Peter Lijoi Named Executive Director of New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority

TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority Board has appointed Peter Lijoi as the Authority's new executive director.

"Peter's expertise in strategic analysis and project design, as well as his experience in the areas of finance, real estate and legal management will undoubtedly advance the mission of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Program," said Commissioner Grifa. "He is an innovative thinker who has a proven ability to get results. We welcome him to the UEZ and look forward to the contributions he will make to the program."

Lijoi was most recently Senior Area Development Partner and Legal Counsel to Fairfield Residential LLC in Summit, NJ. He also worked as an acquisition advisor and legal consultant to several national homebuilders, including D.R. Horton Inc. and K. Hovnanian Companies. Earlier in his career, Lijoi served as General Counsel to the Rockland Industrial Development Agency and Vice President and Legal Counsel of the Rockland Economic Development Corporation.

He also served as President and Commissioner of the Union County Board of Taxation, hearing and deciding property tax appeals under appointment by both Republican and Democratic Governors.

"I thank the Board for this opportunity and I am humbled and honored to lead the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority," Lijoi said. "I am excited to help the UEZ continue its successful tradition of revitalizing local economies and eager to make it an even more effective economic development tool."

Lijoi, who resides in Summit, NJ, is a practicing attorney and New Jersey certified tax assessor. He holds a juris doctorate from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY, and a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University. He has undertaken graduate study in urban planning at Rutgers University.

The UEZ Program was enacted in 1983 and became an affiliated agency of the Department of Community Affairs in October 2008. The program is aimed at fostering an economic climate that revitalizes designated urban communities and stimulates their growth by encouraging businesses to develop and create private sector jobs through public and private investment. There are currently 32 zones in 37 municipalities throughout the state.

For further information on HMFA programs, please go to http://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/uez.


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