NJ: A Welcome Mat For Businesses [VIDEO]

Governor Chris Christie attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in South Brunswick on Tuesday, using the event as a way to demonstrate his pro-growth agenda for New Jersey.

The Coca-Cola Company celebrated the official opening of its new state-of-the-art sales and distribution facility. It ensured the retention of more than 1,000 jobs in the Garden State. Since opening in October, 40 positions were created.

The South Brunswick facility consolidated operations from Asbury Park, North Brunswick and Parsippany.

"I am proud to have a major Fortune 500 company like Coca-Cola demonstrate their commitment to New Jersey by broadening their presence in our state," said Governor Christie.

Christie said Coca-Cola joins a growing lost of companies who have partnered with New Jersey over the last two years. Since January 2010, household names like Bayer, Honeywell and Panasonic have committed to generate and retain tens of thousands of jobs.

New Jersey has added nearly 50,000 private sector jobs since the Christie Administration took office.

"Today's opening states clearly what we and others see in New Jersey; a clear welcome mat for businesses - large to small, established to startup, global to local everything in between," said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. Also in attendance was President and CEO of Coca-Cola Refreshments, Inc., Steve Cahillane.

The company credited its interaction with the state's Business Action Center as part of its decision to stay and grow in New Jersey.

Video by Dino Flammia