Atlantic County's two assemblymen called on the Christie administration today to create an economic development team to try to attract aviation companies to the region and the state.
Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vincent Polistina, both R-Atlantic, said in a statement that New Jersey needs to take advantage of federal investment in NextGen aviation navigation research at the William J. Hughes Technical Center.
The state, particularly the Economic Development Authority, should work to attract aviation and technology businesses, they said.
"When you look at the Economic Development Authority's website or annual report, you won't see an emphasis on aviation," Amodeo said.
"The EDA tries to attract high-tech companies in general, but the NextGen project - a complete overhaul of the air traffic control system - warrants special treatment. It deserves a team who will live, eat, sleep, and breathe aviation jobs," he said.
Polistina said the Federal Aviation Administration has made the technical center the nation's lead research facility on NextGen technology. He said the state should be marketing that fact to attract aviation companies to the state.
The assemblymen called for a special team to market aviation business opportunities in a letter to Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who heads economic development activities for Gov. Chris Christie. Other states, especially Virginia, are aggressively recruiting aviation companies to locate there, the letter said.
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