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The governor's stop included a round-table discussion with small business owners at the Booth Movers, Ltd warehouse on Anderson Avenue, which was flooded with a foot and a half of water on this same date in 2012, destroying furniture, equipment and customers' belongings.
"I come to a place like Booth today to see a family that has their business back and wouldn’t have their business back if it wasn’t for the fact that we all worked together to get it done," Christie told the crowd.
"The state didn’t save Booth -- Booth saved Booth," he said.
"And the state just helped to be a partner and that’s all we ever wanted to be -- a temporary partner to be able to help through a difficult time," the governor said, citing a state Economic Development Authority grant.
Joining Christie were state Economic Development Authority CEO Melissa Orsen, Community Affairs Commissioner Charles Richman, Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin and Terry Brody, who heads the state's Office of Recovery and Rebuilding.
Overall, New Jerseyans affected by Sandy got $120 million in recovery grants and small business loans, as well as $1.6 billion in federal housing assistance, they noted.
Although he's running for president, Christie said "there will not be a family who is still hurting today who will not have their issues addressed" before his term as governor ends.
"I'm going to finish that job," he said.
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