Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

163 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 MONT VALE , NEW JERSEY community but also those beyond our borders.” Forman also highlights Montvale’s unique appeal to businesses, facilitated by the synergy of the town’s key leadership: “I must stress that Montvale is probably one of the most business-friendly communities you’ll find,” he lauds, attributing this pro-business stance to a collaborative effort between Mayor Ghassali, Administrator Voytus, and the Economic Committee. But Montvale’s approach to business isn’t just about reducing red tape. Mayor Ghassali underscores their readiness to accommodate companies’ unique needs, even when they fall outside the borough’s standard rules. He provides examples of the borough’s flexible stance on issues as diverse as smoking gazebos and the color of a company’s logo. “For us, these may be minor issues, but we understand that for them, they can be major. We cannot underestimate the importance of these accommodations,” Mayor Ghassali insists. Navigating Tax Incentives and Bolstering Local Economy Mayor Ghassali acknowledges the role of tax incentives in attracting big businesses to Montvale, a town where nearly a quarter of the tax base comes from corporations. “While we don’t directly provide tax incentives, we do link businesses with the state which does. The incentives are based on factors such as the number of employees, the amount of investment in the town, and a commitment to stay in New Jersey for several years,” Mayor Ghassali explains. Voytus underscores the inherent allure of the town that keeps it from having to resort to additional financial incentives. “The desirability of our community is so high that we haven’t had to incentivize through PILOTs or other measures,” he says, adding that this lack of additional incentives protects residents and existing businesses from further burden. Raffi Joukhadarian, the chairman of the Economic Development Committee, shares his all- volunteer committee’s role in engaging with