NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Cory Booker, United States senator from New Jersey, hosted a roundtable event for female small business owners Friday morning at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. 

Mayor Jim Cahill was there as well and indicated that he would like to see businesses run by women both larger and more profitable in general.

Addressing those in attendance at the beginning of the day, Booker enthusiastically said:
“You all in this room right now have such a profound potential to make even a greater impact.”

The event at RU was Booker’s second such event, with more to follow.  Last month, the new Senator hosted a roundtable for minority small business owners in Camden.

Booker said that he plans on hosting more roundtables throughout the state and that he will focus on groups that don’t always receive the support they need.

Currently there are about 230,800 businesses owned by women in New Jersey.  Those enterprises will do approximately $45 billion in sales this year according to recent data from American Express that Booker highlighted.

“If better is possible, good is not enough,” Booker said. “So we need to make sure that we go further.”

Cahill acknowledged that he frequently sees women-owned small businesses that are not profitable and said that needs to change.

Referring to the technology sector, Booker said: “I think it’s a real growth sector and there’s a lot of entrepreneurialism happening there.”

Business Reporter at New Brunswick Today | dschatz@nb.today

Dave is an award-winning business reporter who has authored over 200 articles for New Brunswick Today.

Dave is an award-winning business reporter who has authored over 200 articles for New Brunswick Today.