TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the appointment of Nina Moseley as Director of the Division of Minority and Women Business Development. Ms. Moseley currently serves as Senior Director of Business Services with the New Jersey Commerce Commission.   At the same time, the Governor authorized the transfer of the Division of Minority and Women Business Development from the Office of Economic Growth to the Department of Treasury.  “Small businesses are the heart of New Jersey’s economy,” said Governor Corzine. “These moves will provide a prime opportunity for the State to refocus its efforts to diversify its pool of supplier businesses. Nina Moseley is the ideal candidate to support this initiative.  I have no doubt that she will continue to vigorously represent the interests of this vital community.” Established as a permanent part of the executive branch, the Office of Economic Growth oversees the development and implementation of New Jersey’s overall business strategy and coordinates the state’s economic development efforts across all sectors and departments. To ensure equal opportunity for minority- and women-owned business enterprises and their participation in State purchasing and procurement processes, Governor Corzine signed Executive Order No. 34 creating the Division of Minority and Women Business Development. Within the Office of Economic Growth, the division has focused on a general, state-wide analysis of Small, Minority and Women Business Enterprise (SMWBE) utilization. The New Jersey Commerce Commission is charged by statute with the responsibility for the registration of SMWBEs with state and private entities. “The Office of Economic Growth looks forward to working with Treasury as we pursue  the goals and objectives set forth by Governor Corzine in Executive Order # 34,” said Gary D. Rose, Chief. “Encouraging the development and expansion of small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses remains an integral component of our overall economic growth strategy.”The transfer of the Division of Minority and Women Business Development to Treasury will place the division in the department of state government that oversees nearly all procurement by all state agencies and that has the authority to enhance efforts to expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises.  The transfer also will lay the groundwork for combining the registration and utilization functions while improving outreach to build capacity, track utilization across the State, and collaborate with outside stakeholders to ensure that the state is using best practices to support these businesses.                               “Though my job title and responsibilities are changing, the underlying task is the same: to support and encourage the development of New Jersey’s small business, especially minority and women-owned companies.” Moseley said. “I am honored that Governor Corzine has asked me to take on this tremendous responsibility and I look forward to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented.”  Moseley earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, holds a professional certification as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and received her BA in Economics from Rutgers University. Most recently, Moseley served as Senior Director of Business Services with the New Jersey Commerce Commission.  In that role she oversaw the registration of small businesses and the certification of women and minority owned businesses.  Acting Treasurer Michellene Davis today applauded the announcement to align the Division of Minority and Women Business Development with the Department of Treasury. “With the statutory authority and the staff resources of a major department behind it, the division will be empowered to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Governor’s directive,” Davis said. In concert with the reorganization, Davis announced that Treasury will seek to establish an Office of Supplier Diversity in the department, a new tool that would work hand in hand with the division to improve education and outreach to the women and minority-owned small business community. Davis said when officially commissioned in the coming weeks, this office will focus on identifying more opportunities for small, minority and women-owned businesses to better  apply for major contracts (public and private), increase their capacity, and learn from more established businesses through mentoring and networking strategies. Over 98 percent of all businesses In New Jersey are classified as a small business. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that the number of new small businesses in New Jersey increased over 16,000 in 2006.