TOMS RIVER, NJ – Art Gallagher, confidential secretary to Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill today said, the government of the township is here to help small businesses.
According to Gallagher, the Township Council unanimously passed a resolution creating a Special Advisory Committee on Small Business on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Related: It is what it is, Toms River Council President says after seniors hit with 40% tax hike
“The committee’s mission is to engage with the Small Business Community and explore ways that the municipal government can support business growth and entrepreneurship in Toms River during the post-pandemic recovery,” Gallagher who gets paid $89,0000 annually to take photographs and write press releases for Hill said of the new board.
“Our small businesses were hit very hard by the pandemic and the often ill-conceived regulations imposed by our state and federal government, “said Councilman Josh Kopp. “Now is the time to let small business owners know that we have their back and we will do all that we can to help them open and thrive.”
Kopp will serve as the Chair of the committee. Council Vice President Matthew Lotano is the Vice-Chair and Councilman David Ciccocizzi is a member. Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill is an ex officio member. Members of the business community will be invited to participate by the councilmen.
Gallagher said the committee’s first meeting will be a business roundtable discussion held in Town Hall on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 PM where the councilmen and mayor will seek input from business owners.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and an integral component of our community, said Ciccocizzi. “We need to support them and we need to listen to their concerns and ideas about how we should be supporting them.”
Business owners and potential business owners who would like to attend the first meeting of the committee on March 15 should contact Art Gallagher in Mayor Hill’s office at agallagher@tomsrivertownship.com or 732-341-1000, ext. 8469.