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>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO RETURN TO WORK.

THE STATE'S NEW PROGRAM TO TACKLE THE HIRING CRISIS, BENEFITTING BOTH EMPLOYEES AND THEIR COMPANIES.

>>> PLUS NEW JERSEY IS SYNONYMOUS WITH GAMBLING BUT A BIG QUESTION OF COLLEGE SPORTS BETTING IS SEEING MAJOR PUSHBACK.

AND THE STATE'S MANUFACTURERS IN FOCUS FROM THE GROWTH DURING THE PANDEMIC TO DEMAND FOR YOUNG WORKERS AND WHY THE STATE MAY LEAD THE WAY IN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

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

>> HELLO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU ARE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOUR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

NEW JERSEY HAS A JOBS PROBLEM.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS CAN'T FIND THE JOBS THEY WANT.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HEAR FROM COMPANIES THAT SAY THEY CAN'T FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS.

SO THE STATE HAS COME UP WITH A FIX.

THIS WEEK, THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCE AD NEW JOB-TRAINING PROGRAM CALLED RETURN --.

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS.

ELIGIBLE WORKS WOULD RECEIVE $10,000 FROM THE STATE TO HIRE AND TRAIN NEW WORKERS FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.

NEW JERSEY WORKERS HIRED THROUGH THE RETURN AND EARN PROGRAM WOULD RECEIVE A $500 BONUS IN THEIR FIRST PAYCHECK.

LABOR COMMISSIONER ROBERT ASARO ANGELO BELIEVES THIS WILL BENEFIT BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO REBOUND FROM COVID-19.

>> CERTAINLY INDUSTRIES MOST HARD HIT BY THE PANDEMIC, WHICH IS ALL INDUSTRIES QUITE FRANKLY, BUT CLEARLY HOSPITALITY, CHILD CARE, ESPECIALLY.

BUT ANY INDUSTRY CAN USE ON THE JOB TRAINING BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM.

THOUSANDS OF SOMETIMES TRAININGS AVAILABLE.

COULD BE INPERSON OR ONLINE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS TRAINING THAT AN EMPLOYER GIVES TO ITS WORKERS ON SITE.

>> SPORTS GAMBLING IS BIG BUSINESS AND IT IS A GROWING INDUSTRY IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT THERE ARE SOME OBJECTIONS TO EXPANDING IT FURTHER ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL.

THIS FALL VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A PUBLIC QUESTION ON THE BALLOT THAT ASKS WHETHER THE STATE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ALLOW WAGERING ON COLLEGE SPORTS EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN NEW JERSEY OR INVOLVING NEW JERSEY TEAMS.

ACCORDING TO A STOCKTON UNIVERSITY POLL, 45% OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS ARE OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT, 40% SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.

AND 14% ARE UNSURE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY THIS WEEK WAS TALKING UP THE STATE'S DECISION TO AWARD TAX CREDITS TO THE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY FIE SERVE.

THE COMPANY PLANS TO BRING 3,000 JOBS TO BERKELEY HEIGHTS.

SOME ARE NEW JOBS.

OTHERS ARE BEING RELOCATED THERE.

AVERAGE SALARIES FOR THOSE POSITIONS?

$100,000 A IMAGINE COME UP WITH BUSINESS IDEA THAT IS SO UNIQUE THAT IT CATCHES THE EYE OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES OUT THERE AND THEY DECIDE TO HELP FUND YOUR COMPANY.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO CHISA ABELU CEO OF PEDAL.

A COMPANY HE CO-FOUNDED WITH THE GOAL OF DIVERSIFYING THE WORKPLACE.

PEDAL IS JUST ONE OF FIFTY START-UPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ONLY ONE IN NEW JERSEY TO RECEIVE A 100,000 DOLLAR GRAND FROM THE BLACK FOUNDERS FUND, A PROGRAM RUN BY GOOGLE.

WE SPOKE WITH C HHCHISA.

WHAT IS PEDAL.

>> PEDAL HELPS DIVERSIFY THE WORKFORCE WITH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN A JOB POSTING SPECIFICALLY FOR MORE WOMEN IN FINANCE.

BUT WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH US IS CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THAT EXACT SAME THING.

MEANING THEY CAN TARGET JUNIORS AND UNDERGRAD, MASTERS STUDENTS.

AND THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOURCE AND RECRUIT STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT MEET THEIR EXACT CRITERIA.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE SEND OVER OUR PIPELINE OF TALENT.

THE APPLICANTS.

DIRECTLY TO THE CORPORATIONS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO INTENTIONALLY DIVERSIFY THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

>> YOU LOOKED AT THIS COMPANY, GOOGLE DID, AND DECIDED IT WAS WORTHY OF A GRANT.

GOOGLE HAS FOCUSED IN ON START-UPS AND START-UPS INVOLVING BLACK FOUNDERS IN PARTICULAR.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO GOOGLE'S OVERALL MIC MISSION?

>> WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A HUGE FUNDING GAP THAT EXISTS.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO STEP UP IN PARTICULAR LAST YEAR WHEN WE SAW MANY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES CLOSING AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE SAW THE START-UPS THAT WE WERE ALREADY WORKING WITH HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING LOANS AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO STEP UP AND SAY WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THESE COMPANIES.

AND NOT ONLY JUST FUNDING, BUT ALSO WRAPAROUND SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE ALSO GIVING COMPANIES LIKE CHISA'S ACCESS TO GOOGLE MENTORS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND ADVERTISEMENT CREDITS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS TO HELP THEM GROW AND SELL THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT GRANT?

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN NOW GROW AND MAYBE THINK OF AVENUES YOU DIDN'T THINK OF PREVIOUSLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TURN THIS MONEY INTO MORE MONEY.

AND AT IS THIS STAGE OF THE START-UP WHAT WE FOCUS ON PRIMARILY IS SALES AND OUR PRODUCT.

SALES SO THAT WE CAN IMPACT AND SUPPORT MORE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT THEN ALSO MORE IMPACT.

SO WE CAN PLACE STUDENT TALENT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN PLACES THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO, KIND OF EMBRACES THE START-UP INGENUITY WE SEE IN SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS?

YOU YOURSELF HAVE AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND I GUESS THAT LED YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS, TO BE ABLE TO NURTURE THEM AND GROW THEM IS PRETTY UNUSUAL IN THIS ECONOMY.

>> I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I HAD THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I NEEDED WHEN I WAS BUILDING MY BUSINESS.

SO PART OF THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY IS REALLY TO ENSURE FOLKS LIKE CHISA AND THE OTHER HUNDRED PLUS FOUNDERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THROUGH THE BLACK FOUNDERS FUND REALLY HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

AND AGAIN NOT JUST THE CASH, BUT THEY HAVE THE MENTORSHIP.

>> YOU ARE THE ONE BLACK FOUNDER TO GET THIS GRANT IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> I CAN THINK OF FOUR OR FIVE OTHER FOUNDERS THAT WERE EXTREMELY WORTHY OF THIS AWARD TOO.

AND I'M EXCITED THAT PERHAPS NEXT YEAR THEY WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

BUT I DO BELIEVE WHETHER THEY RECEIVED THIS SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY OR NOT, THEY ARE GOING TO BE GOOD.

WE HAVE A REALLY POWERFUL GROUP OF FOUNDERS HERE IN NEW JERSEY, SPECIFICALLY NEWARK.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE COME OUT OF A CITY THAT THEY MIGHT NOT STILL UNDERSTAND HOW LARGE POTENTIAL IS.

>> WELL SAID.

CHISA, GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

IT'S BEEN GREAT CHATTING WITH YOU.

AND JUEWEL, THANKS FOR HELPING CHISA REALIZE HIS DREAMS.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> OCTOBER 1st WAS NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY.

AND THE NEW JERSEY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PROGRAM,OR NJMEP HELD AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS NEW JERSEY.

NJMEP A NON PROFIT THAT WORKS WITH SMALL AND MID-SIZED MANUFACTURERS IN STATES TO HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL.

WE'RE PUTTING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN FOCUS THIS WEEK.

HERE IS A LOOK AT MANUFACTURING'S IMPACT ON OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

IN NEW JERSEY TOTAL OUTPUT FOR MANUFACTURING WAS $54.4 BILLION IN 2019.

THE MOST RECENT YEAR DATA WAS AVAILABLE.

THE INDUSTRY EMPLOYED 244,000 WORKERS IN THE STATE FOR MORE THAN 6% OF THE WORKFORCE.

AND CHECK OUT THE AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY.

MORE THAN $97,000.

THE TOP FOUR MANUFACTURING SECTORS IN THE STATE ARE CHEMICAL, PETROLEUM AND COAL.

COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS.

FOOD, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO.

FOLLOWED BY OTHER TYPES OF MANUFACTURING LIKE PLASTICS AND MACHINERY.

AND I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OUR MANUF MANUFACTURERS WERE THERE FOR US SUPPLYING THE STATE WITH MUCH-NEEDED PPE.

IT IS JUST ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE INDUSTRY HAS SOME HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT, INCLUDING FROM ONE OF THE NMGZ'S MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL LEADERS.

WE SPOKE WITH STATE SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWOOEN, AN IRON WORKER BY TRADE, ABOUT MANUFACTURING POTENTIALS TO CREATE JOBS AND GROW NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMY.

WE'RE FOCUSSING ON MANUFACTURING THIS WEEK.

AND I READ THIS GREAT QUOTE WHERE YOU SAID MANUFACTURING IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.

MANUFACTURING IS ALL ABOUT JOBS.

HOW CRITICAL IS THIS INDUSTRY FOR OUR STATE?

>> THIS IS SUCH A HUGE INDUSTRY FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AND I CREATING THE MANUFACTURING CAUCUS, BIPARTISAN CAUCUS RIGHT NOW.

SENATOR GREEN STEIN AND SENATOR CASTER CHAIR IT.

DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN.

AND THIS INDUSTRY WAS SO ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY CONVERTED THEIR MANUFACTURING TO MASKS AND GLOVES AND SHIELDS AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T GET PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, OUR MANUFACTURERS WERE NIMBLE ENOUGH THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE INTO AN AREA OF GREAT NEED FOR US AT THE TIME AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

SO THE AVERAGE MANUFACTURER IS ABOUT 34 PEOPLE PER -- THAT WORK FOR A MANUFACTURER.

BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MANUFACTURERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THIS IS A HUGE INDUSTRY THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT -- I THINK WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

WE REALLY DON'T RECOGNIZE IT FOR HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES FOR US.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SHAPED YOUR VISION OF MANUFACTURING IN NEW JERSEY.

HOW HAS YOUR OWN WORK EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED THE WAY THAT YOU LEGISLATE WHEN IT COMES TO MANUFACTURING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, RHONDA.

NO ONE'S EVER SAID THAT BUT THAT IS WHERE MOST LEGISLATION COMES FROM, IS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

AND I'M A YOUN IRON WORKER BY TRADEUNION IRON WORKER BY TRADE AND WHEN YOU START SEEING STEEL COME IN FROM FOREIGN LAND, RATHER THAN SOMEONE FABRICATING AND MANUFACTURING RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, WE CAN DO IT BETTER.

WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID BY NEW JERSEY, YOU KNOW, TO PROMOTE OUR MANUFACTURING BASE.

SO YOU ACTUALLY SEE IT IN REAL LIFE.

LIKE, I DID -- AGAIN WHAT I DID FOR LIVING WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE FIELD AS AN IRON WORKER.

AND KIND OF MAKES YOUR BLOOD BOIL A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THESE ARE JOBS THAT SHOULD BE HERE.

AND NEED TO BE HERE.

BECAUSE IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STRONG MANUFACTURING BASE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS.

>> I THINK IT IS INTERESTING IN NEW JERSEY NOW.

WE MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LOT OF THINGS.

WE HAVE THIS OFF SHORE WIND INDUSTRY.

WE KNOW MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GOING TO BE CREATED FROM THAT.

AND ALSO, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE GATEWAY PROJECT, POTENTIALLY THERE COULD BE A LOT OF JOB CREATION CENTERED AROUND THIS INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> WE WANTED OFF SHORE WIND TO BE AN AMERICAN INDUSTRY.

WE WANTED AMERICANS TO MANUFACTURE THE PIECES AND TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

IT IS A EUROPEAN INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE OFF SHORE WIND, WE WANT THE JOBS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND I WANT AS MANY AS I POSSIBLY CAN GET IN NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY IS WELL-POSITIONED TO CAPTURE A LOT OF MANUFACTURING FOR OFF SHORE WIND.

AND THOSE ARE SUSTAINING JOBS.

MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GOOD JOBS AND WHY WE PROMOTE IT SO MUCH.

>> WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT MANUFACTURING IN THE STATE?

>> WE GET A LOT OF IDEAS FROM MANUFACTURERS ON WHERE THERE ARE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, REGULATIONS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE THAT HINDER GROWTH OR MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GROW.

DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR MANUFACTURERS FLOURISH.

NEW JERSEY IS NOT A CHEAP STATE, OBVIOUSLY, TO LIVE IN AND WORK IN.

BUT WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO DO BUSINESS.

>> SENATOR SWEENEY, PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING ME RHONDA AND THANKS FOR TALKING TO THIS ISSUE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

>>> EACH YEAR THE NEW JERSEY MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PROGRAM HANDS OUT MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR AWARDS FOR INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, GROWTH AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE FINALISTS WAS BELLIS ALL NATURAL LAB, A START-UP BASED IN PONTON PLAINS.

I SPOKE WITH THE CEO AND FOUNDER CHRISTINA BACKER ALONG WITH HER PARTNER MICHAEL SEEMO CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER.

IN A FEW SHORT YEARS THIS COUPLE TURNED THEIR HOME-BASED BUSINESS INTO A THRIVING COMPANY.

>> FIRST IT IS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING A FINALIST FROM THE NJMEP PROGRAM.

CHRISTINA, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT GIVE YOU THE IDEA TO COME UP WITH BELLIS LAB?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

I'D SAY IT IS KIND OF COMBINATION.

I'LL DEFER TO MICHAEL A LITTLE BIT.

AS HE WAS CERTAINLY A HUGE PART IN IT.

BUT IT STARTED WITH FILLING A NEED.

US FINDING SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR OURSELVES AND THEN BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

STARTED VERY SMALL IN OUR HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE MASON JAR AND A POT AND BASICALLY IT BEGAN.

WITH THE ITALIAN ROOTS IN OUR FAMILY, I THINK IT IS REALLY GOOD FOR US THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CHANNEL THIS AND WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A REALLY INCREDIBLE PRODUCT THAT HELPS MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

SO IT KIND OF SENDS OFF ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ENDED UP BECOMING BELLIS -- >> WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE WHEN IT CAME TO STARTING OPERATIONS AND ONE THING THAT CAUGHT YOU BY SURPRISE.

>> INITIALLY WE STARTED IT WAS A RETAIL BUSINESS.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH ECZEMA, PSORIASISIS, ACNE.

AND AS WE PROGRESSED OVER THE SIX YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

COVID, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY.

IT WAS ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT OF A SILVER LINING IN A WAY.

WE ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON PRIVATELY.

AND THAT IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERMS, WHERE BUSINESSES WILL COME TO US.

THEY WILL BRAND OUR FORMULAS AND THEN THEY WILL THOSE BRANDED FORMULAS UNDER THEIR OWN NAME.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WAS BEING ABLE TO SCALE IN A WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FULFILL THOSE ORDERS AND DO IT IN A COMPLIANT, SANITARY MANNER.

BECAUSE AS A BUSINESS OWNER SO MANY DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS AND NJMEP WAS A HUGE PART OF US REALLY FORMING TO THAT AND GROWING.

>> CHRISTINA, ARE YOU SURPRISED BY HOW FAST THE COMPANY HAS GROWN IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCTS THAT YOU ARE PUTTING OUT THERE EVERY YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ITS BEEN CHALLENGING.

FOR US TO GROW AND MEET THE NEEDS.

DEFINITELY ONE THAT WE'RE LOVING THE LEARNING PROCESS FROM, SO ITS BEEN GREAT.

LIKE MICHAEL SAID HAVING NJMEP WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO HELPED US PINPOINT AREAS WE COULD USE A BIT OF HELP AND IMPROVEMENT.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING TOGETHER AS A COUPLE.

>> IT IS A SPECIAL THING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH SOMEONE AND, YOU KNOW, LIVE WITH THEM AND BE THEM.

WE ARE TOGETHER A LOT.

AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY PARENTING WITH OUR CHILDREN.

SO IT IS A GREAT THING.

BUT AS BUSINESS OWNERS, THERE IS A LOT OF GRATITUDE THAT YOU HAVE OF HAVING LET'S SAY PEOPLE THAT YOU REALLY VIEW AS FAMILY.

AND I HAVE MY FAMILY WITH ME.

I HAVE FRIENDS THAT BECOME FAMILY AND EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BECOME FAMILY.

>> AND I COME FROM A VERY DEEP-ROOTED FAMILY BUSINESS BACKGROUND.

MY FAMILY HAD BUSINESSES FOR THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS IN ALL DIFFERENT VERTICALS.

AND THE ONE THING WE ALL DID WAS WE STUCK TOGETHER.

WE WORKED TOGETHER.

AND IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT HAVING THAT TRUST AND THAT CAMARADERIE IS HUGE.

IN MY OPINION.

>> WELL SOME GREAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT NEW JERSEY HARD, MANUFACTURERS SPRANG INTO ACTION.

THEY RETOOLED, REVAMPED AND STARTED PRODUCING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES IS PATTERSON BASED PROTECTIVE HEALTH GEAR WHICH MAKES N 95 RESPIRATORS.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE CEO THE TO TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES FACING HIS COMPANY THEN AND NOW.

>> BRIAN, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLE YEAR.

TELL ME WHERE YOUR COMPANY IS NOW IN TERMS OF THE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY THAT YOU ARE SEEING.

>> SO WE'VE REALLY HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE YEAR, STARTING FROM SCRATCH RIGHT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND REALLY DECIDING THAT WE WANTED TO PIVOT FROM WHAT WE WERE DOING AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURING DISPLAYS AND DESIGNS TO MANUFACTURING APPROVED N-95 RESPIRATORS.

IN THE YEARS TIME WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING APPROXIMATELY 100-150,000 RESPIRATORS PER DAY WORKING FULL STEAM WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY CLOSE TO 2 MILLION N-95 RESPIRATORS PER MONTH.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL PHASES IN THE PAST YEAR.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY MANUFACTURING AT CAPACITY?

>> SO WE'RE NOT MANUFACTURING AT FULL CAPACITY AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT WE ARE -- HAVE CERTAINLY RAMPED UP.

WE'VE REALLY SEEN WITH THE DELTA VARIANT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DEMAND FROM HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND IN PARTICULAR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE PAST YEAR ABOUT OUR COMPANY'S ABILITY TO PIVOT.

AND DOES MANUFACTURING OVERALL NEED MORE SUPPORT IN SOME WAY IN NEW JERSEY?

>> WE CERTAINLY NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM NEW JERSEY.

UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE REALLY HAD JUST ABOUT NO SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

WE'VE HAD NO GOVERNMENT ORDERS.

WE NEED THE HELP.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY.

WE HAD A ZOOM CALL WITH HIM.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, THE NJEDA.

AND WE'VE JUST HAD NO GRANTS.

WE'VE HAD NO CONTRACTS.

AND WE'VE HAD NO HELP.

AND WE REALLY -- WE REALLY DO NEED THAT IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF MANUFACTURING N-95 RESPIRATORS.

IT IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND WE ALL SAW THAT A YEAR AGO OR YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN WE HAD NO ACCESS TO HPPE AND HAD T RELY ON FOREIGN COUNTRIES, SUCH AS CHINA, TO PROVIDE US WITH OUR PPE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE GOODS THAT CAME IN WERE COUNTERFEIT.

>> SO WHEN YOU MENTION YOU NEED THE HELP TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF, DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE KIND OF RUNNING OPERATIONS AT A PROFIT?

OR DOES THAT MEAN YOU JUST NEED THE RELIANCE OF SOME GRANT MONEY COMING IN, FOR INSTANCE?

>> THE ISSUE IS WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS IN ORDER TO RUN OUR OPERATION MORE EFFICIENTLY.

SO WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF ORDERS, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CONTRACT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO PRODUCE EVERY MONTH AND YOU ARE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY SUSTAIN YOURSELF BETTER AND CREATE A BETTER BUDGET.

>> VERY GOOD POINTS YOU ARE MAKING.

I'M JUST CURIOUS AS WELL, SINCE WE REPORT SO MUCH ON THIS, ANY TROUBLE FINDING WORKERS?

>> WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE FINDING WORKERS AT THE BEGINNING.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RAMP UP.

WE HAVE -- WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF PATTERSONIANS INTO WORK.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE ABLE TO BRING IN FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO TRAIN THEM ADEQUATELY.

WE ALSO USED SOME AGENCIES TO HELP US OUT WHEN WE NEED TO RAMP UP.

>> BRIAN, IT'S BEEN GREAT LISTENING TO HOW YOU HELPED US GET THROUGH THE WORST PART OF THE PANDEMIC.

I HOPE.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE, KEEPING THEM PROTECTED.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> WE WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT ONE PROGRAM TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS.

PROFESSOR MICHAEL HANNA SUPERVISES THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THIS PAST SPRING IT BECAME THE ONLY NEW JERSEY INSTITUTION TO RECEIVE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF METAL WORKING SKILLS.

STUDENTS THERE GOT SOME REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ONCE THEY FINISH THE PROGRAM THEY ARE QUICK TO FIND WORK.

YOUR PROGRAM FIRST HAD AN AMAZING IMPACT IN HELPING NEW JERSEY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

YOU WERE MANUFACTURING FACE SHIELDS.

TELL ME HOW THAT CAME ABOUT.

>> GAVE US IDEA WHY NOT MAKE FACE SHIELD WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED.

AND IN TOTAL WE MADE 4,000 OF THEM.

WE MADE FOR OUR COLLEGE, EVERY STUDENT IN THE COLLEGE GOT ONE.

WE GAVE TO JOHNSON, FRANCIS IN TRENTON.

MANY MANY PLACES.

WHAT ARE.

>> WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS LEARNING AT YOUR PROGRAM?

>> OUR PROGRAM MAINLY FOCUS ON MACHINING.

SO WE LEARN THE BASIC SKILLS FOR USING THE MANUAL MACHINE.

WHICH ARE STILL USED FOR TODAY BUT WE ALSO TEACH THE HIGH-TECH MACHINES, THE CNC, COMPUTER NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED MACHINES.

ALSO WE TEACH THE SCIENCE OF METEOROLOGY, HOW TO INSPECT AND MEASURE PARTS.

AND TEACH SAFETY.

ONE IMPORTANT THING IN MANUFACTURING YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A LIABILITY ON THE COMPANY.

>> AND HOW QUICKLY DO STUDENTS GET PLACED AFTER THEY GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM?

>> OH VERY QUICK, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU.

LITERALLY THEY TOOK THE INTRODUCTORY CLASS AND I HAVE, LIKE ALMOST A MONTHLY BASIS, MAYBE EVERY OTHER MONTH A COMPANY REACHING OUT, HEY CAN WE HAVE ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS COME AND USUALLY FORWARD THAT E-MAIL TO MY STUDENTS.

AND MANY OF THEM GET HIRED.

>> AND WHAT SORT OF CAREER CAN THESE STUDENTS EXPECT?

AND WHY SHOULD STUDENTS PERHAPS THINK ABOUT A CAREER IN MANUFACTURING IF THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE?

>> MANUFACTURING IS A HUGE BROAD SPECTRUM.

MANUFACTURING GOES FROM MAKING COOKIES TO MAKING AIRPLANES AND GOING BY AUTOMATIC, MAKING MEDICAL APPARATUS, MAKING PPE.

THE SPECTRUM IS HUGE AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A MACHINIST, YOU HAVE THE BASIC SKILLS TO WORK AS A MACHINIST BUT YOU CAN WORK IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY.

>> HOW HAS THE PROGRAM GROUP IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

>> WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE AS FAR AS --.

THE MAIN ISSUE WE'RE SEEING, WE SURVEYED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT CAREER PATH ISN'T THERE.

WHEN -- I SURVEYED 89 STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

51% DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE MANUFACTURING IS.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO DESIGN MARKETING MATERIAL THAT APPEALS TO THE YOUNG GENERATION TO GET THEM INTO MANUFACTURING.

WE TRY TO APPEAL TO THE RIGHT PERSONALITY THAT WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURING OF A CAREER.

BASICALLY THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT -- WORKING WITH THEIR HANDS.

EITHER THEY ARE FINE OR OKAY WITH MATH.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE BRILLIANT.

BUT THERE IS NO WAY AROUND MATH IN MANUFACTURING.

AND THEN AS FAR AS HOW VALUABLE MANUFACTURING IS FOR SOCIETY.

WE ALL HAVE SEEN IT IN COVID HOW DESPERATE THE NEED WAS.

>> PROFESSOR, IT'S BEEN GREAT CHATTING WITH YOU AND HEARING ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW ARE IF WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RHONDA SHAP LER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME-CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

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

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.