>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS ONLINE AT NJ CHAMBER.COM.

CGI A GLOBAL IT AND BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES FIRM WE HAVE BEEN HELPING GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR CLIENTS IN NEW JERSEY WITH THEIR EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS FOR 30 YEARS.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY WHERE 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.

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

LOCAL 102 LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

VISIT IBEW 102.ORG.

>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," PROMISE AND PUSHBACK.

PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILS HIS TRILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN AS REPUBLICANS CRITICIZE THE PRICE TAG.

>>> PLUS THE NEXT TEST.

HOW NEW COLLEGE GRADS CAN STAND OUT IN A HYPER COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET.

AND WE'RE PUTTING THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN FOCUS, LOOKING BEYOND THE PANDEMIC AT WHAT TOOLS AND PROGRAMS OWNERS CAN ACCESS TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

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

>> HELLO, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOU TUBE MAKE SURE TO SCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

THE ECONOMY IS SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE AND NOW THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE IT MORE JUICE, AT LEAST THAT'S HOW PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SELLING HIS $1.8 TRILLION AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY SPENDING ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION WOULD PRODUCE LASTING BENEFITS FOR THE ECONOMY.

THE PRESIDENT OUTLINES SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN HIS FIRST JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS THIS WEEK.

>> WHAT I PROPOSE IN THE LEGISLATION TO GUARANTEE THAT LOW, MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES WILL PAY NO MORE THAN 7% OF THEIR INCOME FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR CHILDREN UP TO THE AGE OF 5.

THE MOST HARD PRESSED WORKING FAMILIES WON'T HAVE TO SPEND A TIME.

THIRD, THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN WILL FIENALLY PROVIDE UP T 12 WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE AND FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.

>> THERE'S MORE INCLUDING FREE PRESCHOOL FOR SOME CHILDREN, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND EXPANDED TAX CREDITS.

THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE WEALTHY TO HELP PAY FOR IT.

GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS EASED SOME RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES.

INDOOR CAPACITY WILL INCREASE TO 50% FOR EVENTS LIKE WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND PROMS.

INDOOR EVENT SPACES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 250 PEOPLE.

THE OUTDOOR GATHERING LIMIT WILL INCREASE TO 500 PEOPLE.

NOT EVERYONE IS PLEASED BY THE CHANGES.

ESPECIALLY SINCE INDOOR DINING CAPACITY AT RESTAURANTS WILL REMAIN AT 50%.

STATE SENATOR STEVE OROHO SAYS THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE DOING MORE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE 100% OPEN.

BECAUSE WE'RE -- LIKE I SAID, MANY OTHER STATES THAT HAVE BEEN 100% OPEN, THEIR NUMBERS ARE NOT AS BAD AS NEW JERSEY'S NUMBERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN SOME RESPECTS, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA INFECTION RATE AND ONE OF THE MOST DRACONIAN LOCKDOWNS THAT THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND YET -- SO YOU GOT TO ASK YOURSELVES, YOU KNOW, DO THOSE MEASURES ACTUALLY WORK?

>> THE CAPACITY CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MAY 10th.

>>> NEW JERSEY'S RESTRICTIONS MAY HAVE HELPED PUT SOME COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR.

A NEW REPORT BY FOCUS NJ LOOKED BACK AT THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY IN 2020.

THE NUMBERS ARE NOT PRETTY.

MORE THAN 30% OF NEW JERSEY'S SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSED LAST YEAR, EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY.

AND SMALL BUSINESS REVENUE FELL BY NEARLY 36%.

THE PAIN WAS FELT DEEPLY BY OUR STATE'S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

ACCORDING TO NICOLE SANDLER, FOCUS NJ'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> OUR LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WAS DEVASTATED IN THE STAY IN 2020 BECAUSE OF BUSINESS CROW SHIRES AND THE RESULTING MANDATES THAT BUSINESSES HAD.

THAT INDUSTRY EMPLOYED LESS THAN 300,000 PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY WERE EMPLOYING ABOUT 500,000 INDIVIDUALS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> LAST YEAR UNEMPLOYMENT RATES SPIKED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO WORKERS.

IN RECENT WEEKS WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW JERSEYIANS FILING NEW JOBLESS CLAIMS AND THE LATEST GDP REPORT SHOWED THE U.S. ECONOMY IS GROWING AGAIN.

FOCUS NJ IS A NONPARTISAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION SET UP BY THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS A FUNDER OF "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A JOB, THINGS DO LOOK BRIGHTER FOR THE THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO GRADUATE.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS, COMPANIES PLAN TO HIRE 7.2% MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST.

WE TALKED WITH DR. WONG, THE PRESIDENT OF MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ABOUT HOW HER SCHOOL HAS PREPARED STUDENTS FOR FINDING WORK IN AN ECONOMY THAT'S STILL ON THE REBOUND.

>> DR. WONG, OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR ACROSS THE BOARD FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THE NUMBERS WE'RE LOOKING AT SHOWS THAT THE OUTLOOK FOR HIRING FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADS CERTAINLY LOOKS BRIGHTER THIS SPRING THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF THIS?

>> WE DEFINITELY HEAR SAME THING YOU ARE SAYING.

WHAT WE DO HEAR ALSO IS A DICHOTOMY, IF YOU WILL, OF THE HIRING AT THE SAME TIME CANNOT FIND THE RIGHT MATCH.

>> HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING TO ENTER THIS WORKFORCE AND MAKE SURE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED?

>> SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS, LISTENING TO EMPLOYERS AND REALLY, REALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS.

AND TRYING TO ADAPT TO OUR PROGRAMS.

AND OUR SUPPORT SERVICES.

SO WHAT WE TRY TO BOTH EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYERS TO SAY WHAT'S YOUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

HOW CAN WE PROVIDE BITE SIZE SERVICES, CREDENTIALS, TRAININGS FOR YOU TO MEET YOUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE LONG HAUL, RATHER THAN HAVING YOU IMAGINE YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN.

RIGHT NOW NOBODY IS IN THAT SPACE.

>> CAN YOU GAVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF PERHAPS A PROGRAM THAT YOU ADAPTED THIS YEAR BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE HEARING FROM THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS?

>> HOSPITALS, CLINICS AROUND THE REGION ARE LOOKING FOR SPECIALIZED MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND THEY NEED IT FAST.

SO MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS VACCINATORS.

WHEN WE ARE BOOST THE CAMPAIGN FOR VACCINATION ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE RUNNING INTO SHORTAGE OF VACCINATORS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE QUICKLY ADAPT OUR NURSING PROGRAMS AND ADJUST SOME OF OUR NURSING CLINICAL HOURS TO ALLOW THEM TO BECOME VACCINATORS TO FULFILL THEIR CLINICAL HOURS, AT THE SAME TIME MEETING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

>> WHAT'S THE WORDS OF WISDOM YOU CAN GIVE THE KIDS COMING INTO A LABOR MARKET THAT IS REALLY JUST NOW STARTING TO RECOVER?

>> I REALLY WANT TO SAY TO OUR GRADUATES THAT WHAT WE ARE FACING IS TEMPORARY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE WITH US PERMANENTLY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT WE'RE FACING IS NOT GOING TO BE ONCE AND DONE.

IT WILL REOCCUR.

SO THE BEST THING THE STUDENTS CAN PREPARE FOR THEMSELVES AND EMPLOYERS CAN PREPARE FOR THEMSELVES IS, DEAL WITH THE CRISIS WITH A POSITIVE TONE.

DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS REALLY ALL UNFORTUNATE AND WHY ME, WHY NOW.

BUT MORE LIKE, OKAY, YOU THROW THIS AT ME, LET'S TURN IT AROUND AND SAY, WHAT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS RIGHT NOW.

HOW DO I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY?

SO FOR GRADUATES, YES, YOUR MARKET IS VERY TIGHT FOR YOU TO FIND A GOOD JOB.

BUT YOUR INNOVATIVE SPIRIT COULD LAND YOU A JOB THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED OF.

WHAT WE NEED IS OUT OF BOX THINKING.

AND IF ANYBODY CAN TURN THE CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY, IT'S THOSE WHO ARE INNOVATIVE THINKERS.

THOSE WHO ARE COURAGEOUS AND NOT BE AFRAID OF MAKING MISTAKES, BECAUSE NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOUR FIRST TRY AT YOUR INNOVATION WILL SUCCEED.

INDEED, MOST LIKELY WON'T.

SO IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED.

I SAY TO MY TEAM, HOPE FOR THE BEST, PREPARE FOR THE WORST, YOU CANNOT LOSE.

>> WELL SAID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WEEKS, SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW JERSEY WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE GRANTS TO TIDE THEM OVER UNTIL THEIR REVENUES RETURN TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THESE BUSINESSES ARE FACING NEW CHALLENGES AS THEY ANTICIPATE A FURTHER EASING OF RESTRICTIONS.

WE'RE PUTTING THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN FOCUS THIS WEEK.

FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR HARD HIT COMPANIES AND A NEW ROUND OF AID IS ON THE WAY.

IN THE PAST WEEK THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THREE NEW GRANT PROGRAMS AND THAT'S ON TOP OF THE PPP LOANS THAT COMPANIES CAN STILL APPLY FOR.

THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR NEW JERSEY SAID SO FAR THE PPP PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED BILLIONS IN ASSISTANCE.

>> THE LAST NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT WE HAD JUST A LITTLE UNDER 123,000 LOANS FOR SEVEN AND THREE QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH PUTS US AROUND EIGHTH IN THE NATION AS FAR AS STATES ARE CONCERNED.

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO REOPENED WAS THE SHUTTERED VENUES PROGRAM, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF INTEREST IN THAT?

>> WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT THE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING THROUGH WELL AND GOING THROUGH FAST AND FOLKS ARE GETTING MONEY IN HAND.

WITH THAT PROGRAM, LIKE WITH ALL THESE PROGRAMS IT'S A MATTER OF HOW LONG WILL THE MONEY LAST.

>> STARTING NEXT WEEK THERE IS A NEW POT OF MONEY AVAILABLE FOR RESTAURANTS.

SO $28.6 BILLION RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND THAT'S BEEN SET UP, APPLICATIONS OPEN UP ON MONDAY.

AND ADDITIONAL MONEY IS AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH THE SBA'S ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM.

ON TOP OF ALL THOSE FEDERAL PROGRAMS THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS NEXT WEEK FOR ITS NEW ROUND OF SMALL BUSINESS AID.

THESE GRANTS HAVE BEEN LIFELINES FOR SOME BUT HOW WILL WE INVEST IN SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE ECONOMY ONCE THE COVID CRISIS ENDS?

I SPOKE WITH TIM SULLIVAN, THE CEO OF THE EDA ABOUT THAT.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE RIGHT NOW THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN NEW JERSEY?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY, IT'S CONTINUING TO IMPROVE.

I THINK THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS IS GOING TO CORRELATE STRONGLY TO THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH METRIC.

AS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE COMING BACK DOWN, AS THE PROGRESS OF THE VACCINE CONTINUES TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, THE THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET BETTER.

AND AS THE DATA ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO OPEN MORE THINGS UP, THAT WILL BE BETTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S WHY, I THINK, THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIMISM THAT THE END OF THIS IS GETTING CLOSER.

IT'S NOT HERE YET AND THE RECOVERY IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMY WILL TAKE LONGER THAN THE END OF THE PANDEMIC ITSELF BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND COUPLE MONTHS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> IN TERMS OF THE LATEST BATCH OF GRANTS THAT WILL BE GOING OUT, PREVIOUSLY A LOT OF THE GRANTS WERE OVERSCRIBED.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE ON WHETHER THIS $100 MILLION, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> IN THE PRIOR ROUNDS, GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY ENOUGH FUNDS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TURN ANYONE AWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE APPLICATIONS.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE CAN EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY GET THIS POT OF MONEY OUT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID WITH ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONEY THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE STATES, HOPEFULLY HE'S -- JUST REPEATING WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID, TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE FUNDING OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

BUT WE WILL -- WE HAVE PLENTY TO DO RIGHT NOW WITH THIS MONEY.

>> YOU SURE DO.

A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN THIS TRIAGE EFFORT IN THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY WE'RE IN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

ONCE WE GET BEYOND THIS PERIOD?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BOTH IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT, THE INCENTIVES BILL AND IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL, THERE'S A TOTAL OF $100 MILLION FOR OUR NEW PROGRAM CALLED OUR MAIN STREET PROGRAM, THAT'S LESS ABOUT SORT OF STABILITY AND GETTING THROUGH THE CRISIS AS IT IS GETTING BACK ON OUR FRONT FOOT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

MAIN STREET MOM AND POP BUSINESSES.

THAT'S A WIDER RANGE OF USES THAN EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT.

WE'LL SPELL OUT THE DETAILS IN A COUPLE MONTHS BUT THINGS LIKE FACADE IMPROVEMENT, EXPANDING E COMMERCE CAPABILITIES.

BUSINESSES REALIZED IN THE CRISIS THAT THINGS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN DOING THE LAST FIVE OR TEN YEARS CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND IT WAS TIME TO REFRESH THEIR WEB WEBSITE.

HELPING BUSINESSES RETOOL AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT EXCITING PERIOD AND A PERIOD OF GROWTH IN THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY AND AMERICAN ECONOMY.

>> IN TERMS OF THE BROADER TAX INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT WAS APPROVED LATE LAST YEAR, HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF STANDING THE PROGRAMS UP.

A NUMBER ARE FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR IAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL FOR $100 MILLION TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS THAT WAY.

THE EVERGREEN FUND ARE ABOUT HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO GROW DO THEIR GROWTH HERE IN NEW JERSEY SO THERE'S TOOLS THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS MADE ABLE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES NOT JUST THROUGH THE CRISIS BUT THROUGH THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION PHASE HERE.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>>> GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE HAS HELPED NEW JERSEY'S SMALL BUSINESSES NO DOUBT BUT IT HASN'T SOLVED ALL THEIR PROBLEMS AND THERE'S A NEW ISSUE THAT'S CROPPED UP.

WE'RE HEARING SOME COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS, ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH STAFFING.

TONY IS OWNER OF METRO NORTH.

>> WE'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME FINDING PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPEN SIX NIGHTS A WEEK FROM 4:00 TO 10:00.

WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN THE SEVENTH NIGHT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN A COUPLE LUNCHES.

AND AS OF RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STAFF TO DO THAT.

>> HE'S NOT ALONE.

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION FOR INDEPENDENT BUSINESS RECENTLY REPORTED THAT 42% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY HAVE JOB OPENINGS THAT CANNOT BE FILLED.

WE TALKED TO THE NEW JERSEY DIRECTOR OF THE NFIB, EILEEN KEEN, ABOUT THAT.

EILEEN, THE NFIB RELEASED A SURVEY RECENTLY THAT SHOWS WHAT WE'RE HEARING ANECDOTALLY AND THAT IS SOME SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY HAVING TROUBLE NOW FINDING WORKERS.

>> THAT IS SO TRUE.

SOME ARE CALLING THIS A STATE SPONSORED LABOR SHORTAGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> BECAUSE OF THE GREAT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RIGHT NOW, THE EXTRA $300 WEEKLY PAYMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE'S AN INCENTIVE TO STAY HOME.

BUT IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

AND CERTAINLY, I NEVER LIKE TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF NEW JERSEY ARE LAZY PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.

THINK ABOUT THE MOTHER WHO WORKED AT A RESTAURANT AND HAD VARIOUS SHIFTS, AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL AS SHE RAISES HER CHILDREN.

SUDDENLY THE CHILDREN ARE NO LONGER IN SCHOOL, SHE'S SUPERVISING THEIR SCHOOL WORK.

HOW CAN SHE TAKE ON THE BURDEN OF GOING BACK TO WORK?

THE WAY NFIB IS ANALYZING THIS, IT ALL HAS TO COME TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY AND CRUCIAL TO OPENING UP OUR ECONOMY IS GETTING OUR SCHOOLS AND GETTING OUR DAY CARE FUNCTIONING, SO PARENTS CAN BE RELIEVED OF THAT BURDEN OF BEING THE TEACHERS AND IN THAT RESPECT, THEY'RE GOING TO STAY HOME AND THEY'RE GOING TO COLLECT THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT, BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY EASIER.

>> I GUESS THE OTHER THING, THE ONE INCENTIVE, OF COURSE, IS PAY.

I'VE SEEN ADS WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO PAY WELL ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE, AND, OF COURSE, THAT CAN BE GOOD FOR WORKERS BUT IT CAN HURT PROFITABILITY, SO THERE'S THAT ISSUE, TOO.

>> AND SOME BUSINESSES WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET BUSINESS GRANTS OFFERED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN GENEROUS, WE'VE HAD OVER $100 MILLION PUT TOWARDS GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE, AS PART OF THEIR STATE PHYFIZZ FISCAL YEAR BUDGE 2022, INCLUDES MORE THAN $100 BILLION THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD PUT IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.

BUT YES, THEY'RE USING THAT MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT HOURLY WAGES TO INCENTIVIZE WORKERS TO COME BACK TO THE WORK PLACE.

SO SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO REACH THAT WALL WHERE THE GRANTS STOP FLOWING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STOPS WITH THEIR HANDOUTS AND THE ECONOMY WILL HAVE TO EQUALIZE AND WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUR FOOTING AT THAT POINT.

BUT FOR THOSE BUSINESSES WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN GRANTS, SURE IT'S HURTING PROFITS.

AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THE REASON WHY WE DO NEED FURTHER GRANTS TO HELP BUSINESSES.

>> EILEEN, DO YOU THINK WITHOUT THAT, THIS SUMMER WILL BE EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES?

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEASONAL TOURISM BUSINESS AND USUALLY YOU HAVE TO HIRE TO STAFF THAT UP IN MAY.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT, PERHAPS, TO FIND MATURE EMPLOYEES, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.

BUT I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL FILL IN THOSE VOIDS FOR THE NEED FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF POSITIVE STEPS.

SO PARENTS AND EMPLOYEES CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO GO BACK TO THE WORK PLACE.

>> EILEEN, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

>> RHONDA, THANKS SO MUCH.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A FABULOUS DAY.

>> YOU TOO, EILEEN.

TAKE CARE.

>>> NOT EVERYBODY BUSINESS HAS BEEN STUNG BY COVID RELATED HARDSHIPS, IN FACT, SOME ENTREPRENEURS HAVE THRIVED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND TURNED TO ONLINE PLATFORMS TO SELL THEIR GOODS.

WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THEM.

GARY OF ANNANDALE TURNED HIS LOVE OF BEES INTO A BUSINESS THAT'S REALLY BUZZING ON ETSY.

>> TELL ME HOW YOU GOT INTO THE BEE AND HONEY BUSINESS TO START.

>> SURE.

IT'S A GREAT HOBBY.

I LEARNED ABOUT IT WAY BACK WHEN IN COLLEGE.

I WENT TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND ONE OF MY FIRST JOBS WAS RESEARCHING HONEY BEE BEHAVIOR WITH A PROFESSOR AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH BEES.

SINCE MOVING TO NEW JERSEY I TOOK UP BEE KEEPING AS A LOBBY.

I LOVED IT.

I HAD SO MUCH HONEY I WAS GIVING IT AWAY AND THEN PEOPLE INSISTED ON PAYING FOR IT AND THEN IT GREW FROM THERE AS FAR AS SELS SELLING IT TO A FARM STAND AROUND THE CORNER, MAKING DIRECT SALES.

AND THEN I FOUND ETSY.

AND IT KIND OF EXPLODED FROM THERE, BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY WANT LOCAL HONEY, AND IT'S A GREAT PLATFORM FOR ME TO SELL IT, IT'S NOT TOO TIME CONSUMING, DO EVERYTHING ONLINE AND CUSTOMERS LOVE IT.

>> HOW DID YOUR SALES ON ETSY GO DURING THE PANDEMIC?

DID YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN BUSINESS?

>> THERE WAS NO -- NO DOUBT, NO QUESTION THAT THE PANDEMIC, EVERYONE BEING INSIDE, I THINK MORE BROADLY IT MADE PEOPLE WANT TO BE CLOSER TO NATURE, I SAW AN ETSY THAT SEED SALES FOR HOME GROWN VEGETABLE AND FLOWER PLANTS EXPLODED.

THERE WAS JUST SUCH A HUGE INTEREST AND IT KIND OF EXPLODED, THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF SALES I WAS GETTING EVERY DAY LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME.

>> ANY CHALLENGES TO GROWING YOUR BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

IT SOUNDS PRETTY POSITIVE IN TERMS OF YOUR GROWTH ON ETSY, BUT DID YOU FACE ANY CHALLENGES OR HURDLES OR DID YOU RETHINK ANYTHING YOU WERE DOING GIVEN WHAT WAS GOING ON THIS PAST YEAR?

>> HONESTLY, FOR A BUSINESS LIKE MINE, SELLING HONEY, IT'S -- AND GETTING THAT KIND OF GROWTH FROM ETSY, IT ALL -- IT WASN'T A CHALLENGE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED AND IT WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO KIND OF PROCESS THE ORDERS AND MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH HONEY AND ENOUGH SUPPLIES, AND THEN THINK ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO EXPAND AS FAR AS THIS SEASON, WHICH I'M STARTING TO DO NOW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SPRINGTIME, BUSY SEASON FOR BEEKEEPERS.

SO I'VE BEEN MAKING NEW HIVES.

I WANT TO ADD NEW PRODUCTS THIS YEAR, JUST BASED ON THE INTEREST, LIKE CUT COMB HONEY.

IT'S REALLY JUST A QUESTION OF HOW CAN I EXPAND NOW?

>> IN TERMS OF YOUR EXPANSION, IS THAT FRONT AND CENTER FOR YOU?

IS THIS YOUR DAY JOB OR SOON-TO-BE DAY JOB?

>> I'M AN ATTORNEY BY DAY AND I WORK FOR A REALLY COOL COMPANY IN HOSPITALITY, CALLEDMINHOUSE, I LOVE MY COLLEAGUES MY WORK.

THIS WAS A HOBBY THAT KIND OF BECAME A SIDE BUSINESS.

I GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED WITH FULFILLING ORDERS.

IT -- I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT DURING THE DAY.

SO HOW I EXPAND, IT'S A BIG QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE BEING AN ATTORNEY.

AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF A FUN SIDE BUSINESS.

AS IT GROWS, IT GROWS.

AND I'LL NEED MORE HELP AND I'LL PROBABLY GET MORE HELP ONCE THAT TIME COMES.

>> I'M SO HAPPY YOU SHARED YOUR STORY WITH US.

IT'S REALLY FASCINATING.

AND IT'S NICE TO HEAR ABOUT ONE SMALL BUSINESS THAT DID WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY, NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

CGI, A GLOBAL I.T.

AND BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES FIRM.

WE HAVE BEEN HELPING GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR CLIENTS IN NEW JERSEY WITH THEIR EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS FOR 30 YEARS.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES AT CGI.COM.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, WHERE 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.

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

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

VISIT IBEW102.ORG.

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