Carol Rauscher, President & CEO, North New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

In an interview with Invest:, Carol Rauscher, president and CEO of the North New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, discussed recent initiatives to promote economic growth, support small businesses, and navigate the region’s evolving business landscape. “When people hear constant negativity about the economy, they hesitate to spend, so it’s important to highlight success stories and keep businesses engaged,” she said.

What have been some of the recent efforts the chamber has made to promote economic growth in the dynamic North Jersey community?

We cover 16 towns, including parts of Hudson. Weehawken is included, and we extend all the way up to Northvale. There are other chambers — Meadowlands, Jersey City, and Hoboken have their own— but we cover a lot of the areas that don’t have their own chambers. It’s an exciting region, and we enjoy working here because these towns operate differently. If a town has its own chamber and organizes a ribbon-cutting or Restaurant Week, the exposure is limited to just that town’s residents. But that’s not how this part of New Jersey functions. People live and work all over.

One of the important things many people don’t realize about this area is that we have an Enterprise Zone. In New Jersey, certain towns receive tax discounts to encourage business growth. In this region, towns like Guttenberg, West New York, and North Bergen benefit from this. For example, if you purchase a refrigerator from P.C. Richard & Son in West New York, even if you live elsewhere, you still receive that tax discount.

In terms of initiatives, we launched Restaurant Month. We have a diverse restaurant scene, and the great thing about Restaurant Month is that it’s open to everyone, so people from all over can participate.

We also host numerous networking events, but we don’t limit them to just chamber members. If we did, we’d keep seeing the same faces. Instead, we collaborate with real estate firms, downtown economic development groups, Rotary clubs, and Bergen PAC to bring together a broader audience. Each event includes a short presentation from one of these organizations. For example, an event in Closter featured Bergen PAC.

Another major initiative we manage is a farmer’s market, which runs from Friday, June 6, through November 21. It was so successful last year that we extended it. 

How has integration with other smaller chambers impacted Northern New Jersey?

One of the key things we do — and something small chambers really appreciate — is organizing grand openings and ribbon cuttings. For example, we did one in Norwood, a small town where an advanced audiology center just opened. We made a video, took photos, and shared everything on Facebook, Instagram, and our website. We also provided the materials to the business so they could distribute them. This type of exposure is crucial because when people look for audiology services, they don’t necessarily want to go to a large hospital in Hackensack or Englewood. Norwood, being further north and having ample parking, is an attractive alternative.

When we organize these events, we involve local government officials, including the mayor, county representatives, and state legislators. Either they attend personally, or they send a representative. This is important because it not only keeps politicians informed but also helps businesses feel valued and connected to their community.

One new initiative we introduced this year is video coverage of ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and restaurant ribbon cuttings. Showcasing these moments through video has been a game-changer in demonstrating the impact of our work.

How have ongoing market changes impacted the chamber and its members?

The retail sector has really struggled. Between Amazon and online shopping, traditional retail just isn’t what it used to be. People prefer to shop at discount chains like TJ Maxx and Target.

Take Edgewater, for example. It has a shopping center featuring Target, TJ Maxx, Michaels, Old Navy, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Burlington Coat Factory. Parking is abundant, and on Saturdays, the area is packed. The customers aren’t just going to one store; they’re visiting multiple stores, which you can see by the variety of shopping bags they carry.

On the other hand, places like Englewood, which once had a thriving retail scene, are now dominated by restaurants, salons, and service-oriented businesses. People used to flock to Englewood for sidewalk sales, but over the past few years, attendance has declined significantly. Parking and accessibility have become major deterrents. That’s why we’ve adjusted our approach, offering five-day indoor-outdoor sales to help businesses clear inventory.

Looking at the economy today, I’d advise anyone considering opening a retail business to do thorough research because the landscape is shifting. Services and restaurants seem to be the dominant sectors now.

What strategies is the chamber implementing to support small businesses, particularly minority-owned businesses?  

One of the most important things we do is connect small businesses with valuable state resources. The New Jersey Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Association both offer tremendous support for small businesses, including manuals, guidance, and financial assistance programs.  

Instead of hosting endless seminars that small-business owners often can’t attend due to time constraints, we focus on sharing information efficiently. For example, at our annual meeting, we invited representatives from the Business Action Center, the Economic Development Association, and Bergen County Economic Development to present their resources. The session was recorded and shared with our members, along with PowerPoint materials. This allows business owners to access the information on their own schedule.  

Another major initiative is the North Jersey Resource Group in conjunction with Bergen and Hudson counties. This event provides small-business owners with a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with key organizations that offer assistance. Meeting someone face-to-face makes it easier to reach out later for help.

We also ensure that minority-owned businesses are included in all these efforts. We maintain lists of women-owned, Black-owned, and Hispanic-owned businesses and keep them informed of relevant programs. Since towns like West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen have a large Hispanic population, we make sure to have Spanish-speaking representatives available at our events.

We frequently send out updates from the New Jersey Business Action Center. Our email open rates through Constant Contact are about 25%, which is high for industry standards, so we know our members are paying attention to these resources.  

What’s your outlook for the Chamber and North Jersey’s economy over the next two to three years?

The economy is in a state of change, and with factors like tariffs and fluctuating interest rates, it’s hard to predict where things are headed. For example, when I renovated my kitchen, the costs increased because of tariffs on goods from China. These kinds of policies have a direct impact on consumers and businesses. And when states face financial challenges, it trickles down to local economies.

That being said, we can’t just sit back and wait to see what happens. We have to be proactive. Our focus will remain on helping businesses grow, promoting local economies, and providing positive news. When people hear constant negativity about the economy, they hesitate to spend, so it’s important to highlight success stories and keep businesses engaged.

One thing I’ve realized is the power of testimonials. I never used to focus on them much, but now I see the value in showcasing how the chamber has helped businesses. Hearing directly from business owners about how our initiatives have supported them can encourage others to get involved. For example, we are working with businesses to plan and conduct World Cup events and with local municipalities to organize community-sized Watch Parties to capture the energy of the World Cup matches, especially those held in New Jersey.