>>> 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.

>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

A PACKED AGENDA IN TRENTON.

WHAT BUSINESS LEADERS WANT FROM LEGISLATORS AS THEY ENTER THE LAME DUCK SESSION.

PLUS A BIG BACKYARD MAKEOVER.

DETAILS ON THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART'S MULTIPLE DOLLAR EXPANSION THAT WILL BRING APARTMENTS AND RETAIL TO THE CITY.

AND WE'RE PUTTING NEW JERSEY'S CHARITABLE EFFORTS IN FOCUS.

LOOKING AT HOW THE STATE'S MAJOR CORPORATIONS ARE MEETING THE GROWING NEED AND WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU WANT TO HELP.

THAT'S STRAIGHT AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

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

>> I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

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

AT A LOT OF BUSINESSES THERE IS A RUSH TO GET THINGS DONE AND CLOSE THE BOOKS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND THE BUSINESS OF STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS THAT WAY TOO.

NEW JERSEY'S LAME DUCK LEGISLATURE HAS HUNDREDS OF BILLS TO CONSIDER OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BUSINESS GROUPS HAVE THEIR WISH LISTS AS WE HEAR FROM CHRISSY BUTIS OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

>> FOR THE LAME DUCK SESSION WERE ASKING LEGISLATURE TO PAUSE ON ANY ADDITIONAL MANDATES ON SMALL BUSINESS, TO WORK WITH US IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR WORKFORCE BACK TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND OBVIOUSLY PAYING LOT OF ATTENTION TO SEE HOW THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO NEW JERSEY ARE GOING TO BE SPENT MOVING FORWARD.

>> ONE BUSINESS GROUP IS ALREADY LOOKING PAST THE LAME DUCK SESSION AND SETTING PRIORITIES FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN GOVERNOR MURPHY BEGINS HIS SECOND TERM.

THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF CPAs SURVEYED ITS MEMBERS AND ASKED THEM THE IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR THE GOVERNOR'S NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THEY SAY REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES AND AUDITING STATE AGENTS FOR OVERSPENDING AND WASTE.

THE CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NJCPA RALPH ALBERT THOMAS SAYS LOWER TAXES WOULD IMPROVE THE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO CALL NEW JERSEY HOME.

>> WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE.

PEOPLE LEAVING THE STATE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR OTHER STATES THAT WHERE THE TAXES ARE LOWER.

PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO SENIORS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

>> A NEW BUSINESS IS COMING TO ATLANTIC CITY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY IT IS LONG OVERDUE.

A GROUNDBREAKING WAS HELD THIS WEEK FOR A SHOP RITE SUPERMARKET.

ITS PRESENCE WILL BE WELCOME.

ADVOCATES CALL ATLANTIC CITY A FOOD DESERT AS THERE HASN'T BEEN A MAJOR SUPERMARKET THERE IN 15 YEARS.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW SUPERMARKET IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR.

ELSEWHERE THE CASINO BUSINESS KEEPS ROLLING ALONG AND SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SPORBTING HAS SET YET ANOTHER US RECORD.TS BETTING HAS SET YET ANOTHER US RECORD.

NEW JERSEY'S BOOKS TOOK IN $1.3 BILLION IN WAGES IN OCTOBER, WHICH ALSO LED TO RECORD REVENUE.

AND THE BRICK AND MORTAR CASINOS ALSO HAD ONE OF THEIR BEST OCTOBERS IN YEARS.

MORE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IS PLANNED FOR ANOTHER BIG NEW JERSEY CITY THROUGH AN UNUSUAL COLLABORATION.

THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART IS TEAMING UP WITH A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TO BUILD TWO APARTMENT BUILDINGS ON PROPERTY THAT IT OWNS.

IT IS PART OF AN $85 MILLION PROJECT THAT INCLUDES NEW RESTAURANT, AND SHOP FOR MUSEUM AND ENHANCEMENTS TO ITS SCULPTURE DPARN.

WE SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR AND CEO TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS BEHIND THE MUSEUM.

THE NEWARK MUSEUM MADE A BIG DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOME BUILDING IN YOUR BACKYARD.

TELL US WHY THE MUSEUM DECIDED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD AVENUE TO PURSUE.

>> OUR BACKYARD IS ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF ACRES OF, WHERE THE MUSEUM BUILDINGS, OUR SCULPTURE GARDEN AND CURRENTLY A PARKING LOT.

AND IN OUR TRANSFORMATION OF THE MUSEUM I WANT US TO BE A DESTINATION MUSEUM BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE AND REALLY HONE IN ON FINANCIAL STABILITY, AS WELL AS BE A MUSEUM OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND AN APPROACH, A VISION THAT I PRESENTED TO THE BOARD THREE YEARS AGO WAS THAT BEING OF THE COMMUNITY MEANT REALLY HELPING TO CREATE A CULTURAL DISTRICT.

WHAT WOULD BE OUR ROLE?

AND SO RATHER THAN JUST EXPAND OR HAVE A NEW MUSEUM BUILDING, WE THOUGHT LET'S REALLY CREATE, DO OUR PART ON CREATING THIS CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT WOULD INVOLVE RESIDENTIAL UNITS AS WELL AS CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES AND EXPANDING OUR EDUCATION AND CENTER, WHILE BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR SCULPTURE GARDEN AND OUR HORIZON PLAZA.

AND THIS WAY WE WOULD BE REALLY GIVING MORE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ENTER INTO THE MUSEUM AND THE EXPERIENCE IN THAT WAY THAT WAS RELEVANT TO THEM.

>> SO HOW DOES IT HELP ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE?

WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL ELEMENT THAT COMES BACK TO THE MUSEUM?

>> WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DEVELOPERS THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD RESULT IN A GROUND LEASE THAT GIVES US A SOURCE OF INCOME FROM THOSE RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

>> AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT NON PROFITS HOW THEY KIND OF WEATHERED THROUGH COVID WITH FUNDRAISING CHALLENGES.

TO HAVE A STEADY STREAM OF REVENUE I WOULD THINK CERTAINLY WOULD HELP WITH YOUR FUTURE BUDGETING AND PLANNING.

>> WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE NOT JUST SHORT-TERM BUT WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM NEW REVENUE STREAMS?

BECAUSE MUSEUMS IN GENERAL, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION OF BEING THAT PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> I WANT TO ALSO FOCUS ON THE BROADER DEVELOPMENT STORY IN NEWARK AND REALLY IN ANY AMERICAN CITY.

ISN'T THE SUCCESS OF REDEVELOPMENT THOSE CULTURAL DISTRICTS?

WITHOUT ARTS AND CULTURAL MUSIC, I MEAN WHAT IS A CITY, I GUESS?

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THIS DESIGNATED AREA, IT REALLY HELPS THE ECONOMY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CITY.

THAT, I'VE LIVED IN SEVERAL CITIES.

AND WHEN CITIES ARE SUCCESSFUL, THEY HAVE THIS MAGICAL BLEND OF THAT SOCIAL IMPACT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, JOBS, THE -- WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF CULTURAL EVENTS AND ENTITIES, THEN THE BUSINESSES DO WELL.

AND THEN PEOPLE ENJOY, WHEN I SAY THAT SOCIAL IMPACT, IT'S ENJOYING URBAN LIFE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND APPRECIATE IT.

>> AS YOU HEARD, MUSEUMS AND OTHER ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS RELY ON SUPPORT FROM THEIR DONORS.

AS DO SO MANY OTHER NON PROFITS.

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE THINK ABOUT GIVING, WHETHER IT IS TO A FAVORITE ORGANIZATION OR TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

AND THE NEED IN NEW JERSEY IS GREAT.

THIS WEEK WE'RE PUTTING PHILANTHROPY AND THE BUSINESS OF GIVING IN FOCUS, LOOKING AT HOW RESIDENTS IN SOME WELL KNOWN NEW JERSEY COMPANIES ARE GIVING BACK.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING DONATIONS.

NEW JERSEY HAS 38,000 NON PROFITS EMPLOYING 330,000 WORKERS OR ABOUT 10% OF OUR TOTAL WORKFORCE.

AND THEY ARE ALSO POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS, 1.6 MILLION OF THEM PROVIDING OVER 225 MILLION HOURS OF SERVICE.

THE IRS TRACKS HOW MANY DONATIONS ARE MADE IN THE STATE.

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS TOTALLED 647 MILLION WITH TOTAL GIVING APPROACHING NEARLY $5 BILLION, BASED ON THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE.

NEW JERSEY RANKS 30th OUT OF THE 50 STATES FOR CHARITABLE GIVING ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY WALLET HUB.

HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, NON PROFIT LEADERS, WHILE GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DOLLAR, ARE HOPING FOR EVEN MORE GENEROSITY.

WE SPOKE WITH DEBBY SHINEHOLTZ OF THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY ABOUT HOW MORE DOLLARS ARE NEEDED AS FOOD COSTS RISE.

THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK HAS BEEN DOING GOOD WORK SO MANY YEARS AND WE FOUND OUT HOW IMPORTANT THE FOOD BANK IS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

BUT NOW WE'RE BEYOND THAT, I'M SURE THE NEED HOWEVER IS STILL PROBABLY JUST AS GREAT, IF NOT MORE.

>> AS WE ALL KNOW AND WE'VE ALL BEEN HEARING, THE COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASED PRETTY DRAMATICALLY.

AND AS HAVE FOOD PRICES.

IF SOMEONE IS ON A FIXED INCOME, EVEN IF SOMEONE HAS A JOB, AND PRICES GO UP SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING MORE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS WE HEAD INTO THE THANKSGIVING AND HOLIDAY PERIOD IN TERMS OF DONATIONS?

ARE CORPORATIONS STEPPING UP AND SHOWING THEIR PHILANTHROPY?

>> YES.

CORPORATION CORPORATIONS ARE VERY GENEROUS.

WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED, I WOULD SAY, VERY GENEROUS CORPORATE PARTNERS AT THE FOOD BANK.

FINANCIAL DONATIONS ARE STRONG.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEM TO BE EVEN STRONGER AS WE SEE THESE STRUGGLES CONTINUE.

WHERE WE ARE SEEING SOME CHALLENGES ARE IN FOOD DONATIONS.

AND OUR LARGEST FOOD DONORS ARE CORPORATE PARTNERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, SUPERMARKETS, BIG BOX STORES, ETC.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, AS WE'RE SEEING EMPTY SHELVES IN SUPERMARKETS, THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND OTHER THINGS ARE IMPACTING FOOD DONATIONS.

BECAUSE THE STORES JUST DON'T HAVE THE FOOD TO GIVE.

>> I KNOW THE FOOD BANK ALSO HAS OTHER PROGRAMS TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE GET ON THEIR FEET.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN THOSE PROGRAMS?

>> OUR MAJOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IS A CULINARY PROGRAM.

SO OF COURSE DURING COVID, WHEN RESTAURANTS WERE CLOSED, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE THANKED GOD THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO GO INTO A PROGRAM LIKE THAT.

NOW OF COURSE CULINARY WORKERS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND.

BUT WHAT WE DID WITH THAT PROGRAM DURING THE PANDEMIC IS WE MADE IT HYBRID BECAUSE THE STUDENTS COULDN'T COME INTO OUR FACILITY.

SO WE GAVE THEM ALL -- SENT THEM HOME.

DID THE PROGRAM VIRTUALLY.

NOW IT IS AB HALF VIRTUAL, HALF IN THE WAREHOUSE AND THAT ALSO TRAINED STUDENTS ON THINGS LIKE COMPUTER SKILLS AND PRESENTATION SKILLS.

SO THEY ARE LEARNING EXTRA SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM MORE MARKETABLE.

SO THESE PROGRAMS ARE DEFINITELY IN DEMAND AS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WORK AGAIN.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST NEED THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW AS YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> WELL, WE REALLY HAVE I'D SAY THREE NEEDS THAT ARE EQUAL.

AND THOSE ARE FOOD, FUNDS AND TIME.

SO WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.

AND A LOT OF OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS REPRESENT OUR VOLUNTEERS.

THE HOLIDAY PERIOD IS ALWAYS ONE OF GREAT GENEROSITY.

WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS.

FOOD, FUNDS AND TIME.

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER.

>> DEBBY, GUK GOOD LUCK TO YOU AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE SEASON WITH ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.

JUST AS WE THOUGHT SOME CHALLENGES WERE OVER, NEW ONES HAVE CROPPED UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> DEBBY MENTIONED THE MANY CORPORATE PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH THE FOOD BANK.

FOR SOME NEW JERSEY COMPANY, PHILANTHROPY IS IN THEIR DNA.

FOR YEARS THE PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION HAS BEEN PROVIDING GRANTS TO NON PROFITS WITH A FOCUS ON GIVING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

WITH THE FOUNDATION'S LATEST ROUND OF GRANTS.

TOTALLY CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE EXCEEDED THE ONE BILLION DOLLARS MARK.

WE SPOKE WITH SARAH K., PRUDENTIAL'S VICE PRESIDENT OF INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS ABOUT HOW THE COMPANY SEES GIVING AS A WAY TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES.

THIS REALLY WAS QUITE A MILESTONE FOR THE PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION, HITTING THE BILLION DOLLAR MARK IN TERMS OF GIVING.

HOW MANY LIFESTYLE HAVE YOU TOUCHED IN NEW JERSEY?

>> OUR FOUNDATION WAS STARTED OVER 40 YEARS AGO AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE NOW HIT THAT MILESTONE OF GIVING OUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN FRONTS, THE LIVES WE'VE IMPACTED HAVE BEEN IN THE MILLIONS.

ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THEN SPECIFICALLY IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, WHICH IS WHERE WE WERE FOUNDED AND WE'RE STILL HEAD QUARTERED.

SO WE LOOK AT A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT OUR GRANT MAKING OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS WHICH WAS REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PARTICULARLY IN THE RESIDENTS OF NEWARK ARE SEEING THAT TYPE OF INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, AS THE COMPANY HAS THRIVED OVER THIS TIME AS WELL TOO.

SO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION OPTIONS, HIGH QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND TOOLS TO BUILD THEIR WEALTH.

AND TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE AMENITIES AND SERVICES NECESSARY FOR A THRIVING CITY.

AND SO WE'VE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK WORKING WITH THE MAYORS OFFICE, ALL THE PREVIOUS MAYORS AND OTHERS TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THE ARE DOLLARS MOST IMPACTFUL AND HOW CAN THEY GET REALLY TO THE HEART OF THE RESIDENTS PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.

>> CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OR TWO PARTICULAR PROGRAMS IN NEWARK THAT WERE ATTRACT DWROUD AND MADE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YES.

I WILL TALK ABOUT ONE THAT'S MORE RECENTLY WITH THE NEWARK COMMUNITY STREET TEAMS.

THAT WAS A MODEL THAT WAS BROUGHT OVER FROM L.A. REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE GET COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, OR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

SO WHAT THE ORGANIZATION DID WAS TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO ESSENTIALLY BE COMMUNITY STREET PATROLLERS.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE I'LL TALK ABOUT IS JUST OUR DEEP FOCUS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

SO REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW LOCAL CDCS ARE REALLY PLAYING KEY ROLES.

SO WHAT LOCAL CDCS HAVE DONE AND SOME EXAMPLES ARE LIKE THE IRON BOUND COMMUNITY CORPORATION AND OTHERS, AND THINKING ABOUT HOW RESIDENTS REALLY NEED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICES, WHETHER IT MEAN BASIC FOOD NEEDS, MR.

IT BE FINANCIAL NEEDS, WHETHER IT BE HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEMS AND THEY PLAY THAT LOCAL ANCHOR INSTITUTION ROLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY SO THEY ARE LISTENING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF SERVICES THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING.

>> IF YOU COULD TAKE A BIRDS EYE VIEW FOR A MOMENT.

WHERE ARE WE, IF THIS WAS A BASEBALL GAME, WHAT INNING ARE WE IN TO ACTUALLY SOLVING SOME OF THESE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAT ARE PART OF THE FOCUS OF YOUR GIVING?

>> I WOULD SAY SECOND OR THIRD.

WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR CLOSING THE FINANCIAL DIVIDE.

THE GAPS THAT EXIST.

PEOPLE DO SEE THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AS A WEALTHIER STATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITIES THAT EXIST BETWEEN US AND THE CITIES LIKE NEWARK OR PATTERSON OR CAMDEN AND TRENTON VERSUS THE BROADER STATE.

NEW JERSEY OVERALL IS CONSIDERED A HIGH PERFORMING EDUCATION STATE.

BUT WE KNOW THERE IS A HUGE EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN CITIES THAT I JUST PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

AND SO I WOULD SAY WE ARE WORKING HARD TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY.

BUT WE'RE STILL FAR FROM IT.

>> AND WE KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.

SARAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NEW SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> THE CITY OF NEWARK IS ALSO HOME TO AUDIBLE, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST AUDIO BOOK PRODUCER AND RETAILER IN THE U.S. AUDIBLE JUST LAUNCHED A NEW PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP CITY RESIDENTS.

THE PROGRAM IS CALLED AUDIBLE BUCKS.

IT IS A 75 DOLLAR WEEKLY STIPEND LOADED ON A DEBIT CARD AND PROVIDED TO SOME 400 RESIDENTS IN NEED.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAM AND OTHER INITIATIVES WITH AYESHA GLOVER AT AUDIBLE.

TELL ME HOW THIS PILOT PROGRAM CAME ABOUT.

WHY WAS IT DECIDED THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WORTH TRYING IN NEWARK?

>> WE STARTED OUR HEADQUARTERS HERE IN NEWARK IN 2007.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REALLY MAXIMIZE OUR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC IMPACT IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS A RANGE OF INNOVATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT DO JUST THAT.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY CHALLENGING SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

AND SO WE WANTED TO REALLY KIND OF THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT NEWARKERS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM.

AND WE WANT IT TO BE VERY TARGETED TO COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS IN NEED.

>> HOW ARE PEOPLE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

>> SO WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH RUTGERS, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY, THE YMCA AND FOCUS COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY LEANING ON THEM.

WE GAVE THEM CRITERIA TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE WERE TARGETING THOSE RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS THAT WERE MOST IN NEED.

>> WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE YOU RECEIVED FROM BUSINESSES WHO DECIDED THAT THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK SIMILAR TO NEWARK WORKING KITCHENS, SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE JUST BEEN TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL AND EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS.

BEFORE WE LAUNCHED NEWARK WORKING KITCHENS, WE HAD A LUNCH OUT WEDNESDAY PROGRAM, WHERE WE INCENTIVIZED OUR EMPLOYEES TO KIND OF GET OUT OF O OUR BUILDING PRE PANDEMIC AND PATRONIZE LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SO WE HAD ALREADY STARTED TO BUILD A RAPPORT AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS.

AND SO WE FOLDED MANY OF THOSE RESTAURANTS INTO THIS INITIATIVE.

AND WE EXPANDED IT SIGNIFICANTLY.

BECAUSE IT IS BEYOND FOOD.

SO WE HAVE GROCERIES.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE AUDIBLE BUCKS PROGRAM CAN GET ACCESS TO LOCAL PRODUCE AND PHARMACIES AND WE IS HAVE A LOCAL BLACK OWNED BOOKSTORE.

>> HOW DO THESE FIT WITH SOME EFFORT AS A WHOLE TO IN TERMS OF AUTOMOBILE'S COMMITMENT TOTALLY CITY OF NEWARK?

WHICH YOU TOUCHED ON BRIEFLY BUT IF YOU WOULD EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.

>> SURE.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO IS REALLY HAVE MEASURABLE CHANGE.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY.

AND YOU WILL SEE A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE DONE AND MORE TO COME THAT ARE REALLY UNDERSCORING JUST THAT.

>> AND AYESHA, IF THE PROGRAM IS DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IS THERE A CHANCE THAT IT WILL EXTEND BEYOND A PILOT RUN?

>> THAT'S PRECISELY THE IDEA, RIGHT?

HOW CAN WE USE THIS PILOT TO INFORM SOMETHING THAT WE DO MORE PERMANENTLY?

HOW CAN WE USE THIS PILOT AND BUILD OFF OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF NEWARK UNDER THE MAYOR WITH THEIR GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM?

HOW CAN WE USE THIS TO ADVANCE POLICY CHANGES?

SO IT IS NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO ENSURE AUDIBLE BUCKS CAN BE A PILOT THAT SERVICE FOR SIMILAR MEASURABLE INTERVENTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

>> AYESHA, THANKS SO MUCH.

VERY GOOD TO TALK TO YOU ONCE AGAIN.

>> GREAT CHATTING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> AS WE'VE HEARD.

CORPORATE LARGESS CAN HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE A FINANCIAL LIFELINE FOR MANY.

BUT SMALL DONATIONS MATTER TOO.

LIKE THE COINS YOU TOSS INTO THE RED SALVATION ARMY KETTLES THAT POP UP THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I SPOKE WITH THE MAJOR, DIVISIONAL COMMANDER OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT WHY THIS YEAR IS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR THOSE WHO TURN TO THE SALVATION ARMY FOR HELP.

MAJOR BETTS, THE SALVATION ARMY ALWAYS PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING BACK TO THOSE IN NEED.

HOW BIG IS THE NEED IN NEW JERSEY THIS YEAR?

>> IT IS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE NEED.

AND IT IS REALLY A NEED THAT'S BEEN COMPOUNDED OVER THE LAST REALLY 24 MONTHS.

SO IT IS NO SECRET THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON FOLKS.

FOR NEW JERSEYANS, HURRICANE IDA WAS A FURTHER DEBILITATING BLOW.

SO FOLKS WHO WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING IN MANY WAYS THAT JUST KIND OF PUT THEM OVER THE TOP.

SO WHAT WORE SEEING IS ENORMOUS NUMBER OF FOLKS COMING TO US NOT ONLY AROUND THE HOLIDAY ARES FOR FOOD AND TOYS AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS BUT REALLY FOLKS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK SO WE'RE NEEDING TO HELP CATCH UP ON RENT AND UTILITIES AND SHELTER IN SOME CASES FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOME.

>> HOW INVOLVED DO CORPORATIONS GET IN GIVING?

AND HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO GET INVOLVED.

THE SINGLING SOURCE FOR KNOWING THOSE WAYS ARE SALVATION ARMY NJ.ORG.

AND YOU CAN GET IN THERE AND HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE FANS OR YOU CAN DONATE ITEM, FOOD, TOYS, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

OR YOU CAN VOLUNTEER TO ACTUALLY COME ALONGSIDE FOLKS AND DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP BRING JOY TO THEM DURING THESE SEASONS.

AND HELP THEM OUT IN ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE HAVE INITIATIVES ALL THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS WOULD BE DOWN IN CAMDEN AT OUR CROC CENTER.

THERE IS A TOY SHOP THAT IS GOING SERVE THIS YEAR OVER 3,000 CHILDREN.

WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT THAT.

MORRISTOWN IS PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES.

AND YOU ASKED ABOUT CORPORATIONS.

MANY CORPORATIONS COME ALONGSIDE US, BOTH TO HELP FINANCIAL AND MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY ACTUAL HOST ANGEL TREES WHERE WE PUT THE NAMES OF CHILDREN UP ON THE TREES AND THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE ONE, GO BUY A TOY AND BRING IT BACK.

THANKSGIVING MEALS TO OVER 400 FAMILIES.

ASBURY PARK IS HOSTING A TURKEY DISTRIBUTION FOR 180 FAMILIES.

PATTERSON IS PUTTING TOGETHER TOY DRIVE WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SERVE OVER 350 CHILDREN.

TRENTON, THEY HAVE A MOBILE CANTEEN THAT GOES OUT AND SERVES FOLKS ON THE STREETS AND THEY WILL BE GOING OUT ON A SPECIAL OCCASION THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING TO GIVE THANKSGIVING MEALS FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NO HOME AT THIS POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

>> I HAVE READ THAT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, A LOT OF NON PROFITS WERE SURPRISED BECAUSE THEY DID ACTUALLY SEE PHILANTHROPY AND GIVING INCREASE.

OF COURSE NON PROFITS ALSO HAVE SEPARATE CHALLENGES, BUT JUST ON THE LEVEL OF GENEROSITY IN OUR STATE, HAS IT INCREASED?

>> IT HAS.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE INCREASE IN NEED WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE EVER SEEN.

DURING THE PANDEMIC ALONE WE'VE SERVED OVER 11 MILLION MEALS.

THAT IS UNHEARD OF NUMBERS BEFORE.

BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEET ALL THE NEED THIS SEASON?

>> WE KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS, THAT EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO US THAT IS IN NEED FOR FOOD ON THE TABLE, TOYS UNDER THE TREE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS WILL MEET EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT COMES TO US AND DO OUR BEST TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

WHETHER WE CAN MEET THE LARGER, ALL THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER.

THE SALVATION ARMY COULD NEVER HOPE TO DO THAT ALL ALONE.

>> IT IS A VERY TALL ORDER.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR ROLE IN THAT AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

MAJOR BETTS, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RHONDA.

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

WE WILL BE BACK TWO WEEKS FROM NOW AFTER THANKSGIVING.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

>>> 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.