that is matter is while they’re not paying
where there’s some excitement manageably sized, can do some their fair share, they’re utilizing

and some energy. So that part of real good things. It’s a great time our resources—police, ire, water,
it, built in with our art, culture, for people to invest in moving our sewer, and our infrastructure—

and history, we want connectivity city forward.
every single day.
from our restaurants to the great

things that are already going on
here that can create that energy.
One of Trenton’s biggest
It seems that they key to any
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challenges has been that the city’s
Trenton renaissance relies heavily
biggest employer—the state—does
on small businesses and mom-and-

Trenton is the smallest state
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capital in the country so there

isn’t the real estate to host many
big businesses. Any turnaround

is going to have to be powered by
small to medium-sized companies.

What is the role they play Trenton’s

renaissance?
Business plays a strong

role with us because we have a
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prime opportunity right now

where, particularly millennials,
are looking to come back into

small, manageable cities with
great histories, culture, and access

like Trenton has. If there is ever
a time as we build a city up, they

should want to partner with a city

that is on the road to revitaliza-
tion. Growth potential is going to

be high.

september 2014
19