New Jersey’s Logistics Sector Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Combat Misinformation and Highlight Economic Benefits
A newly formed coalition, Circulate NJ, has launched a public awareness campaign to champion the economic contributions of New Jersey’s logistics sector and counter misinformation that has hampered warehouse development. The coalition, comprising developers, dockworkers, truckers, and major companies like Amazon, aims to educate residents and local leaders about the industry’s vital role in the state’s economy. With the holiday shopping season as their backdrop, Circulate NJ emphasizes that transportation, logistics, and distribution companies support over 400,000 jobs, representing 12% of the state’s private workforce and contributing $62.5 billion to the state’s GDP.
David Greek, a managing partner of Greek Real Estate Partners and a key figure in Circulate NJ, stresses the importance of reaching New Jersey residents and consumers who interact with the industrial community daily. The campaign, utilizing both digital and traditional media, will showcase the sector’s economic impact and its role in remediating contaminated industrial sites. The diverse membership of Circulate NJ allows for a multi-faceted approach to communication, leveraging the individual networks of developers, tenants, and trade groups to disseminate information effectively.
The impetus for Circulate NJ arose from developers’ frustrations with organized grassroots efforts opposing warehouse projects. These groups often disseminate misinformation about environmental impacts, project ownership, and development intentions. This misinformation, coupled with increasingly hostile rhetoric, has created a challenging environment for developers. Greek explains that while community pushback is expected, the scale and pervasiveness of misinformation have become a significant obstacle.
Circulate NJ aims to foster a more informed dialogue between developers and communities. Greek emphasizes that the campaign does not seek to stifle public discourse but rather to ground it in facts and address genuine concerns. He notes a shift in public conversations, from specific project details like truck traffic routes to countering misinformation campaigns. These campaigns, sometimes deliberate and sometimes stemming from public misinterpretation of complex processes, create a sense of paranoia that is difficult to overcome.
A major focus of Circulate NJ’s messaging is the environmental remediation work undertaken by developers on blighted industrial sites. Greek explains that the complexity of environmental science often leads to public misinterpretations of partial information. Developers invest significant resources and expertise in navigating New Jersey’s stringent environmental regulations, but this often goes unappreciated. The coalition seeks to highlight the benefits of this private remediation, emphasizing the developers’ commitment to community health and safety.
Beyond environmental concerns, Circulate NJ will also emphasize the logistics industry’s significant employment contribution. The sector offers stable, well-paying jobs, often providing a viable alternative for workers displaced by the decline of U.S. manufacturing. Greek highlights the importance of correcting the misperception of trucking and logistics as undesirable jobs, emphasizing their crucial role in supporting families and the state’s economy. He notes that these jobs offer comparable pay and security to manufacturing positions, a stark contrast to the instability often associated with retail and service industry roles.
The coalition’s campaign will underscore the breadth and depth of the logistics industry’s impact. From truckers and warehouse workers to the broader supply chain that delivers goods to consumers, the sector plays a vital role in daily life. Circulate NJ aims to foster a greater appreciation for this often-overlooked industry and to promote a more informed and productive dialogue between developers, communities, and policymakers. The ultimate goal is to ensure that future development decisions are based on accurate information and a balanced understanding of the logistics sector’s essential contribution to New Jersey’s prosperity. Through targeted messaging and a diverse coalition of voices, Circulate NJ seeks to reshape the narrative surrounding warehouse development and highlight the positive impacts of a robust logistics industry.