Grand Central New Jersey
“Today, we settle the decades-old debate once and for all: Central Jersey exists,” said Governor Phil Murphy upon signing bill S3206 in August. The legislation requires NJ’s Division of Travel and Tourism to redraw state tourism maps to designate a “Central Jersey” region and to identify it in all regional marketing campaigns and materials. According to the bill, Central Jersey is comprised of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties.
While the many distinctions between regions comprising North Jersey and South Jersey have long been acknowledged (think: pork roll versus Taylor ham; Meadowlands versus Pinelands) the need to laud Central Jersey has been increasingly debated in recent years in forums ranging from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to high school history classes.
No more.
“The region has a rich history dating back to the American Revolution, with a legacy graced by historical figures like George Washington,” noted Murphy. “And today, Central Jersey is home to some of the nation’s leading public universities and host to beautiful agricultural landscapes and activities for tourists to immerse themselves in.”
Located at the geographic center of New Jersey, Central Jersey is also home to an abundance of food and drink enterprises, including farms, wineries, restaurants, and more. The new marketing focus on Central New Jersey is expected to be a boon to tourism throughout the region and to help the economic health of local communities and small businesses.
“It’s terrific that the State has formally recognized the unique qualities of Central Jersey and committed to helping us market the immense appeal of the region’s destinations,” says Marc Saluk, director of economic development for Hunterdon County, noting that the legislation “will have a big impact on our economy, our farms, our main streets, and our small businesses.” The bill’s prime sponsors were Senator Andrew Zwicker and Assemblyman Roy Freiman.
Brad Fay, founder of Discover Central New Jersey and a leading advocate for the legislation, is excited about the opportunity to forge a new brand identity for the region focused on agritourism, heritage tourism, and eco-tourism.
“New Jersey’s image outside our state tends to focus on the Shore, Atlantic City, and the Meadowlands,” notes Fay. “By telling the stories of Central Jersey we can put the ‘garden’ back in the Garden State, and [also] remind the nation about the centrality of our region to winning American independence almost 250 years ago.”
The bill goes into effect by year’s end.
