Newark Business Owner Credits NJ Program For Her Latest Success

NEWARK, NJ — When Karima Jackson decided to expand her property service business in Newark by plunging into the world of government contracts, it opened up a big can of worms. But that’s how you catch the big fish, she says.

Jackson – the owner of Exquisite Property Services – is a graduate of the Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program, which is run by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

The program provides small businesses in the Garden State with training and education through a series of workshops and strategic consulting sessions. Its goal? To help get them on a level playing field with larger companies, who often hold an imposing advantage when it comes to landing government contracts.

Since the program first launched in 2018, 105 small, minority and women-owned businesses have graduated, with 50 of those qualifying for a total of $40 million in government contracts.

Its alumni include Jackson, who spoke about her experience in a video with Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA (watch below).

According to Jackson, her business – which performs waste hauling and property maintenance – was able to grow “exponentially” when she completed the program and learned about bonding requirements in New Jersey.

“We’ve been able to compete and participate in the economics of New Jersey in a way that we otherwise weren’t able to,” Jackson said.

The Essex County entrepreneur said that for a lot of the work she was interested in – particularly government work – it was confusing to figure out where to get started.

“So I’m like, why do I need a bid bond for everything? What is a bid bond, and how do I get it?” Jackson recalled, referring to a state requirement which helps ensure a bidder will carry out a contract if they emerge victorious.

But once she wrapped her mind around the complex web of bonding laws that exist in New Jersey, it led to an explosion of prosperity for Exquisite Property Services.

The company has grown from two 1099 part-time employees to eight full-time staffers since 2020. Along the way, Jackson’s fleet of vehicles has grown from one to seven – a detail that brings a smile to her face.

The NJEDA program – and the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey – are a big footnote in her success story, Jackson says.

“These were people who were interested in seeing my business grow,” she said.

The next round of registration for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program (SBBRP) has officially opened. The next cohorts for the program begin in March.

Small businesses are invited to apply through the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey or the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, which is also participating in the effort.

• See related article: Free Training In East Orange Helps Residents Get Construction Jobs
• See related article: More Black 'Angel Investors' Needed, Newark Nonprofit Says

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.