Honeywell Moving HQ Out Of Morris Plains

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ —Just six years after receiving a $40 million tax break to stay in the state, Honeywell is leaving Morris Plains, according to reports.

Honeywell is planning on moving their global headquarters from Morris Plains to Charlotte, North Carolina, the company confirmed. They plan on keeping about 1,000 employees in New Jersey, including 800 in Morris Plains. Between 150 and 200 senior management positions will be transferred from New Jersey to North Carolina.

“Our decision does not reflect any issues with the quality of our experience in New Jersey,” Honeywell chairman and chief executive officer Darius Adamczyk said. “We value the strong relationship that we have built with the state of New Jersey and with Governor Murphy. New Jersey will remain a substantial employment center for us.”

Gov. Phil Murphy lameted the loss of jobs, but said he was glad to see so many stay in the state.

"Though we’re never happy when any jobs leave our state, we appreciate their continued commitment and confidence in New Jersey. By maintaining such a strong foothold here, Honeywell is reaffirming their commitment to being a part of New Jersey’s future. That speaks volumes to our state’s strength, resilience, and value proposition," Murphy said in a statement.

The move is reportedly based on wanting to be in a more millennial friendly location to help attract young talent, the AP reported.

"Charlotte is a top-10 destination city in the U.S. that will readily enable us to recruit and retain the world-class talent we will need over the long term to support Honeywell’s strategic focus on leading technology and software solutions within our end markets,” Adamczyk said.

Chester Councilman Mike Inganamort spoke out against the move, saying New Jersey's tax structures were driving companies out of New Jersey.

"This is a tremendous loss for our region and will affect more than a few Chester residents. I spent the better part of five years working on Honeywell's redevelopment of its HQ in Morris Township, so this is dispiriting to say the least," he wrote.

State Senator Joe Pennacchio, a Repulican who represents Morris Plains, lambasted the move, saying Murphy's policies caused it.

“Governor Murphy’s anti-business agenda means we are always at risk of companies like Honeywell leaving for greener pastures,” Pennacchio said. “The Governor must focus more on New Jersey workers, and less on his expensive liberal wish list. Bad-for-business policies like the recent CBT increase and Murphy’s endless tax hikes force high-paying jobs out of state. We can’t afford it.”

The Aseemblywoman representing Morris County, Republican BettyLou DeCroce, also spoke out against the move.

“The Democrats’ tax logic is a paradox. They are too cavalier in giving-out credits to lower the tax burden, and then they raise business taxes anyway. It makes no sense. As a small-business owner, it is incompetent and careless tax policies that are frustrating. The bottom line is that taxpayers are the ones who face the consequences of poor decision making,” DeCroce said in a statement.

Honeywell makes military equipment, chemicals, and office building technologies.

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