By NJ Keep It Green
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TRENTON, N.J. – With Labor Day just around the corner, NJ Keep It Green, the statewide coalition of more than 185 park, agricultural, historic preservation and conservation organizations, is reminding legislators that parks, farms and historic sites support hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Garden State and contribute billions of dollars to New Jersey’s economy each year.
“The jobs and economic benefits that our parks, farms, open spaces and historic treasures generate each year are significant,” said Tom Gilbert, chairman of NJ Keep It Green. “This is another reason why we need sustained funding to continue vital park and preservation efforts.”
In celebration of Labor Day, here’s a by-the-numbers look at some of jobs-related benefits of open space, parks, farms and historic sites:
Outdoor recreation in New Jersey generates 158,000 jobs and $6.1 billion in wages and salaries. (Outdoor Industry Association)
Agriculture in New Jersey generates at least 61,000 jobs statewide (Farm Credit East). An additional 350,000 acres of farmland still need to be preserved to sustain New Jersey’s agriculture industry, the state’s third largest.
New Jersey’s tourism industry – to which parks, waterways, open spaces, farms and historic sites are critical – directly supports 318,500 jobs and sustains more than 500,000 jobs including indirect and induced impacts. The tourism sector generated $34.7 billion of state GDP in 2012, 7 percent of the entire state economy. (New Jersey Department of State)
Historic preservation in New Jersey creates 10,140 in-state jobs each year. (Rutgers Center for Urban Policy Research). Every $1 invested in restoration of an historic building creates more jobs than a $1 spent on new construction.
Park development projects create jobs and help revitalize communities. More than $23 million in Green Acres Park Development funding approved in 2010 was conservatively estimated to employ 977 construction workers and numerous technical professionals. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection).
The state Senate voted twice this summer in favor of legislation that proposes a voter referendum to dedicate $200 million in sales tax revenues annually, less than one percent of the state budget, to renew and sustain funding for the Green Acres, Blue Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation programs.
The Assembly needs to move the bill forward this year so that the Legislature can pass it two years in a row as required to refer it to the November 2014 ballot.
About NJ Keep It Green NJ Keep It Green is a coalition of more than 185 park and conservation advocates working to create a long-term, dedicated source of funding for the preservation and stewardship of New Jersey’s natural areas, waterways, parks, farmland and historic sites. NJ Keep It Green led successful campaigns to pass statewide ballot measures in 2006, 2007, and 2009 generating $600 million for state open space, farmland and historic preservation programs. For more information or to sign the NJ Keep It Green Statement of Support, visit www.njkeepitgreen.org.
