>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS y BEAT" PROVIDED BY -- MORE THAN 110 YEARS, NJBIA HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

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 IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

AND LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LOADING THE WAY, VISIT IBEW102.ORG.

>>> THIS WEEK ON BATE, A SHOW OF STRENGTH IN THE JOB MARKET, BUT THAT MEANS A MAJOR CHANGE FOR A PANDEMIC ERA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>>> PLUS TAX DAY IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY.

AND WE'RE HIGH LYING WHAT'S NEW FOR YOUR TAXES THIS YEAR AS WELL AS GIVING YOU SOME LAST-MINUTE TAX FILING TIPS.

>>> AND WE'RE PUTTING THE WAR IN UKRAINE IN FOCUS DIGGING DEEP INTO HOW RUSSIA'S INVASION IS IMPACTING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOUR DAILY FINANCES.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>>> THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> HELLO, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCH ING ON YOUB YOU'RE TUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

IF YOU WANT A NEW JOB BUT AREN'T LOOKING FOR ONE, YOU'RE MISSING OUT.

JOBS PLENTIFUL ACCORDING TO NEW DA.

NEW JERSEY-BASED PAYROLLS PROCESSING COMPANY ADP PUTS OUT A MONTHLY TALLY OF NEW JOBS.

IN MARCH COMPANIES ADDED 450,000 NEW POSITIONS, WHICH WAS A BIT MORE THAN FORECAST.

THE HOS PIT TALLTY SECTOR SHOWED STRONG GROWTH, NO DOUBT A CONTINUED REBOUND FROM P PANDEMIC-RELATED JOB LOSSES.

WITH THE JOB MARKET CONTINUEING TO IMPROVE, THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WILL COME TO AN END ON APRIL 9th.

SOME 20,000 UNEMPLOYED WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING THOSE BENEFITS, WHICH WERE PAID OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS HIGH.

BUT NOW THE JOBLESS RATE HAS FALLEN UNDER THE 6.5 THRESHOLD FOR CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM.

OFFICIALS SAY NEW JERSEY HAS REGAINED 90% OF THE JOBS LOST WHEN COVID-19 SLAMMED THE ECONOMY IN MARCH AND APRIL OF 2020.

HEARINGS ON GOVERNOR MURPHY'S BUDGET CONTINUED THIS PAST WEEK GIVING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARD THAT MORE MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO NEW JERSEY'S MAIN STREET RECOVERY FUND, WHICH HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES.

THEY ALSO HEARD FROM ED ADVOCAT WHO SAID ADDITIONAL FUNDS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

AND AS WE HAD, ENVIRONMENTALISTS TESTIFIED THAT NEW JERSEY NEEDS TO STOP DIVERTING MONEY OUT OF A CLEAN ENERGY FUND.

>> ONE OF THE BIG ASKS IS THAT $82 MILLION NOT BE RAIDED FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY FUND, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE USE OF CLEANER BURNING FUELS OR SOLAR AND WIND, SO THE STATE HAS HISTORICALLY TAKEN MONEY FROM THAT FUND AND USED IT TO HELP COVER NJ TRANSIT'S OPERATING BUDGET, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE UPSET TO SEE IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING NEW JERSEY THAT AGAIN NEW JERSEY WILL BE RAIDING SOME OF THIS MONEY TO HELP KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

>> ANOTHER IDEA ON HOW THE STATE SHOULD SPEND ITS REVENUE COMES FROM TWO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO SAY FAMILIES SHOULD GET A $500 TAX CREDIT TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH A HIGH COST OF GAS AND OTHER THINGS.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE SPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE A $500 REFUNDABLE INCOME TAX CREDIT TO FAMILIES WHEN THEY FILE THEIR 2021 STATE TAX RETURNS IF THEIR INCOME IS LESS THAN $250,000.

THIS IDEA HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND FOR A BIT, BUT THIS WEEK REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE'S DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP TO CONVENE A SESSION TO ADOPT THE LEGISLATION.

THE CALL TO ACTION CAME AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY RECENTLY SAID THAT HE WAS OPEN TO ANY CREATIVE IDEAS ON INFLATION.

THE GOVERNOR IS MOVING HIS CLEAN ENERGY AGENDA FORWARD, BUT KRUTICES SAY THE COST OF SOLAR AND WIND INITIATIVES IS NOT KNOWN.

THE STATE APPEARS TO BE READY TO RELEASE A COMPREHENSIVE COST ANALYSIS BY FALL.

AHEAD OF THAT, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THE TRANSITION TO CLAEN ENERGY WILL LEAD TO HIGHER UTILITY BILLS FOR RESIDENTS AND CHERTS.

DURING TESTIMONY AT A RECENT HEARING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY DISCUSSED THE COST OF THE PLAN SHIFT FROM USING NATURAL GAS TO ELECTRICITY IN COMMERCIAL BU BUILDINGS.

>> THERE'S A COST OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO.

SOLAR, WIND, ET CETERA, THOSE COSTS WILL BE IN THE RATE.

SO WE WILL BE PAYING THOSE AS RATE PAYERS AND CONSUMERS AND CITIZENS.

BUT THE COST TO ELECTRIFY IS OUTSIDE OF THAT AND THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF OUR POCKET OPPOSED TO OUT OF OUR POCKET THROUGH OUR RATES.

AND THE COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL AND IT'S TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ENGAGE THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS.

>> THIS PAST WEEK, AMAZON WORKERS IN STATEN ISLAND VOTED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO UNIONIZE.

WHAT RATE OF UNION MEMBERSHIP HAS DECLINED SHARP LY IN THE LAE FEW DECADES.

A GALLOP POLL FOUND THAT 68% OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF LABOR UNIONS.

THAT WAS THE HIGHEST READING SINCE 1965.

IN NEW JERSEY THE HOTEL AND GAMING TRADES COUNCIL RECENTLY OPENED ITS FIRST OFFICE IN THE STATE.

THIS AS WORKERS AT TEN NEW JERSEY HOTELS VOTED TO RATIFY CONTRACTS WITH THE UNION WHICH ALREADY REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN OUR STATE.

UNION PRESIDENT EXPECTS HIS MEMBERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND HE SEES A RESURGENCE IN ORGANIZED LABOR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THE PACE OF WORKERS JOINING OUR UNION INCREASE MORE RECENTLY IN PART AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

W WORKERS NOW KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE BETTER WAGES, BETTER BENEFITS, SAFER WORKING PLACES AND THAT THE BEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH NA IS JOINING THE UNION.

>> ON FRIDAY JERSEY CITY HOSTED A PARADE THIS HONOR OF THE ST. PETER'S PEACOCKS HISTORIC RUN IN THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

THE SCHOOL HAS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE.

THE PEACOCKS WIN STREAK HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF OF ATTENTION, INCLUDING FROM DONORS WHO WERE INSPIRED TO OPEN THEIR WALLETS AND GIVE.

ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG, DONORS PLEDGED OR GAVE CLOSE TO $2.3 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL WHILE THE PEACOCKS WERE STRUTTING THEIR STUFF IN THE TOURNAMENT.

THAT'S 278% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S PLEDGES.

>>> YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF WEEKENDS TO GET YOUR TAXES IN ORDER AS THE FILING DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING.

THE IRS EXTENDED THE TAX FILING DEADLINE THIS YEAR TO MONDAY, APRIL 18th DUE TO A HOLIDAY ON APRIL 15th.

I TALKED WITH NICOLE DEROSA, A SENIOR TAX MANAGER, TO DPT YOU SOME TAX FILING TIPS.

>> AMONG THE TIPS THAT YOU ARE PASSING ON TO NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO T TAXES, THERE'S A TIP THAT YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS IRS BACKLOG THAT WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT.

SO HOW DO YOU GET YOUR RETURNS FASTEST?

>> FASTEST WAY TO GET YOUR RETURN FILED WOULD BE ELECTRONICALLY.

FILED AND PROCESSED.

NOW AVOID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WITH REGARD TO SNAIL MAIL, IF YOU CAN AT ALL COST.

DON'T SEND YFR RETURN IN VIA PAPER.

OTHERWISE YOU PROEBLT WON'T SEE THAT REFUND FOR A LONG TIME.

SO ELECTRONICALLY FILE YOUR TAX RETURNS AND ALSO PROVIDE BANKING INFORMATION SO THAT REFUND CAN BE DIRECTLY DEPOSITED SWOO YOUR ACCOUNT.

>> A FEW THINGS PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS YEAR.

THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE IN TERMS OF SOME PEOPLE NOT KNOWING HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT THEM BENEFICIALLY.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH THAT?

>> THE ADVANCE CHILD TAX CREDIT WAS ESSENTIALLY AN ADVANCED TAX CREDIT MONTHLY CREDIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR LAST YEAR THAT NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED ON YOUR TAX RETURN THIS FILING SEASON, SO IF YOU DID RECEIVE ADVANCED CREDITS, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROPERLY RECONCILING THOSE E AMOUNTS.

THE IRS KNOWS WHAT THEY GAVE YOU.

IF IT YOU SUBMIT A RETURN AND IT DID YOU WANT MATCH, THE IRS IS GOING TO KICK IT INTO A SECOND REVIEW WHICH WILL DELAY YOUR REFUND.

>> AND ALSO I KNOW IT'S TIME FOR A HEADS UP FOR ANYONE WHO WAS BUYING AND SELLING CRYPTO CURRENCIES.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE AWARE OF THERE?

>> IF YOU DID SL OR TRADE OR EXCHANGE VIRTUAL CURRENCY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE PROPERLY REPORTING THESE TRANSACTIONS ON YOUR TAX RETURNS.

>> WHAT'S THE LATEST ON CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND WHAT CAN BE DETUKTED?

>> IF YOU DON'T ITEMIZE AND YOU DONATE TO CHARITY, YOU'RE ABLE TO CLAIM A $600 CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.

$300 FOR ALL OTHER FILINGS.

KEEP IN MIND, GOFUNDMES DO NOT COUNT.

>> THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC DEDUCTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO STATE TAX RETURN.

LET'S GO OVER THOSE.

>> YES, SO HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRACIOUS WITH THE MEDICAL THRESHOLD.

SO THE IRS IS 10% IF YOU ITEMIZE.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THE THRESHOLD IS ONLY 2%.

SO EVEN IF YOU DON'T REAP THE BENEFIT ON THE FEDERAL RETURN, STILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE FACTOR ING INTO THE EQUATION YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES.

YOU MIGHT REAP THE BENEFIT BECAUSE OF YOUR LOER THRESHOLD.

IT DOES ALLOW YOU A RENT DEDUCTION.

THEY SAY IF YOU RENTED PROPERTY OR THAT WAS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, ALLOW 18% OF YOUR RENT PAID AS A PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION ON YOUR RETURN.

>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE LAST MF MINUTE TIPS.

THEY ARE MUCH APPRECIATED.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> WE WANT TO TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND ITS GLOBAL ECONOMIC IMPACT.

WE'RE PUTTING THE ECONOMIC COST IN FOCUS THIS WEEK.

WE FIRST EXPERIENCED RISING GAS PRICES DUE TO FEARS OF OIL SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS IN THE REGION.

IN THE PAST MONTH, U.S. OIL PRICES CLIMBED FROM ABOUT $95 A BARREL TO $108 A BARREL BY MIDWEEK.

BUT THEN ON THURSDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO RELEASE 180 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC RESERVES IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE FWAS PRICES.

>> OUR FAMILY BUDGETS TO FILL A TANK, NONE OF IT SHOULD BE BE ON WHETHER A DICTATOR DECLARES WAR.

TODAY I'M LAYING OUT A PLANT PLAN.

NOT ONLY TO EASE THE PAIN, BUT TO END THIS ERA OF DEPENDENCE AND UNCERTAINTY.

AND LAY A NEW FOUNDATION FOR TRUE AND LASTING AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

>> Reporter: THE WAR IS PUSHING UP PRICES ON OTHER PRODUCTS INCLUDING ONE YOU MIGHT NOT THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT.

AND THAT'S FERTILIZER.

FERTILIZER PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED ABOUT 40% SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION.

RUSSIA WAS A TOP EXPORTER OF FERTILIZER BEFORE SANCTIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE.

THIS IS WEIGHING HEAVILY ON THE NATION'S FARMERS AND LEADING TO EVEN MORE INFLATION.

OVER THE PAST MONTH THE PRICE OF CHEESE IS UP MORE THAN 13%.

MILK IS UP 11%.

WHEAT IS UP 6.5%.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ARE BIG LEAD EXPORTERS.

FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON THE WORLD'S FOOD SUPPLY, I SPOKE WITH MORGAN WILLIAMS, WHO IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE U.S./UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF THE HUNDREDS OF U.S.

BUSINESSES ACTIVE IN UKRAINE WHEN RUSSIA INVADED.

>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A VERY TRYING FEW WEEKS.

I'M SURE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED AT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

TELL ME WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE AND HOW BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO HELP.

>> WHEN PUTIN INVADED UKRAINE, IT MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE BUSINESSES LIKE STABILITY.

BUSINESSES LIKE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE SAFE.

THEY LIKE FOR THEIR DATA AND THEIR ASSETS TO BE SAFE.

SO MANY OF THEM HAD ALREADY PUT IN EMERGENCY PLANS.

SOME OF THEM ALREADY MOVED THEIR PEOPLE OUT OF UKRAINE.

OR THEY MOVED THEM TO WESTERN UKRAINE.

AND THEY MOVED PARTICULAR VIRTUAL ASSETS OUT OF UKRAINE.

SO IT DISRUPTED EVERYTHING.

IT CONTINUES EVERY DAY TO BE MORE DISRUPTIVE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO THE PRODUCTIVITY OF UKRAINE.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY STEP UP EFFORTS ON THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE OF THINGS?

>> YES, WE HAVE.

THE COUNCIL THE MINUTE POOUTEN INVADED WE STARTED WORKING WITH OUR COMPANIES.

WE STARTED TELLING THEM WHICH PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS WE THOUGHT WERE ON THE GROUND THAT COULD MAKE GOOD DONATIONS.

AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S./UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL HAVE CONTRIBUTE ED OVER $100 MILLION TO A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL CHARITIES AND ALSO ONESES TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SOME OF THE COMPANIES AS THEY TRY TO MANAGE THROUGH THE SITUATION?

ARE THEY FEARFUL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES?

ARE THEY FEARFUL OF THEIR ASSETS?

ARE THEY QUITE FRANKLY SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY THE SITUATION DECELERATED?

>> THE COMPANIES ARE VERY UPSET BECAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN UKRAINE FOR 25 YEARS.

UKRAINE IS A LONG-TERM MARKET.

THEY LOOKED AT UKRAINE AS A FOOD BASKET FOR THE WORLD.

TO BE A MAJOR EXPORTER OF FOOD AROUND THE WORLD.

UKRAINE IS INCREASED THEIR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ASK CAN DO A LOT MORE.

THEY ARE THE TOP EXPORTER OF SUN FLOWER SEEDS, OIL, GRAPE SEEDS, CORN, SOYBEANS AND IT COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE WORLD'S FOOD SUPPLY.

>> YOU RAISED A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN UKRAINE?

>> SO THE UNITED STATES HAS GOT TO DO A LOT MORE TO STOP PUTIN AND THEY COULD.

AND THEY HAVE TO DO A LOT MORE TO HELP THE FARMERS.

WE HEARD THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WAS RUNNING AROUND THE WORLD LOOKING FOR PLACES THEY COULD BUY FOOD TO SHIP TO THE POOR PEOPLE.

WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING IS HELPING THE FARMERS OF UKRAINE GET OUT THEIR SPRING CROPS AND CONTINUE THEIR OPERATIONS.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION ON THIS VERY DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

I DO HOPE THINGS IMPROVE.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAK ING WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM.

IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE WHOLE WORLD.

THE WHOLE WORLD NEEDS TO COME TO THE DEFENSE OF UKRAINE.

AT THE FOREFRONT NOW IN THE BATTLE AGAINST PUTIN.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN NEW JERSEY, SOME RESIDENTS ARE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT OF UKRAINE BY BOYCOTTING RUSSIAN PRODUCTS.

BUT SOME SAY THAT'S HURTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND JOBS.

FOR INSTANCE, BUSINESS IS DOWN AT THIS GAS STATION IN NEWARK.

WHILE THE COMPANY IS BASED IN RUSSIA, THE GAS STATION FRANCHISES ARE LOCALLY OWNED.

>> TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, WE ALL WANT TO DO OUR PART.

>> YOU'RE KILLING THE SMALL BUSINESSES OF NEW JERSEY.

>> THE PEOPLE GETTING CAUGHT UP IN ALL OF THIS ARE THE EMPLOYEES AND THEY COULD BE A PERSONAL LOSS OF 600 TO 1200 JOBS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS BOYCOTT.

>> JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS THE LATEST COMPANY TO STOP SELLING SOME PRODUCTS IN RUSSIA.

J&J SAY IT IS WILL NO LONGER SELL PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS JOINING OTHER BIG AMERICAN COMPANIES IN CEASING OPERATIONS THERE.

HOWEVER, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPLY MEDICINE TO RUSSIA.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, J&J SAID IT WOULD SUSPEND CLINICAL TRIALS OR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN RUSSIA.

J&J IS INCREASING HUMANITARIAN AID FOR UKRAINE AND IT IS NOT THE ONLY NEW JERSEY COMPANY TO DO SO.

MAINE RID YAN HEALTH DONATED $100,000 IN CRITICAL SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE.

I TALKED WITH THE HEALTH SYSTEM CEO BOB GARRETT WHO SAYS THEY ARE READY TO DO MORE INCLUDING SENDING MEDICAL PERSONNEL.

>> YOUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM GAVE A DONATION TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, SPECIFICALLY MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

WHAT SORT OF PRODUCTS AND SUPPLIES WILL SOME OF THE UKRAINIANS RECEIVE FROM THE DONATION?

>> SO WHAT WE DID IS WE DONATED 21 FULL BACK PAL LETS, WHICH IS A FULL TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCK.

IT CONSISTED OF BABY FOOD, MASKS, DISINFECTING WIPES, IT HAS A VALUE OF OVER $100,000.

AND WE CHOSE THOSE PRODUCTS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED MOST CRITICALLY IN THE UKRAINE TODAY.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN, OUR PHYSICIANS AND TEAM MEMBERS HAVE STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY.

THEY ARE MAKING THINKER OWN DONATIONS THROUGH OUR SOURCES AND THROUGH THEIR OWN SOURCES.

WE ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO SO.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE MAINE RID YAN TEAM FOR REALLY STEPPING UP AND MAKING THESE CONTRIBUTIONS AT A VERY CRITICAL TIME IN TERMS OF UKRAINE'S HISTORY.

>> FROM AWAY YOU KNOW, HOW DIRE IS THE SITUATION IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR MEDICAL CARE AND IS THERE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED THE BORDERS AND ARE TRYING TO SEEK SAFETY.

>> THE SITUATION IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.

REFUGEES THAT NEED FOOD, NEED SUPPLIES, NEED MEDICAL CARE, NEED SUCH THINGS LIKE BABY FOOD, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

THEY DO NEED MASKS TOO AS COVID HAS SPREAD THROUGH EASTERN EUROPE.

SO IT IS A VERY CRITICAL TIME.

I THINK CERTAINLY PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY OF UKRAINE HAS MADE A PLEA FOR ADDITIONAL% KNELT AS WELL.

ASSISTANCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

I KNOW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AS IS THE EUROPE UNION AND OUR NATO ALLIES.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR SUPPLIES.

THERE'S A NEED FOR EQUIPMENT AND FOR PERSONNEL.

SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO GO OVER THERE AS WELL.

WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

>> IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THE SUPPLIES GOT TO WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO, YOU'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENSURE WHAT LEAVES NEW JERSEY GETS TO THOSE PEOPLE IN NEED, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO WE'RE WORK ING WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE AFIA FOUNDATION.

WHAT THEY DO IS THEY COLLECT UNUSED MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY METROPOLITAN AREA AND SHARE THEM GLOBALLY WITH COUNTRIES, COMMUNITYINGS, EVEN STATES WITHIN THE U.S. THAT ARE IN NEED OF THE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.

WE HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR WORK WITH THE GREATER NEW YORK HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WHOM WE'RE A MEMBER OF AND THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WHO WE PARTICIPATE WITH.

SO WE FEEL BY WORKING WITH THE AFIA FOUNDATION THAT THE FLY SPLOOIS AND EQUIPMENT WILL GET TO UKRAINE IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER, A TIMELY MANNER AND WILL GET TO THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED.

>> GREAT TO HEAR SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT YOUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS DOING FOR UKRAINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ANOTHER JERSEY COMPANY THAT HAS STEPPED UP TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE IS QUEST DIAGNOSTICS.

IT ANNOUNCED A $500,000 DONATION TO PROJECT HOPE TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN RYE CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS IN UKRAINE AND FOR UKRAINE CANNEN REFUGEES IN THE EASTERN EUROPE.

I SPOKE WITH QUEST'S CEO.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS DID MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

WHY DID THE COMPANY FEEL THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THIS TIME?

>> WE BELIEVE THAT WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR US TO DO TO MAKE A DONATION TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE THINK WE NEED HELP AROUND MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO THE COUNTRY ITSELF, BUT ALSO TO THE REFUGEES THAT ARE GOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND EASTERN EUROPE.

>> AND WHY DID YOU SELECT PROJECT HOPE?

YOU ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE BIT THERE, BUT WHAT KIND OF WORK ARE THEY DOING THAT MADE YOU FEEL THIS WAS THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU?

>> I HAVE WORKED WITH PROJECT HOPE FOR MANY YEARS.

I SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

PROJECT HOPE GOES BACK TO 1958.

WITH ACTUALLY GETTING A SHIPMENT FROM THE NAVY TO DELIVER MEDICINE AND HELP TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

IT'S GOING AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT BIDS SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT FOR COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

I KNEW OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND OTHER CORPORATIONS LIKE US HAVE WORKED WITH PROJECT HOPE TO DISTRIBUTE GOODS AND EQUIPMENT AND ACTUALLY OVER MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL BUILDING A NUMBER OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

ONE OF WHICH WAS IN IRAQ AROUND THE IRAQ WAR.

AND ACTUALLY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE POLISH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

SO I THOUGHT GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE GIVEN THEIR PRESENCE IN EASTERN EUROPE TO DO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO FOR UKRAINE AND ALSO THE SURROUNDING COUNTRIES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS UNFOLDS DAILY.

CERTAINLY, IT'S NOT IMPROVING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS ON THE MEDICAL FRONT THAT YOU HAVE?

I READ A LOT ABOUT FEARS OF COVID SPREADING BECAUSE THE VACCINATION RATE WAS SO LOW IN UKRAINE.

NOW YOU HAVE SOME REFUGEES AS WELL.

MOVING ACROSS THE BORDER.

>> AS TIME GOES ON, WE'LL SEE JUST GENERAL HEALTH ISSUES RAISING UP IN SOME OF THOSE REFUGEE CAMPS.

AND YES, COVID HAS BEEN WITH US AND IS STILL WITH US.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS THE RISK OF MORE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS THAT'S ALREADY IN POLAND AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRIES THROUGH THESE LATEST CASES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID AROUND THE WORLD.

SO THAT'S JUST AN ADDITIONAL SET OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MANAGED GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW THE STATE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY IS GEARING UP FOR THE SUMMER SEASON.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON ADVANCEMENT AND SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

on the EMPLOYEES REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES, WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

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 IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER AND LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY, VISIT IBEW102.ORG.