newjerseynewsroom.com

New Jersey and local officials Thursday toured Eva Tees Inc. a company that moved to Piscataway in March with 60 new jobs.

Eva Tees, a wholesale distributor of clothing and other merchandise, was awarded a Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) grant from the state Economic Development Authority (EDA). The move also included a capital investment of over $17.9 million.

"Attracting jobs and encouraging private investment is critical to ensuring New Jersey emerges from the national economic recession," Gov. Jon Corzine said. " We've taken measures to encourage business growth during these challenging economic times and Eva Tee's decision to make New Jersey its home is great news."

Eva Tees was originally established by Mayer Neuhoff in 1950 as Eva Hosiery and Underwear Company. In 1974, Neuhoff's son joined the company and expanded the business to include imprintable active wear. Over three decades later, the company continues to grow and is now run by the third generation of the Neuhoff family.

Eva Tees offers a full line of active wear, corporate casual wear and accessories. Its product line includes styles from popular manufacturers like Hanes, Bill Blass, Izod, Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees and Van Heusen. The state grant, which will amount to an estimated $153,900 over 10 years based on 57 new jobs, was a major incentive for Eva Tees to consolidate three sites in New York and establish a larger site in Piscataway.

"Eva Tees opened its state-of-the-art 256,000-square-foot distribution center in March - a goal the Neuhoff family has been planning for close to 10 years," said Harry Neuhoff, president of Eva Tees "We were looking for the perfect location and an area that would help make the move economically feasible. We found all this in Piscataway and look forward to continuing to grow in New Jersey."

The state business grants are available to businesses expanding or relocating their workforce in New Jersey. Grants may be awarded for up to 10 years and can range between 10 percent and 80 percent of the total amount of state income taxes withheld by the company during the calendar year from the salaries of new employees.

The Economic Development Authority is a financing and development agency that works to strengthen New Jersey's economy by retaining and growing businesses through financial assistance.

For more information on the grants, visit www.njeda.com. To learn more about opportunities for business growth in New Jersey, visit www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM