Why It Matters
Burlington City could soon join New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zone program, allowing businesses to charge half the state’s retail sales tax and access state economic development funding. The designation would give the small Delaware River community new tools to combat poverty and attract investment to its historic downtown.
What Happened
The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation this month that would make Burlington City eligible for the state’s Urban Enterprise Zone program. The measure now advances to the full Senate and Assembly. If signed into law, city officials would have 90 days to submit a zone development plan to the state Urban Enterprise Zone Authority.
The legislation is sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton, a Democrat from Burlington County who chairs the committee. The bill received 5-0 approval from the panel.
By the Numbers
Burlington City has roughly 10,000 residents, with about 17 percent living in poverty. Businesses within the proposed zone would be permitted to charge a 3.3125 percent sales tax rate, half the state’s standard 6.625 percent rate. The city was founded in 1677, making it one of New Jersey’s oldest municipalities. New Jersey currently has 32 Urban Enterprise Zones spanning parts of 37 communities.
The Program
Established in 1983 and reformed by legislation in 2021, the Urban Enterprise Zone program provides participating communities with reduced sales tax authority and flexible funding for economic development projects. Cities with the designation include Asbury Park, Camden, Newark, Plainfield, and Trenton.
City Council President Dawn Bergner-Thompson said the designation would serve as an additional economic development tool as Burlington City prepares to celebrate 350 years since its founding. Seigha Omuso, president of the Main Street Burlington advocacy group, told lawmakers the program would create access to funding for infrastructure improvements, storefront upgrades, and beautification projects.
Zoom Out
Burlington City faces challenges common to aging urban centers in New Jersey. Much of its inhabitable land sits within a flood zone due to its riverfront location. The city is divided by Route 130 and New Jersey Transit’s River Line light rail, creating multiple rail crossings. Officials also cited the environmental legacy of the city’s post-Colonial industrial period as an ongoing concern.
The city once served as capital of the Colonial province of West Jersey and was home to the estate of William Franklin, New Jersey’s royal governor before the American Revolution. East Union Street contains the former home of Oliver Cromwell, a free Black farmer and decorated Revolutionary War soldier who fought under General George Washington.
What’s Next
The legislation awaits floor votes in the Senate and Assembly. If passed by both chambers, it would proceed to Governor Mikie Sherrill for signature. Upon enactment, Burlington City officials would have three months to prepare and submit a zone development plan outlining how they would utilize the program’s economic development tools and tax incentives.