Small business owners told the Economic Development Authority the deck is stacked against them.
TRENTON -- A handful of small business owners on Tuesday urged the state's economic development arm to back off issuing tax credits to big corporations, which they said come at their expense.
Mary Stabile, owner of Pro-Tech Advantage, said small business owners need access to credit and capital and to be part of prosperous communities.
"This means funding for the public education and services that make so many of our New Jersey communities great places to do business in," she said.
"Giving billions of dollars in tax subsidies to corporations who shift jobs around means you're depriving at some level small business owners, educational institutes and community services of vital funding. These are the real job creators. This is the heart of our community. The real engines of our economy."
New Jersey's robust economic development program, which is guided by state law but managed by the Economic Development Authority, has come under fire from progressive groups, who say the credits are too generous and the $6 billion program is suffering from a lack of credibility.
Supporters of the program say New Jersey is an expensive state that needs to stay competitive.
How one rich guy's move will cost N.J.
Those groups last year also pushed for a moratorium on corporate tax incentives until Gov. Chris Christie's administration releases information on the economic development programs.
The EDA on Tuesday doled out tens of millions of dollars in tax credits to New Jersey businesses who agreed to grow or retain jobs here. They only receive the credits if the promised jobs and economic development materialize.
Jerome Montes, business representative for the New Jersey Main Street Alliance, told the EDA board that the "giveaways" have gotten too big and are chipping away at badly needed tax revenues.
"These subsidies are stacking the deck against small business owners. They're stacking the deck against main street communities," he said, asking the board to stop its work until taking stock of the program's effects.
Alfred Koeppe, chairman of the board, said it has to stay on the sidelines of this debate, because its authority is limited to upholding the law.
"We have an obligation to move the law forward," he said. "I think the changes in policy appropriately should go to the Legislature, and they have that authority."
Responding to two business owners who said they feel locked out of the incentives available to large corporations, Koeppe said the authority is looking to develop ways to reach out to small businesses.
"Give a small business like mine and we'll help drive this economy... I won't simply move jobs from one city to another," said Geetha Jayaraman, owner of Grab-Em Snacks in Jersey City.
Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.