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Summit provides hope for economy
Leaders address regional business issues
by Charles W. Kim, Sentinel (NJ)
Dec. 11, 2003

EAST BRUNSWICK — Those attending an economic summit at the Hilton Tower Center on Route 18 Tuesday said they could leave with a sense of hope.

"I’m coming away with a real sense of possibilities and potential for change," Rebecca Perkins of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey said as she left the day-long forum.

Perkins was just one of the many business people, elected officials, community leaders and others attending the event hosted by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12).

The summit is part of larger effort to develop a unified vision and a common plan for regional economic development — similar to the rise of information technology in Silicon Valley, California, or the focus on life sciences and biotechnology in the Research Triangle, North Carolina, according to the Public Forum Institute, an independent, non-profit organization that promotes public discussion of issues.

"Communities across the nation are searching for ways to generate jobs and economic growth, and generate them fast," stated Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Public Forum Institute in a press release announcing the conference last week. "This summit will focus on how to capitalize on opportunities present now."

While a few economic sectors in the region are doing comparatively well, the local economy as a whole is stagnant and facing structural challenges due to corporate down-sizing and possible base closings. Einstein’s Alley: The Economic Summit hopes to bring together local business, labor, government, academic, and community leaders throughout central New Jersey to develop specific recommendations to confront these challenges, according to the institute.

"I want the people to leave the conference with a sense of possibilities. Not all futures are the same, and if we all don’t work together we will get one of the less desirable futures," Holt said outside the conference.

The event focused on the economic growth of the state and panel discussions tackled such issues as preparing the work force for the state’s economy, strengthening the region’s research and development advantage, supporting small businesses and encouraging entrepreneurs. In addition, panel discussions dealt with the challenge of promoting livable communities and sustainable development.

"We are all stakeholders. Everybody has a role to play," Holt said.

Each panel brought recommendations to the entire group and each recommendation was rated electronically.

Milltown resident and Lawrence Brook Watershed member Alan Godber attended the event and said that he was encouraged by the discussions throughout the day.

"There were a lot of people with a lot of energy. They want to see things done better," Godber said.

Godber said that he was also encouraged by the business leaders’ commitment to the environment. He added that the discussions started this week should continue.

"There was not totally a consensus on the issues. There needs to be an ongoing dialogue," Godber said.

Following the conference, Holt said that he planned to follow up with each of the participants by e-mail to see how successful the conference was.

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