Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Less than 10% of New Jersey’s spent public dollars goes to diverse businesses, according to New Jersey Office of Diversity and Inclusion Chief Diversity Officer Hester Agudosi. The number comes from a disparity study Agudosi’s office is currently working on and was shared while she moderated the virtual NJBIZ Diversity in the Workplace panel on Aug. 31.

Women, minorities and veterans face unique challenges when it comes to opening businesses and accessing capital. But it just got a bit easier for them in New Jersey. In recognition of National Small Business Month, state Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio announced that the $100 filing fee to become certified as a Small-, Minority-, Woman- or Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise is being waived indefinitely.

Rowan’s Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) met with the same department leaders from schools across New Jersey. The event was called “Dreams Will Not Be Deferred,” hosted by Hester Agudosi, the chief diversity officer (CDO) of the New Jersey Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Diversity in the workplace leads to greater success. That was one of the messages delivered at the Somerset County Business Partnership's first Somerset County Diversity and Inclusion Summit held virtually on Sept. 24.

Hester Agudosi, New Jersey’s chief diversity officer and a panel moderator at the symposium, shared statistics on the success in women-led businesses. Companies that have higher numbers of women in their workforce have gained higher financial profits and productivity when compared to companies that have fewer women employees, Agudosi noted, and four out of 10 U.S. businesses are women-owned.

State officials and industry leaders — and plenty of both were present — made one thing clear Wednesday at the Diversity in Film and Television Production Forum in Newark: New Jersey has everything the industry needs to grow its presence in the state.

Paterson has found a niche, in particular, with companies looking to film movies that represent other time periods.

Film and television productions officially have returned to New Jersey, thanks to the reinstatement and significant bolstering of the Film Tax Credit Program, signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy last summer.

State officials and industry leaders - and plenty of both were present - made one thing clear Wednesday at the Diversity in Film and Television Production Forum in Newark: New Jersey has everything the industry needs to grow its presence in the state.

Thomas Edison is credited with inventing motion pictures at his studios in West Orange, NJ, in the late 1880s. So New Jersey could've become what Hollywood turned into.

NJ Transit said it issued $1.4 million in raises to more than 200 workers last year to comply with New Jersey's new pay-equity law.

Gov. Phil Murphy hired Hester Agudosi in April as the state’s chief diversity officer to oversee greater inclusion efforts, both within the government’s hiring practices, as well as for third-party and contractor positions.

New Jersey is joining a trend with its first chief diversity officer, appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy last week.