Egg Harbor Twp. -- Atlantic County Freeholder At Large Alisa Cooper and candidates Jim Schroeder and Gene Maier today called on the county to make itself business friendly by expanding and publicizing the satellite center in the Hamilton Mall to actually create new business starts.   The Cooper, Schroeder, Maier initiative would provide one-stop shopping for businesses looking to expand, relocate, or even startup in Atlantic County.  Business owners could obtain all of the information necessary for their business needs, from registration forms to permitting applications.  In addition to the knowledgeable staff on hand to direct questions, agencies like the Small Business Administration could also be housed there.  As part of their initiative, they would work with the county to develop a marketing plan to better inform business owners of the services provided by the office. “Our stagnant national economy is dragging down our local well-being,” said Freeholder Cooper.  “As the Freeholder representative to the Workforce Investment Board, I have worked to promote job training.  We need to get our priorities straight.  The financial bailout needs to protect Main Street, instead of protecting Wall Street from their mistakes.  $10 billion a month is spent on doing for the Iraqis what the Iraqis need to do for themselves.  Even an extra $1 million a month spent here instead of in Iraq would triple the resources available for economic development through the Workforce Investment Board."  “We have had eight years of a Bush Administration that has done nothing for job growth in our region and is only now working feverishly to change the poor economic conditions that they created,” said Schroeder.  “With this initiative, Atlantic County would be in the driver seat for job growth, rather than simply along for the ride.”      “Our job market tilts heavily in the favor of the casino industry,” said Maier, noting that over ninety percent of New Jersey employer hired jobs are provided by smaller businesses.  “To protect our working families, we have to provide a diversity of jobs, so we are prepared even in weak economies.”      

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