NJ Names CEO For State's Private-Sector Job Development Program

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- The Christie administration continues its efforts to promote private-sector job development, with the announcement of the first CEO for "Choose New Jersey."

It's part three of governor Chris Christie's three-pronged "Partnership for Action" with the private industry. This office, to be headed up by Tracy McDaniel (who leaves a similar position in Houston, Tex.) will be charged with retaining businesses already in New Jersey and luring new businesses to the state.

"The job of 'Choose New Jersey' is to get that message out, that this is becoming a pro-business environment," McDaniel told reporters on Thursday.  "And we have a story to tell about the assets of New Jersey."

Christie points to recent federal statistics showing one out of every five new private-sector jobs last month were created in the Garden State as proof that they're doing something right.

But with unemployment still over nine percent, the governor insists there's still a lot more work to do.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060.