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Once head of Union County Board of Taxation

Peter Lijoi of Summit, an attorney and tax assessor, has been appointed director of the state Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, state Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa announced on Tuesday.

Lijoi served as president and commissioner of the Union County Board of Taxation, hearing and deciding property tax appeals under appointment by both Republican and Democratic governors.

Most recently, he was senior area development partner and legal counsel to Fairfield Residential LLC in Summit. He also worked as an acquisition advisor and legal consultant to several national homebuilders, including D.R. Horton Inc. and K. Hovnanian Companies. Earlier in his career, Lijoi served as general counsel to the Rockland Industrial Development Agency and vice president and legal counsel of the Rockland Economic Development Corp.

"Peter's expertise in strategic analysis and project design, as well as his experience in the areas of finance, real estate and legal management will undoubtedly advance the mission of the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program," Grifa said. "He is an innovative thinker who has a proven ability to get results."

"I am excited to help the UEZ continue its successful tradition of revitalizing local economies and eager to make it an even more effective economic development tool," Lijoi said.

Lijoi holds a juris doctorate from Pace University School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University. He has undertaken graduate study in urban planning at Rutgers University.

The UEZ Program was enacted in 1983 and became an affiliated agency of the Department of Community Affairs in 2008. The program is aimed at fostering an economic climate that revitalizes designated urban communities and stimulates their growth by encouraging businesses to develop and create private sector jobs through public and private investment. There are currently 32 zones in 37 cities and towns.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM