>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NJCU SUNSHINE SCHOOL OF BIZ.

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>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," A MAJOR BLOW TO THE EFFORTS TO REPEAL THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX CAP AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR NEW JERSEY'S CHALLENGE?

>> PLUS, SO LONG DOOR DASH?

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT OWNERS FED UP ON FEES AND LOST PROFITS CREATE THEIR OWN TAKE ON DELIVERY.

>>> AND HIGHLIGHTING THE SURGE IN LATINO AND LATINO-OWNED BUSINESSES AND THE EFFORTS TO GET THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS MORE SUPPORT AND FUNDING.

THAT IS AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" ♪ >> THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> HELLO I'M RHONDA SHCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU ARE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

>> WE BEGIN WITH A SETBACK IN NEW JERSEY'S FIGHT TO OVERTURN THE CAP ON STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT THIS WEEK RULED AGAINST A LEGAL CHALLENGE FROM NEW JERSEY AND THREE OTHER STATES.

THE STATES ARGUED THE CAP IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WERE TRYING TO GET IT OVERTURNED.

BUT THE COURT DISMISSED THAT CHALLENGE.

NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO CHANGE THE 2017 TAX LAW THAT LIMITED STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS TO 10,000 DOLLARS ON FEDERAL TAX RETURNS.

THE ISSUE ISN'T DEAD HOWEVER.

SOME DEMOCRATS ARE AGAIN CALLING FOR A REPEAL OF THE SALT CAP, AS CONGRESS CONTINUES TO WORK ON A NEW SPENDING BILL.

>>> A WIN THIS WEEK FOR OLDER WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY.

THEY HAVE SOME NEW PROTECTIONS NOW AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR EMPLOYERS NOT TO HIRE OR PROMOTE WORKERS OVER 70.

AND THEY CAN'T FORCE WORKERS OUT EITHER.

ONE OF THE BILLS SPONSORS WAS ASSEMBLY WOMAN VALORIE HUDDLE.

>>I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 70 COULD STILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE STATISTICS, AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT 2 OUT OF 3 WORKERS OVER THE AGE OF 45 HAVE EXPERIENCE ORDER WITNESSED AGE DISCRIMINATION ON THE JOB, THAT WAS PRETTY ALARMING.

AND NOW WITH LAYOFFS MORE COMMON UNFORTUNATELY THAN EVER DURING KOENGD COVID-19, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR OLDER RESULTS RECEIVE EQUAL TREATMENT.

>> THE BILL WAS ALSO SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR WEINBERG, AND STATE SENATOR SHIRLEY TURNER WHO IS 80.

TURNER POINTS OUT PEOPLE ARE WORKING LONGER EITHER FOR FINANCIAL NEED OR BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

AS TURNER SAY, 70 IS THE NEW 50.

IT IS NOT JUST OLDER WORKERS WHO FACE CHALLENGES.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN ALSO STRUGGLE TO GET A JOB.

OCTOBER IS DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.

AND EASTER SEALS NJ IS TRYING TO RAISE AWARENESS, SAYING STUDIES SHOW COMPANIES THAT CHAMPION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OUTPERFORM OTHERS.

DANIELLA RIVERA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING SAYS EASTER SEALS HAS PUT OUT AN INCLUSIVE HIRING GUIDE FOR COMPANIES OFFERING TIPS ON THE BEST WAY TO HIRE.

>> THE FIRST THING IS WHEN WE LOOK AT JOB POSTING, A LOT OF THE JOB POSTINGS THAT YOU SEE NOW ARE REALLY NOT ACCESSIBLE AND HAVE ABLIST LANGUAGE.

SO SOMETHING AS MAKING A VERY SMALL CHANGE IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

ANOTHER THING IS MAKING SURE THAT YOUR CONTACT IS ACCESSIBLE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS REACHING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

SO NOT ONLY POSTING IT ONLINE BUT SHARING IT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RADIO OR POSTING IT IN DIVERSE JOB BOARDS CAN REALLY ATTRACT MORE TALENT THAN, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES MAY BE GETTING.

>> WE CONNECTED WITH ONE NEW JERSEY RESIDENT AT EASTER SEALS CLIENT WHO WAS GRATEFUL WHEN SHE FOUND WORK.

KIMBERLY EMHOFF IS A STOCK CLERK AT APPLE GREEN WHO SAYS BUSINESSES SHOULD LOOK TO HIRE PEOPLE FOR THEIR ABILITIES, NOT THEIR DISABILITIES.

>> KIMBERLY, TELL ME FROM YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, DID YOU STRUGGLE WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO FIND WORK?

>> YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.

YES, A LITTLE BIT.

>> IN WHAT WAY?

>> GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW.

>> SO YOU OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT DID GET AN INTERVIEW AND THEN YOU GOT A JOB.

HOW -- HOW LONG WAS THE PROCESS?

AND HOW HAPPY WERE YOU WHEN YOU DID GET HIRED?

>> I WAS VERY -- I WAS THRILLED THAT I GOT ELECTED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK.

IT WAS ACTUALLY PHENOMENAL.

I WANTED TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE TO WORK, AND I JUST FELT VERY THANKFUL.

>> WE KNOW THAT IT IS HARDER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO GET HIRED.

HOW SHOULD BUSINESSES PERHAPS RETHINK ABOUT WHO THEY WANT TO BRING ON TO WORK WITH THEM?

AND WHY SHOULD THEY NOT GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

>> I SHOWED WHAT I CAN DO AND MY CAPABILI CAPABILITIES AND I REACHED MY GOAL AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT I'VE HAD IT AND DO NOW HAVE A EXPERIENCE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK.

>> FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING YOUR GOAL.

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE SET GOALS, BUT IT IS STILL VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE GOALS, SO THAT IS JUST WONDERFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE?

>> THAT IT IS JUST AMAZING.

EVERYBODY IS VERY PATIENT.

THEY ARE VERY SWEET.

THEY ARE VERY GENUINE AND KIND.

AND IT IS JUST PEOPLE WITH LOVE AND -- IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING AND IT IS IN A GOOD WAY.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO OTHER BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> THEY CAN DO ANYTHING WHETHER IF THEY ARE IN -- WHETHER THEY HAVE -- IF THEY ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR, IN A WALKER, WHICHEVER.

I THINK -- I THINK MANAGERS AND PEOPLE JUST EVEN COMPANIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO LET OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY WORK IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> I LOVE THAT YOU SAID THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING.

PERHAPS MAYBE THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

>> PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE DISABILITIES MAY NOT LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES AND THINK THAT OH THIS PERSON DON'T HAVE DISABILITY BUT REALLY IN THE INSIDE THEY DO.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

>> KIMBERLY, I REALLY HOPE OUR CONVERSATION INSPIRES OTHER COMPANIES TO BROADEN OUT THEIR THINKING WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> OF COURSE.

AND I HOPE SO TOO.

>> NOW THAT THE WEEKEND IS HERE YOU MAY BE EAGER TO RELAX AND JUST ORDER FOOD IN.

HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE DELIVERY FEES YOU PAY?

DID YOU KNOW THE FEES FOR RESTAURANTS ARE EVEN HIGHER?

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES CHARGE HEFTY FEES, AND THAT'S EATING INTO RESTAURANT PROFITS.

BUT THERE IS AN EFFORT TO CHANGE THAT IN JERSEY CITY, WHERE ANDREW MARTINO IS THE FOUNDER OF GOLD COAST COMMUNITYR DELIVERY,A LOCAL ATTIVE TO DOOR DASH AND GRUBHUB.

TELL ME WHY YOU FOUNDED YOUR COMPANY.

>> HAVING A DELIVER-FOCUSED RESTAURANT BUSINESS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, I WAS REALLY AWARE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PAIN POINTS AND ISSUES THAT RESTAURANTS WERE FACING ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT IN RELIANCE ON THIRD PARTY DELIVERY SERVICES.

HAD A LOT OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS WERE REACHING OUT TO ME ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, WHO THEY SHOULD JOIN.

WE'RE REALLY UNHAPPY, COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH MONEY WAS LEFT FOR THEM AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

SO I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THE THIRD PARTIES DELIVERY SERVICES CURRENTLY ARE JUST WASN'T A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.

>> HOW DID YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

FIRST LET'S TOUCH ON HOW HIGH SOME OF THE FEES ARE WITH THE THIRD PARTY DELIVERY SERVICES AND THEN HOW DOES YOUR SERVICE WORK THAT BENEFITS RESTAURANTS?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, GENERALLY FEES CAN BE AS HIGH AS 35-40% OF AN ORDER.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS COMMISSIONS OF COURSE TAKEN BUT THEN PROCESSING FEES, REFUNDS, PROMOTIONS, ALL THINGS THAT GET TAKEN OUT OF YOUR CUT.

FOR US, OUR PLATFORM IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

OUR AVERAGE IS ABOUT -- WE TAKE ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE BIG GUYS TAKE.

BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS ALL OF OUR PROFITS ARE THEN PUT INTO A LARGE POOL WHERE ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE A PART OF IT THEN GET EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROFITS.

>> SO YOUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN OPEN AND WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

>> YES, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE NOT GONE FULL LIVE YET.

OUR LIVE LAUNCH IS HALLOWEEN THIS MONTH.

WE'VE BEEN SLOWLY ADDING RESTAURANTS TO GET TO OUR LAUNCH NUMBER, WHICH IS 12 RESTAURANTS TO START.

SINCE WE'VE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND MADE OURSELVES KNOWN WE'VE HAD RESTAURANTS REACHING OUT TO US NOT ONLY FROM OUR OWN COMMUNITY BUT ALSO FROM COMMUNITIES ALL OVER NEW JERSEY AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PAIN POINTS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT SOLUTION.

>> WOW, NOW, HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SCALE UP GIVEN THE INTEREST?

>> YEAH, SO THAT IS NOT OUR GOAL.

MY GOAL IS NOT TO BRING GOLD COAST COMMUNITY DELIVERY TO EVERYONE'S DELIVERY.

WE SIMPLY WANT TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT THEN WE CAN GIVE TO OTHER RESTAURANTS AND OTHER AREAS AND THEY CAN NETWORK AMONGST THEIR OWN RESTAURANTS, SEE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM AND THEN GO FORWARD.

WE REALLY WANT TO EMPOWER LOCAL RESTAURANT COMMUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE THEIR OWN DELIVERY MARKETPLACE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW OFF THE SHELF.

>> ANDREW, GOOD LUCK WITH THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE COMING UP IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ITS BEEN GREAT CHATTING WITH YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME RHONDA.

>> AS AMAZON CONTINUES TO BROADEN ITS REACH IN NEW JERSEY, IT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A MASSIVE CARGO FACILITY AT NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

IT SIGNED A 20-YEAR LEASE WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY AND INTENDS TO INVEST 125 MILLION DOLLARS TO RENT RATE IS T-- RENOVATE TWO BUILDINGS.

BUT AT A PROTEST THIS PAST WEEK LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES URGED THE PORT AUTHORITY TO STOP THE PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD.

WIN FRED VICTOR HYNES CO-CHAIR OF THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION VOICED SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.

>> WE KNOW DATA SHOWS THAT WAREHOUSES WHICH BRING SEVERE TRUCK POLLUTION TO NEIGHBORHOODS, HIGH TRAFFIC ETC.

ARE KOCORRELATED WITH BAD AIR QUALITY AND RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THE TERM LOB, BUT YOU HAVE SHOPPED AT ONE.

L.O.B.

STANDS FOR "LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES" AND THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO REV UP THE ECONOMY.

ONE MAJOR WALL STREET BANK, J.P. MORGAN CHASE SAYS LATINO ENTREPRENEURS MAY BE THE U.S. ECONOMY'S BEST BET.

IT IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

SO WHAT BETTER TIME TO FOCUS ON OUR STATE'S LATINO BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

CONTRIBUTING A COMBINED $20 BILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

AND ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY, LATINOS ARE STARTING BUSINESSES AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

GROWING 34% OVER THE PAST DECADE.

AND BUSINESSES ARE GENERATING MORE REVENUE EACH YEAR THAN WHITE-OWNED FIRMS.

AS WE'VE SEEN WITH OTHER MINORITY COMMUNITIES LENDERS ARE LESS WILLING TO WRITE LOANS FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH ONLY 20% OF THE LATINO BUSINESS OWNERS ABLE TO OBTAIN FUNDING COMPARED TO 50% FOR WHITE BUSINESS OWNERS.

NEW JERSEY'S OWN HISPANIC BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS HAVE FOUND A CHEERLEADER, MENTOR AND FIGHTER IN CARLOS MEDINA.

HE'S SEEN FIRST HAND THE SURGE OF GROWTH IN LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE STATE AND HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP ON GROWING.

CARLOS HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF HISPANIC BUSINESSES IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW?

>> BUSINESSES ARE STARTING UP AND EXPANDING.

EVEN DURING COVID WE HAD RESTAURANTS THAT OPENED TWO, THREE NEW LOCATIONS.

A RECENT REPORT SHOWED THAT THE GDP, HISPANIC GDP IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT 97 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.

SO YEAH.

WE'RE GROWING, WE'RE THRIVING IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN FRONT OF US SUCH AS COVID.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE PUT SOME THOUGHT AROUND THE FACT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, MANY BUSINESSES DON'T THINK ENOUGH ABOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AS CUSTOMERS.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, 21.6% OF THE STATE IS HISPANIC.

IF THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES WERE ITS OWN COUNTRY I THANK YOU THEY SAID IT WOULD BE THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH LARCHTS ECONOMY AND THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY.

SO IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT A REALLY RIPE CONSUMER, CUSTOMER BASE, IT IS RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

21.6 OF THE POPULATION AND GROWING.

HIGHLY ELEGANTED.

>> GIVEN THE NUMBERS YOU TOLD ME ABOUT, WHY WOULDN'T SOMEBODY TARGET THEIR FOCUS ON THE HISPANIC MARKET?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE IS STILL A PERCEPTION THERE IS NOT LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME THERE.

I'VE EVEN HAD OFF THE RECORD CONVERSATIONS WITH ADVERTISERS AND OTHER SPONSORS AND THAT IS A PERCEPTION THAT'S HARD TO OVERCOME.

BUT FACTS AND FIGURES ARE FACTS AND FIGURES.

SO.

>> WHAT IS THE CHAMBER GOING TO SUPPORT HISPANIC BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY NEW ENTREPRENEURS THAT WE'RE NOW SEEING SPROUT UP AROUND NEW JERSEY POST THE WORST OF COVID?

>> SO WE TRY TO BE THEIR MENTOR, THEIR ROLODEX.

MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A NETWORK OF LAWYER, CPAs, MARKETING FOLKS THAT COULD HELP THEM.

SO WE TRY TO BE THAT FOR THEM.

AND WE HAVE CLASSES.

WE HAD 80 STUDENTS.

AND WHEN I SAY STUDENTS, THEY ARE ENTREPRENEURS RANGING IN REVENUE FROM 50,000 TO 18 MILLION ANNUALLY.

AND THEY GRADUATE WITH A BUSINESS PLAN TO EXPAND.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE.

>> AND HOW ABOUT CONNECTING SYSTEM OF THESE HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNERS TO LENDERS?

BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOW ACCESS TO CAPITAL CAN BE DIFFICULT IN SOME MARKETS.

>> YEAH, MANY BANKS ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER.

SO WE HELP THEM.

IF THEY ARE NOT BANKABLE, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A CDFI.

SO THE CHAMBER WILL HAVE AN AFFILIATION WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO BE ABLE TO LEND MONEY AT A VERY FAIR RATE TO THOSE THAT ARE UNBANKABLE WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING THEM STRONG ENOUGH AND THEN ONE OF OUR MEMBER BANKS CAN STEP IN AND WORK WITH THEM.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF STATS WITHIN THE HISPANIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS OR SO WHEN COVID REALLY CHALLENGED THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OVERALL AND THE HISPANIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR?

>> WE'RE CONTINUING TO HELP GET OUT OF THE RECESSION.

BUSINESSES AGAIN, WE'RE GROWING, DOUBLING, TRIPLING, ADDING ELECTIONS, AND ADDING EMPLOYEES IN SPITE OF THE OBSTACLES OF COVID.

>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US ONCE AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU TO MUCH.

>> ABOUT A WEEK OAR SO A AGO A GROUP OF LATINA BUSINESS OWNERS MET WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR STRUGGLES.

TALKING ABOUT FINANCING AND DIFFICULTIES IN PROCURING STATE AND FEDERAL CONTRACTS.

SOMETHING LATINAS AND OTHER WOMEN OF COLOR FACE IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT ONE ADVOCATE IS TRYING HER BEST TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

ALICIA CHARTERS IS THE PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL NON PROFIT KNOWN AS "LATINA SURGE," A GROUP TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENTS OF WOMEN.

ALICIA, WHAT'S BEHIND YOUR DESIRE TO START THE NON PROFIT LATINA SURGE?

>> WELL I'VE HAD ABOUT 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE SPACE AND COMMUNITY.

AND TO BE HONEST, I JUST DID NOT SEE THE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS THAT I THOUGHT WE COULD REALIZE AS A COMMUNITY.

FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.

FOCUSING ON HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS.

SO I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO SORT OF HAVE A SHIFT IN THE WAY WE THOUGHT AND WORKED IN THIS SPACE TO TRY TO PROVIDE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR LATINX COMMUNITY.

>> AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE LATINX COMMUNITY TO MAKE INROADS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

>> WE ARE PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS.

AND WE HAVE GREAT IDEAS.

WE'RE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND WE ARE THE BACKBONE I WOULD SAY OF NEW JERSEY.

>> WHY ARE WE SEEING WOMEN IN PARTICULAR HAVING TROUBLE ADVANCING WHETHER IT IS ON THE SALARY SCALE, LATINA WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE PAID LESS THAN WHITE WOMEN, FOR INSTANCE, OR REPRESENTATION IN A BOARDROOM OR REPRESENTATION IN AN EXECUTIVE SUITE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S JUST NOT BEEN ENOUGH FOCUS, REAL FOCUS.

AND ALSO MEASUREMENT, PERFORMANCE.

A LOT OF COMPANIES, A LOT OF AGENCIES, THEY WANT TO DO BETTER.

BUT THE METRICS ARE NOT THERE.

THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED.

WE HAVE DO TWO MAIN THINGS.

IT IS NUMBER 1, WE AS WOMEN HAVE TO SELF EMPOWER TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES WILL ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUR GOALS.

>> WELL THERE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN CORPORATE AMERICA OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

IS IT JUST SLOW ON THE UP TAKE?

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMIC ISSUES AT HAND.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE EVEN LOOK BACK TO LET'S SAY 2014 WHEN SENATOR MENENDEZ DID HIS STUDY ON FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES, IT WAS A COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY SURVEY, AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS MAYBE 69 COMPANIES OUT OF THE 100 THAT PARTICIPATED.

AND NOT ALL NECESSARILY ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS IN THE SURVEY.

AND WE FOUND THAT THE DISPARITIES WERE TREMENDOUS.

AND THE STUDY WAS DONE AGAIN IN 2017.

AND WE REALIZED THAT THE NEEDLE WAS NOT MOVING.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TODAY THIS WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE REPORT THAT McKENZIE ALSO DOES ALONG WITH THE LEAD IN ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE FINDING THAT THE NUMBERS JUST WON'T MOVE.

AND WHILE THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH FOCUS, ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THE MURDERS OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND GEORGE FLOYD AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR ASIAN COMMUNITIES, COMPANIES ARE REALLY LOOKING TO TRY TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR MULTI CULTURAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE METRICS ARE NOT THERE.

>> ALICIA, THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO MAKE CHANGE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU.

>> WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU A STORY ABOUT ONE NEW JERSEY LATINO ENTREPRENEUR WHO LOST HIS JOB BUT FOUND A WHOLE NEW CAREER.

MOISIS LIUKE KA SHARED HIS JOURNEY WITH ME.

SINCE YOU HAD A REALLY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW THIS COMPANY CAME TO BE.

>> I LOST MY JOB AFTER 16 YEARS.

SO MY COMPANY BECAME MY PRIORITY.

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC I HAD TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO PUSH THIS COMPANY FORWARD.

>> AND YOUR STRATEGY INVOLVED A FOCUS ON GOING GREEN.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

AND WHY DID IT LOOK LIKE A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY?

>> INITIALLY THE COMPANY STARTED AS A REGULAR TRANSPORTATION TRUCKING COMPANY.

HOWEVER DUE TO THE INCENTIVES THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WAS OFFERING, I USED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THEN TAKE ADVANTAGE AND THE NEW JERSEY EDA HAD ZERO EMISSIONS INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

AND I APPLIED FOR IT AND I WAS ABLE TO SECURE ABOUT $700,000 IN VOUCHERS, WHICH IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I WAS ABLE TO CONSIDER GOING GREEN.

>> SO YOU ALSO DID SOME PREP, IF IF YOU WILL.

THERE WAS AN HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH TO REALLY HELP YOU GET YOUR FEET HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.

>> SO I APPLIED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE STATEWIDE HISPANIC CLAIM OF COMMERCE.

I APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM.

I INITIALLY DIDN'T GET ACCEPTED BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE LIMITED.

THERE WERE 250 APPLICATIONS AND ONLY 60 SPOTS AVAILABLE.

I GOT A E-MAIL AND KINDLY WROTE BACK AND SAID I'M SORRY, DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IF SOMEBODY DROPS OUT PLEASE CONSIDER ME AND SO THEY DID.

AND THEY WERE ABLE TO OFFER ME THROUGH THAT PROGRAM COACHING HOURS WITH ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, PERSONALIZED ONE ON ONE MARKETING SPECIALISTS.

I CAN GO ON AND ON WITH CPAs.

IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

AND THEY ALSO GIVE TO YOU OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK CAPITAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

>> AND THAT IS REALLY KEY FOR EVERYONE WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO START A BUSINESS.

BUT WE'VE DONE SOME REPORTING ON HOW BEING A MINORITY IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO ACCESS CAPITAL.

SO THAT WAS PROBABLY A KEY HURDLE FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS.

AND THE CHAMBER DID A GREAT JOB IN GUIDING ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND POINTING ME TO ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS.

>> SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THESE GREEN VEHICLES RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS OF NEW JERSEY?

>> SO THESE VEHICLES HOPEFULLY WILL BE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022, THEY WILL BE RUNNING AROUND NEW JERSEY.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS STORY IS WE KNOW PEOPLE OFTEN SWITCH CAREERS MANY TIMES DURING THEIR LIVES.

AND YOU ARE DEFINITELY SHOWING US THAT THAT CAN BE DONE AND IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO TRY A NEW VENTURE.

SO WE WISH YOU LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM VERY EXCITED IN HELPING NEW JERSEY REACH ITS CLEAN ENERGY GOALS BY 2050.

>> AND WHEN WE HAVE A BIG GOAL AND YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN, I CAN SEE WHY IT IS SUPER EXCITING.

>> IT IS.

SUPER EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AND HELP AND HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'VE DOING MOST OF MY WORK, COMMITTED TO DO IT IN THE GREATER NEWARK AREA, WHICH IS PART OF THE OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY T ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LAWS.

SO I COMMITTED TO DOING THAT SO I CAN HELP THE GREATER NEWARK AREA REDUCE EMISSIONS.

>> WELL GOOD LUCK MOISES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIMEOUT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RAHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY NJ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

A GAME-CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY, AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.