In our Spotlight on Business Report.

We may all be from one state, but there's no denying the differences and rivalry between North and South Jersey.

The Chamber of Commerce of southern New Jersey is shedding light on that, issuing a report today to help policymakers understand what's unique about the seven Southern most counties, a region the group says is misunderstood by lawmakers in central and northern New Jersey, who often have a heavy hand in writing.

Statewide mandates that aren't always beneficial to the area.

The chamber's president and CEO, Christina Renna, says there's a host of possibilities that could lead to more economic growth in South Jersey if the state takes this opportunity to initiate them.

She joins me now.

Christina Renna, a great to talk to you.

This is a really clear picture of what South Jersey as a region is up against.

Why, though, did you see the need to break it out as a separate area from the rest of the state?

Why are the needs so different?

Well, I think that's the exact reason why, because South Jersey's needs are quite different than the rest of the state.

There seems in many ways to be a little bit of a misunderstanding as to what makes South Jersey, South Jersey.

And the truth of the matter is the region as a whole is extremely diverse.

This report, folks, to enlighten lawmakers, possibly not from this area, about all the different dynamics that go into the construct of the region.

And despite those different dynamic dynamics, there are four kind of key issues that you all lay out among the seven counties.

What are they?

So really four issues that really touch every corner of South Jersey in some way, shape or form.

That would be mass transit, lack of transportation options and lack of transportation infrastructure, broadband access or ability to access devices needed to access the Internet.

The need for targeted incentives that really take into consideration the unique dynamics of South Jersey and affordable housing, housing options in general.

A lot of these issues may not necessarily be very specific to South Jersey.

The state is seeing some of those as well.

But as we went county by county, they are the four themes that seem to be impediments to really growing the region economically.

Why haven't there, Christina, have been the type of investments that we've seen elsewhere in the state?

I think population has a lot to do with it.

Obviously, our population is vastly different than that in central and northern New Jersey.

And so ridership will naturally be be lower.

But at the end of the day, in order to grow economically, bring businesses to the region and therefore grow our pool of jobs in this region, we need to have opportunities that you can get to without owning a car.

What are the other policy suggestions that you all are making?

And I'm thinking about the areas of, you know, Atlantic City and Cape May where tourism is big, but we don't always see that happen year round in the way that employers would like.

You know, those two counties specifically Brown out are really interesting examples that you point to both have very dominant industries that I think when outside lawmakers from outside this region or even people in South Jersey think of those two counties, Atlantic in Cape May County, they think naturally casino gaming in Atlantic County and in Cape May County, the shore communities, beaches and the tourism community, that ends up being a real impediment to greater economic growth in those two specific counties, because a lot of state dollars goes to those industries as they should.

And we aren't arguing that it shouldn't.

But what we are trying to shine a light on are those other areas that are poised for development.

I also just found it very quickly interesting that when it comes to warehouses and development of that nature, it was listed as both helping the economy in South Jersey.

But it's also a challenge.

Why is that?

A little bit of a mixed bag And that's why you're seeing lawmakers really struggle with creating policies around what's more, warehousing, distribution and logistics centers look like.

South Jersey is definitely not, you know, separate from that conversation.

There are pockets of the region that really could use the job growth and the job opportunities that those warehousing and distribution centers bring.

It's a complicated issue.

Statewide, lawmakers continue to struggle with how to create holistic policy that kind of helps where the industry can grow and also hears the concerns of others.

And again, South Jersey is not unique to that.

But we definitely have some counties that that situation, that issue is more impactful than others.

Christina Renna is the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey.

Christina, thank you so much.

Thank you.