en.Wedoany.com Reported - The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) board has approved the first tax credit award under the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, granted to Starman New Photonics LLC ("SNP"). This newly established U.S. advanced manufacturing company is building a domestic supply chain for high-speed optical transceivers essential to the artificial intelligence industry. The company will invest $150 million to renovate a 100,000-square-foot facility in Warren, New Jersey, and is expected to create 250 new jobs.
SNP will produce next-generation optical transceivers through precision manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and research and development. These optical transceivers are critical to AI production, used to connect graphics processing units in data centers to overcome bandwidth and energy limitations.
NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss stated that manufacturing in New Jersey is vital to the economy, helping drive investment and create high-wage jobs. He believes SNP combines the historic manufacturing sector with the emerging AI industry, both of which are delivering significant economic benefits to the state and its residents.
SNP is eligible for $7.5 million in tax credits annually over the first five years of a ten-year commitment, totaling $37.5 million—a sum well exceeding the program's minimum investment and job creation requirements. Co-chair of the Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, Senator Linda Greenstein, noted that this award attracts substantial private investment and will create hundreds of high-quality jobs, demonstrating that the design goals of the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program are being achieved.
Senator Michael Testa said that against the backdrop of manufacturing bases and key technology production moving overseas, SNP's decision to invest $150 million and create 250 jobs in New Jersey is a major victory for workers, the economy, and national security. He stated that the project helps strengthen U.S. supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign competitors.
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald believes manufacturing has long been a driver of economic opportunity, and this announcement shows that the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program is operating as intended, creating opportunities for New Jersey residents.
SNP CEO Charles Tebele said that as the Department of Defense moves to ban the procurement of optical transceivers from certain foreign producers, domestic manufacturing is increasingly urgent. He thanked the NJEDA team and the governor for their support, and noted that New Jersey, with its strong infrastructure, leading universities, and highly skilled workforce, provides an excellent foundation for investment and long-term growth.
NJEDA is the state's primary agency for driving economic growth, committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies that help build vibrant communities, create quality jobs, and provide more equitable pathways to economic opportunity.
