Orlando Cruz, County Commissioner, Passaic County
Orlando Cruz, County Commissioner of Passaic County, sat down with Invest: to discuss how the county is working to enhance its appeal as a tourism destination, strategic changes that are being made to transportation services, and how the increase in demand for trade jobs is benefiting the community. “Trades are in high demand,” Cruz said. “We work with a lot of manufacturers and tradesmen who are providing opportunities for young people to establish themselves and acquire a high-paying job.”
What have been some key updates over the last 12 months for Passaic County?
We have had a wide variety of activities happening within the county, whether that be economic development or tourism. Our county spans across 16 municipalities, and each municipality has its unique offerings. One of the largest distributors of Mexican food products on the East Coast, called Gromex, will be breaking ground on a new facility in the city of Paterson, for example. This facility will create hundreds of jobs as well as offer more direct access to produce. Our Downtown Paterson Business District is seeing an increase in foot traffic in retail and the restaurant scene. Paterson has arguably the most diverse food scene in the state of New Jersey, with over 70 different ethnicities represented.
From a community perspective, the community has expanded in shared services. We have increased access to public health networks, which has allowed the community more access to vaccinations and health education. We recently partnered with a rideshare program to launch Passaic County MOVE, which will provide residents in Passaic and Clifton with access to transportation services at a much lower cost than a service like Uber.
How is Passaic County working to enhance its appeal as a destination for new residents and businesses?
We have been doubling down on promotional and marketing activities. We have social media pages that highlight activities to participate in across the county. Continuing to push the marketing aspect of what is happening here locally, as well as partnering with our local municipalities to highlight what they are doing.
The reopening of Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson has attracted a lot of individuals from all over the country. We have many state-of-the-art parks located within our county, one of which is the Great Falls National Park that attracts roughly 300,000 people a year. Passaic County has been working on a new development in one of our parks to create a river walk experience. We have also made an effort to highlight our unique culinary experience through the use of restaurant weeks. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible through our marketing activities and make them aware of what Passaic County has to offer.
Passaic County is home to one of the most popular public golf courses in the state of New Jersey, and we are hosting the 2031 New Jersey Public Links Championship. There are also many historic sites across the county, and there is definitely a market for that. We have strong ties to the history of our country due to our geographical location. Our historical societies department has been involved with the planning of the 250th anniversary of our nation, and we are looking forward to those activities.
What steps is the county taking to support small and mid-sized businesses in the region?
We have been strategizing and working with transportation authorities, like New Jersey Transit, to see how we can streamline accessibility and find a more cost-effective approach. We have also been working on our own infrastructure — an example of that being our senior transportation services — as well as working with our parking authorities to ensure that there is sufficient parking available for those traveling here. Bringing back our trolley system would allow people to take in the views, visit historic sites, and get the most bang for their buck. Helping people get to and from their jobs, downtowns, doctors’ appointments, and grocery shopping is something we feel that we need to invest in. With excitement building for America250 and the upcoming World Cup here in the U.S., there are also opportunities for businesses to prepare themselves for an increase in tourists and people looking to share in the collective experience of these events.
How is Passaic County addressing workforce development to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers?
Passaic County has various agency partners that focus on just that. Within the county itself, we have our workforce investment board that is partnering with experts to ensure that our community has access to good-paying jobs. Partnering with in-demand industries and preparing individuals so they are workforce-ready is key. Our one-stop developmental center is part of that. Our goal is to create a system similar to the minor league system in sports, meaning that when the need presents itself, these individuals are ready to go and have the training to step right into these roles.
Our small-business developmental center works with individuals who either want to start a business or currently own a business and need guidance. They help small businesses navigate challenges, as well as assist entrepreneurs in getting started. We’re also proud that our local Small Business Development Center worked with more than 400 entrepreneurs and small businesses over the past year, with expansion and stability throughout the past few years, and is constantly working with our state partners to provide the necessary resources and support from filing their incorporation documents to signing their first lease to applying for grants through the NJEDA.
Creating a great partnership is of the utmost importance. The small-business developmental center has a long list of referral partners, ranging from financial institutions to nonprofits like SCORE. SCORE consists of retired business owners and CEOs who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in running a business and provide free counseling to entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Maintaining these partnerships has been crucial.
What industries are in demand, and how do you anticipate those industries benefiting the community and county?
Trades are in high demand. Not every individual coming out of high school is meant for college. We work with a lot of manufacturers and tradesmen who are providing opportunities for young people to establish themselves and acquire a high-paying job. Our community college has partnered with many different companies to provide training for a variety of blue-collar jobs. These jobs give our youth access to jobs that pay well at a young age, so they can support both themselves and their families for years to come. Apprenticeship programs allow people to make money while simultaneously earning certifications or college credits. We have seen both a boom and a need for these types of jobs. With more and more films and television shows being filmed in Passaic County, workers for this sector are in demand. Our partners at the community college, William Paterson, and Montclair State University all have a hand in preparing the next generation of the workforce for these jobs.
What are the primary challenges facing the county, and what opportunities do you see for future growth?
Communication has been a challenge, and we are in need of a better way to streamline information, whether that be promoting an event, promoting tourism, or promoting different educational programs that are available. Across the board, we need to do a better job at streamlining the message of how we communicate with our constituencies. Finding creative ways to reach a larger audience has been a priority for us lately.
Technology is ever-changing, and we need to find ways to market our warehouse space. Data centers are going to be huge and we are already behind in that regard. Meeting with our real estate developers and conveying to them that there is a need for this particular type of facility, and encouraging them to take advantage of those opportunities, is going to be key. It is important to understand and keep up to date with the changing trends in the market.
Aside from being the county commissioner, I am also the president of the Chamber of Commerce. We have constantly been in conversation about how the traditional retail environment is dying. We are moving toward a more service-based industry. People want to see more coffee shops, dry cleaners, nail salons, and barber shops, among others. There has been an uptick in mixed-use development in downtown areas. Working with our municipal partners, we’re improving these areas to create more destinations where people want to spend time at shops and restaurants. Small business owners will need to adapt their business models to changing tastes, bigger and broader impacts from federal policies, and the overall cost of doing business. We have been educating people and letting them know that this is where things are headed, so they have a bit of a heads-up and can remain successful. Our job is to invest in the infrastructure to make that happen, and I’m confident that Passaic County has a bright future.
