Multi-state coalition won’t supplant ‘skunkworks’ team, Murphy says

Gov. Phil Murphy said a multi-state coalition meant to coordinate the reopening of businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis will not supplant a previously announced “skunkworks” team meant to guide New Jersey’s post-pandemic economy.

“The multi-state coalition in terms of getting ourselves prepared, both as a healthcare infrastructure matter and an economic jobs matter, is not in lieu of whatever we’re doing inside the state,” Murphy said. “It’s meant to compliment it.”

On Monday, Murphy and the governors of New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware announced the states would form a coalition to guide the region as it moves to reopen businesses closed because of the novel coronavirus.

The states will be represented on the coalition by three members — one public health official, one economic development official and the relevant governor’s chief of staff.

New Jersey has yet to appoint its health and economic development officials to the body but will likely do so in the near future.

Murphy said he expects the group to hold an electronic meeting sometime this week.

Skunkworks is an innovation-based business term that comes a team assembled by Lockheed during World War II to consider issues facing the world after the war was over.