New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce Ends First Quarter of 2024 With a GOOOOOOOAL!

The NJPCC will host four events this year dedicated to Diversity and the 2026 World Cup, including hosting the FIFA DEI & Racism presentation at William Paterson University.

WAYNE, N.J. (May 1, 2024) – The New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce (NJPCC) is proud to announce that the first quarter of 2024 was one of the best, in its eleven-year history.

The year started out with an attempt to codify Executive Order #295, which would make the recognition of LGBTQ+ owned businesses by the state, the law of the land, and make NJ the first state in the country with such a law on the books. This came to fruition on March 18, 2024, when both houses voted in support of the bill and even won an overwhelming majority of Republican Legislators. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature which the NJPCC hopes will draw a large crowd of support when the public signing is announced.

The end of winter brought the week of FIFA and the NJPCC. Two years of meetings and preparations led to the NJPCC confirming the presentation of the FIFA DEI & Racism initiative to the world at William Paterson University on April 27th. The organization also requested a second opportunity to present the initiative and with the amazing support of the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, planned a Meet & Greet with FIFA DEI and the NYNJ Host Committee for the World Cup 2026 on April 25th at the Burlington County Technical Institute. Finally, the NJPCC hosted a lunch for all the presenters for the week’s events at American Dream, which included the New York Red Bulls, the NYCFC and Gotham FC alongside ROI-NJ, NJ Business Beat with Raven Santana, leadership of NJ state diverse chambers and special guests from around the state.

The NJPCC is proud to have been able to show the diversity and resources the state of New Jersey offers every day and what will be waiting for the millions of tourists coming in 2026. It was with great excitement and appreciation that we ended the quarter with a post from FIFA on their LinkedIn page, acknowledging the events in New Jersey and the NJPCC, to their half a million followers. The NJPCC in partnership with the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will now celebrate the World Cup and the state’s diversity on June 13, 2024, at American Dream and every June until 2026.

The current NJPCC board members include: Jacob Meola, Kathleen Waters, Terez Thorpe,
Debbie Millar, RN, Dr. Richard Helldobler, Raul Alarcon, Namibia Mu’id, PMP, Victor Peter Rodriguez, and John Traier and Executive Director, Gus Penaranda.

About the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce:
Since 2013, the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce has been the premier LGBTQ+ and allied business organization committed to facilitating successful business collaborations and increasing the economic staying power of its diverse membership. As an inclusive platform for business visionaries, the Chamber is the first stop for LGBTQ+ and allied entrepreneurs seeking to grow and access opportunities. Its primary mission is to promote the economic growth and development of the local community and help to better serve its members’ businesses by providing resources and opportunities for education, networking, and community engagement.

For more information, please visit https://njpridechamber.org/ or connect with the NJ Pride Chamber of Commerce on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The NJ Pride Chamber of Commerce is an official affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). It offers LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) Certification ® as a benefit of membership with the organization. Certified LGBTBEs are routinely sought after by over 300 NGLCC Corporate Partners who are looking to increase their spend with the LGBTQ+ business community. Certified LGBTBEs are also eligible for scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, and other business development tools.