BEAT" IS PRESENTED BY -- NY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME -- WE'RE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT JCCU.EDU/GAME CHANGER AND IBEW LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

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VISIT IBEW 102.ORG.

>>> THIS WEEK, ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," IT'S OFFICIALLY LEGAL.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES BEGIN IN NEW JERSEY, BUT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE RAISING RED FLAGS ABOUT POLICING WORKERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

PLUS, SMART MONEY.

NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES A NEW TOOL TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND WE PUT YOUR FURRY LITTLE FRIENDS IN FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE BUSINESS BEHIND YOUR PETS, INCLUDING WHY PETS ARE PROVING TO BE INFLATION PROOF.

AND HOW NEW JERSEY WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF VETERINARIANS.

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

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A PRODUCT SPARKED SUCH DEMAND THAT PEOPLE LINED UP OVERNIGHT FOR IT?

WELL, IN NEW JERSEY, THAT PRODUCT IS MARIJUANA.

AND RESIDENTS FLOODED DISPENSARIES THIS PAST THURSDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF LEGAL POT SALES.

THE NEW JERSEY CANNABIS TRADE ASSOCIATION DECLARED THAT ALL NEW JERSEYIANS WILL REALIZE THE TAX BENEFITS OF THIS BUDDING INDUSTRY, SAYING THE ADULT USE MARKET WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY WITH SALES SLATED TO SURPASS $2 BILLION IN JUST A FEW YEARS.

CLEARLY, AFTER DAY ONE, THE INDUSTRY IS WELL ON ITS WAY.

WE SPOKE WITH THE CEO OF PURE LEAF, JOE BARON, FROM THE GRAND OPENING OF THE ADULT MARKET SALES AT THE COMPANY'S BELMAR LOCATION.

>> WE HAVE BEEN BEEN PREPARING FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WE BROUGHT IN EXTRA PEOPLE AND EXTRA PRODUCT IN OUR VAULTS AND WE'RE WELL PREPARED TO MEET THE NEED WAS MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND AS WE'VE BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO THE STATE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF SUPPLY FOR THE ADULT USE MARKET AS WELL, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED, AND WE FEEL WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN A BETTER POSITION TO HELP TRANSITION FROM MEDICAL.

>> AS SALES WERE GETTING UNDER WAY THE STATE'S LARGEST BUSINESS LOBBYING GROUP WARMED THAT KEY ISSUES AROUND TESTING AND WORKPLACE SAFETY HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

EMPLOYERS ARE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT DRUG TESTS ON THEIR WORKERS, BUT UNDER THE NEW CANNABIS LAW, A WORKER WHO TESTS POSITIVE, MUST ALSO GET A PHYSICAL EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE WORKPLACE IMPAIRMENT RECOGNITION EXPERT.

ACCORDING TO RAY CANTOR, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT THE MGBIW, THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS YET TO ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CERTIFY THOSE EXPERTS LEAVING EMPLOYERS IN LEGAL LIMBO.

>> WORKPLACE SAFETY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

NOT ONLY FOR THE EMPLOYEES BUT FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND THAT EMPLOYEE, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERY DANGEROUS OCCUPATIONS LIKE WORKING IN A CHEMICAL PLANT, NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, WORKING IN CRANES, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE WORKERS ARE NOT IMPAIRED ON THE JOB.

WE THOUGHT THE WORKPLACE SHOULD ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY AS OPPOSED TO TO PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO USE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

BUT NOW, IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION TO TAKE ACTION, AND ADOPT THE REGULATIONS.

>> OVER 600 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS AROUND THE STATE RECENTLY GATHERED IN ATLANTIC CITY, FOR THE NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S RENEWED NEW JERSEY SUMMIT, THE FOCUS WAS ON HOW TO REIGNITE THE STATE'S ECONOMY, TOP CENTERED ON NIVES AND HEALTH CARE COSTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES AND THE LABOR SHORTAGE.

THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TALKED WITH ME ABOUT THE BIG TAKE AWAYS.

>> THE CHAMBER RECENTLY HELD ITS RENEWED JERSEY BUSINESS SUMMIT WHERE GROUPS GATHERED AND DISCUSSED IDEAS ON HOW TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

THERE WERE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE SUMMIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON?

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD SPEND SOME OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY.

I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE EVEN MORE REVENUE COMING IN ABOVE THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE IN RESERVE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WILL ADD MONEY TO THE MIX.

AND MY GUESS IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR SOME OF THE PROPOSALS WE MADE ON HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY, COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET DEBATES.

>> SO ONE CASE IN POINT, IF YOU WILL, IS REPLENISHING THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

>> YES.

>> THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR SO LONG.

HOW AT THIS POINT IS THERE A THAT MAKES SENSE?

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A WINDOW THAT IS SLIGHTLY OPEN NOW.

>> THE FACT THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS BEING SADDLED WITH THE REPLENISHMENT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, WHICH IS THE DEPLETION OF WHICH WAS NOT CAUSED BY BUSINESS, IT WAS CAUSED BY COVID, AND THE FACT THAT MANY, MANY STATES, 35-PLUS STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, HAVE USED THEIR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY TO REPLENISH THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, I MEAN IF YOU ADD ALL THAT UP, AND IT KIND OF LEADS TO THE FACT THAT MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT.

>> TWO OTHER THEMES THAT I'VE REALLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHEN I WAS THERE WAS THE WORKPLACE SITUATION, COMPANIES SAYING THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS, CERTAIN INDUSTRIES ARE HIT HARD, AND THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW REGULATION IS WEIGHING ON SOME BUSINESSES.

WHAT ARE OUR BEST GUESSES IN TERMS OF WHETHER THOSE ISSUES WILL MOVE TO THE FOR FRONT?

>> ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS IS GOING TO BE PAY PEOPLE MORE TO COME TO WORK.

AND ALSO TO HELP PAY MAYBE FOR CHILD CARE, FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE CAPITAL THAT BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE, SO HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL BE ONE SOLUTION COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS TO ALLOCATE MORE MONEY TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH THAT ISSUE.

AS TO THE ISSUE OF REGULATION AND MANDATES, OVER THE LAST YEARS, MANY YEARS, NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OVERMANDATED, OVERREGULATED.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST STRINGENT MANDATES IN THE COUNTRY, REGARDING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND SO WE'VE ASKED MANY TIMES FOR THAT TO BE RELAXED, STOPPED.

>> AND FINALLY, TOM, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMENTARY AROUND THE FACT THAT BUSINESSES FELT THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS BEING HEARD.

DO YOU THINK LEGISLATORS WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR COMMITMENT TO MEET REGULARLY WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

>> WE HAVE ONE MEETING SET UP WITH ASSEMBLYMAN GREENWALD AND POSSIBLY THE SPEAKER AND START TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE WITH THE ASSEMBLY, I THINK WE CAN THEN LEVERAGE THAT INTO THE SENATE, AND LEVERAGE THAT HOPEFULLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IT IS A BEGINNING THAT COULD END UP BEING WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, WHICH ISSIAN GOING -- ONGOING REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE.

>> TOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> ANY TIME, RHONDA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE LAST WEEK.

>>> RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA'S NEW JERSEY'S NEWEST INDUSTRY BUT ANOTHER UP AND COMING INDUSTRY THAT WE'RE KEEPING TABS ON IS OFFSHORE WIND.

THE -- WANTS TO -- THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A PIPELINE OF WORKERS AT THE READY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS ALLOCATING FOR MONEY FOR JOB TRAINING.

THE EVA IS PROVIDING 200,000 DOLLARS TO SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT WILL PREPARE STUDENTS FOR JOBS IN HEAVY STEEL, OFFSHORE WIND COMPONENT MANUFACTURING.

THE PROGRAMS WILL LAUNCH IN A FEW MONTHS.

>>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, APRIL IS FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH.

AND TO MARK THE OCCASION, THE STATE LAUNCHED A FREE WEB SITE CALLED NJ FIN LIT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE YOUR FINANCIAL SMARTS.

I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH STATE TREASURER EYE ELIZABETH, WHAT THE WEB SITE HAS TO OFFER AND HOW THE COVID PANDEMIC INFLUENCED THE DECISION TO LAUNCH THE SITE.

NEW JERSEY HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WEB SITE TO GIVE US SOME FINANCIAL SMARTS, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE LAUNCHING OF THIS WEB SITE?

>> FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE SAW DURING THE COVID-19 FISCAL CRISIS, THAT WENT ALONG WITH THE HEALTH CRISIS, WE SAW THAT THE FOLKS THAT WERE THE MOST AFFECTED FINANCIALLY WERE THOSE WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES.

THEY HAD LESS OF A FINANCIAL CUSHION TO HELP GET THROUGH AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN LIKE WE JUST EXPERIENCED, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ADULT NEW JERSEYIANS, NEW JERSEY IS ALREADY A LEADER IN THE EDUCATION AND GETTING THESE TYPES OF TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, IN K-12, AND IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE WANTED TO HAVE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO ADULT NEW JERSEYIANS, AT WHATEVER STAGE OF LIFE THEY'RE AT.

SO THAT THEY CAN HELP BETTER PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR FINANCIAL PRESSURES, AND HELP THEM REALIZE THEIR GOALS, WHETHER IT'S A COLLEGE EDUCATION, HOME OWNERSHIP, SECURE RETIREMENT.

>> AND WHEN DID IT MAKE SENSE TO DO THIS AT A STATE LEVEL?

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE OTHER RESOURCES OUT THERE, BUT WHY DID THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION DECIDE THAT THIS WAS REALLY A WORTHWHILE EFFORT FOR A STATE AGENCY TO UNDERTAKE?

>> WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS, THERE WERE TOOLS AVAILABLE OUT THERE.

FREE TOOLS.

THE RESOURCES ON THIS WEB SITE ARE ALSO TRANSLATABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FINANCIAL WELLNESS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ATTAINABLE FOR ALL NEW JERSEYIANS, BECAUSE WE WANT ALL NEW JERSEYIANS TO DO WELL.

WE DON'T WANT OUR RESIDENTS TO STRUGGLE WITH, AS I MENTIONED, THE STRESS OF TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THESE ARE TOOLS WE'VE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BETTER PREPARE THEM, AS THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORLD, BUT THEY ARE TOOLS THAT AREN'T OFTEN AVAILABLE, FREE TOOLS, TO ADULTS, AS THEY TRY AND PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE.

>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME, TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW WEB SITE, IT'S GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> GOOD TALKING TO YOU, TOO, RHONDA.

>>> YOU CAN VISIT THE NEW FINANCIAL LITERACY WEB SITE AT NJ FIN LIT.ENRICH.ORG.

>>> EVEN IF YOU ARE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU SPEND AND HOW YOU BUDGET, YOU MAY BE WILLING TO BLANK THE BANK WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PETS.

THE CEO OF THE RETAIL CHAIN PET PETCO SAYS SPENDING ON ANIMALS IS RESILIENT TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND INFLATION.

HOW CAN YOU RESIST SPENDING MONEY ON SOMETHING THIS ADORABLE.

WE'RE PUTTING THE BUSINESS OF PET OWNER IN FOCUS, THIS WEEK.

FIRST, SOME NUMBERS FOR YOU.

SEVEN OUT OF TEN AMERICANS OWN PETS AND IN THE EPIC DOG VERSUS CAT BATTLE, MORE PEOPLE OWN DOGS THAN CATS.

I'M SORRY TO SAY FEW PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE JOYS OF RABBIT OWNERSHIP.

HERE IN NEW JERSEY, 57% OF STATE RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR HOMES WITH PETS.

PET OWNERSHIP IS NOT CHEAP, ACCORDING TO THE ASPCA.

WE SPEND BETWEEN -- 1500 AND $2,000 DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF PET OWNERSHIP AND CHECK THIS OUT.

35% OF PET OWNERS SPENT MORE ON THEIR FURRY OR EVEN SLITH EERIE CREATURES IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

86% SHOPPED FOR PET ITEMS ONLINE, FEWER SHOPPED IN PERSON, AND 51% SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR THEIR PET PRODUCTS.

ROUTINE VETERINARY CARE, INCLUDING MEDICATIONS AVERAGED $410 FOR DOGS AND $300 FOR CATS IN 2021.

SOME PEOPLE BUY PET INSURANCE TO HELP COVER TREATMENT FOR SERIOUS ILLNESSES, WHICH CAN RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS.

THERE ARE NEARLY 3.5 MILLION INSURED PETS.

THE COST OF PET INSURANCE HAS RISEN 23%, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN PET ADOPTIONS.

BUT NOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS.

THIS, AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A CRITICAL FUNDING NEED AT ANIMAL SHELTERS.

I SAT DOWN WITH MEGAN BREWSTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RAMAPO ANIMAL REFUGE FOR MORE.

>> BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR SHELTER AND OTHER SHELTERS POST-PANDEMIC.

WE SAW A LOT OF ACTIVITY ABOUT, WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO ADOPT PETS, AND THEN THERE WERE STORIES THAT THEY WERE RETURNING THEM.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE SHELTER THAT YOU RUN?

>> WE SAW A REALLY GREAT FEW MONTHS, LIFE SAVING AND AFTER THAT, WE SAW REALLY AN INCREASE IN NEED, AND WE HAVE KIND OF SEEN THAT CONTINUE, ESPECIALLY WITH SENIOR ANIMALS, AND WE WORK LOCALLY, IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SURRENDER, AND ALL OF THE RESCUES THAT WE WORK WITH ARE REPORTING THE SAME THING.

EVERYBODY IS JUST FULL.

>> IT IS SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE SHELTER, AND THE DESIRE TO HAVE A NO KILL POLICY WITH JUST YOU'RE BEING OVERWHELMED WITH ANIMALS?

>> SO WE TRY TO MOVE THEM IN AND OUGHT OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

PART OF IT IS WE GO TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITIES, THEY DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, THEY DO EUTHANIZE, SO WE'LL GO THERE TWICE A WEEK AND PULL AND NETWORK AS MANY ANIMALS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND WE RELY ON PEOPLE COMING IN AND DOING AS QUICK OF AN ADOPTION AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS.

HOW IS THE SHELTER RUN?

DO YOU RELY ON FUNDING?

>> WE DON'T TAKE LOCAL STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT'S SO WE CAN MAINTAIN AN INDEPENDENT NO KILL SHELTER AND WE COMPLETELY RELY ON INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS OR A LOT OF TIMES IT IS SMALL FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL FOUNDATION, AND SOME CORPORATE MATCHINGS, AND SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE MEANS TO HAVE THEIR OWN FINANCIAL TRUST.

>> AND DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS RIGHT NOW?

I MEAN DO YOU FEEL YOUR FUNDING IS ADEQUATE?

OR IS THERE ALWAYS KIND OF A PLEA FOR MORE HELP?

>> PEOPLE ARE FEELING INFLATION.

PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE COST OF FILLING THEIR GAS TANK.

AND THAT DISPOSABLE INCOME THAT WE RELY ON IS HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO ALLOCATE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE A MAJOR GLOBAL CRISIS.

YOU HAVE A WAR GOING ON.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS RAISING MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HUGE NEED RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK A LOT OF NONPROFIT MISSIONS ARE COMPETING WITH THESE CRISES.

>> AND HOW IS THIS ACTUALLY AFFECTING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ADOPT PETS?

IT IS EXPENSIVE TO OWN A PET.

DO SOME PEOPLE NOT REALIZE KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO FINANCIALLY, WHEN THEY ADOPT?

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS THAT YOU CAN GET INTO A SITUATION WITH MEDICAL BILLS.

SO A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE DONOR, AND THINGS GO REALLY WELL, AND THEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND IT IS LIKE ANYTHING, PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME THING, YOU GET A HEALTH CRISIS, AND IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, YOU'RE VERY LUCKY, YOU TEND TO BE ABLE TO WEATHER THAT CRISIS BETTER, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE A HARD TIME AFFORDING THE CARE.

SO THE SAME THING WITH ANIMALS.

>> IT IS VERY TOUGH.

VERY TOUGH BUSINESS YOU'RE.

IN WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THOSE ANIMALS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE FUTURE OF ONE NEW JERSEY ANIMAL SHELTER IS UNCLEAR.

THE TRENTON CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY VOTED AGAINST RENEWING A CONTRACT FOR THE NONPROFIT TRENTON ANIMALS ROCK, WHICH HAD BEEN OPERATING THE CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER SINCE JANUARY.

WHILE THE CITY DECIDES ON ITS NEXT STEPS, TRENTON ANIMALS ROCK IS NOW RAISING FUNDS IN ORDER TO BUY A VAN TO PROVIDE MOBILE ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES TO AREA RESIDENTS.

YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF VET AMERICANS.

NEW JERSEY IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

ROWAND UNIVERSITY IS WORKING TO OPEN UP THE STATE'S FIRST SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.

I SPOKE WITH THE SCHOOL'S FOUNDING DEAN DR. MATTHEW EDISON.

DR. EDISON, WHY WAS THERE A NEED TO DEVELOP A VETERINARY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT ROWAND UNIVERSITY AND IN NEW JERSEY?

>> THERE'S ONLY 33 VETERINARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY NONE OF THOSE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE IN A PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED EMPLOYMENT CRISIS IN THE VETERINARY WORLD RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS HERE, EVEN SARTING WITH COVID THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY SHORT ON VETERINARIANS BUT EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, WE REALIZED AS AN ENTITY HERE AT ROWAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS TO VETERINARY SCHOOL, RIGHT, SO IF YOU'RE A VETERINARY STUDENT AND YOU'RE FROM NEW JERSEY, YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF STATE TUITION TO DO THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE A RESOURCE HERE IN THE STATE WHERE WE CAN OFFER MORE AFFORDABLE TUITION OPTIONS TO NEW JERSEY STUDENTS, AND HOPEFULLY KEEP THOSE FOLKS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO PRACTICE POST-GRADUATION.

>> WHY ARE THERE SO FEW SCHOOLS IN GENERAL, AND CONSIDERING IT JUST SEEMS THAT PET OWNERSHIP IS ON THE RISE, THE SHORTAGE THAT'S BEEN CREATED FROM THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

>> TEN YEARS AGO, THERE WERE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO FELT LIKE WE DIDN'T NEED ANY MORE VET SCHOOLS.

I THINK I WAS EVEN MAYBE ONE OF THEM TEN YEARS AGO BUT WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE ECONOMICALLY NOW AND UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO START A PROGRAM.

THERE IS A VERY LONG PROCESS FOR PLANNING AND FUNDING AND THE ACCREDITATION FOR THIS, SO IF WE FIND OURSELVES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DOCTORS, IT STAKES MANY YEARS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM AND GET IT ACCREDITED AND GET IT UP AND RUNNING AND FOUR MORE YEARS AFTER YOU ADMIT THE FIRST CLAS CLASS JUST TO GRADUATE THE FIRST CLASS SO MAKING UP FOR THAT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IS NOT NECESSARILY AN EASY THING TO DO.

>> THE PROCESS IS UNDER WAY AT ROWAND YOU WILL NOT BE WELCOMING STUDENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS FROM NOW.

WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE SCHOOL ESTABLISHED?

>> SO WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT OVER THREE YEARS, THREE OR FOUR YEARS INTO THE PROCESS OF DOING FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND GETTING THIS OFF THE GROUND.

WE ARE NOW ACTUALLY IN THE PIPELINE WHAT WE CALL THE COUNCIL AND ACCREDITATION THAT ACCREDITS VET SCHOOLS, WE WILL HAVE THE SKULL TASIVE VISIT JUST ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW AND A COMPREHENSIVE VISIT AFTER THAT, AS LONG AS WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH BOTH OF THOSE, AND REFER ACCREDITATION, THE PLAN IS TO ADMIT IN 2025 FOR OUR FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS.

>> IN TERMS OF THE CLASSES, AND THE LEARNINGS, ARE ALL VET SCHOOLS THE SAME?

OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER SOMETHING UNIQUE?

>> WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR PRODUCING REALLY WELL-PREPARED GRADUATES THAT FEEL LIKE THEY LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN TO ENTER CLINICAL PRACTICE AFTER SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A RESEARCH MISSION.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER MISSIONS THAT MIX IN WITH THAT.

BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE COMPETENT CONFIDENT DIVERSE GRADUATES IS NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST.

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, AND WE'LL BE TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS.

DOCTOR, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> WELL, VETS, ANIMALS, ANIMALS HELP HEAL PEOPLE, AND IN CHERRY HILL, A VOLUNTEER BRIGADE KNOWN AS THE TRISTATE CANINE RESPONSE TEAM, BRINGS DOGS TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING TO HELP EASE THEIR PAIN.

I TALKED WITH FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT JANICE CAMPBELL, ABOUT HOW CANINE COMFORT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE WAS JOINED BY ONE OF HER FOUR-LEGGED VOLUNTEERS, A GOLDEN RETRIEVER NAMED LOGAN.

JANICE, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO FOUND THIS ORGANIZATION, AND HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED LIVES OVER THE YEARS?

>> WELL, WE STARTED THE CANINE RESPONSE TEAM IN 2015, AND WE SAW A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE JUST WORKING WITH THERAPY DOGS NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED UPON, WHERE THE DOG AND THE HANDLERS WERE TRAINED AT A HIGHER LEVEL SO THEY COULD DEPLOY OUT TO SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN, AND SUPPORTING RESILIENCY, AFTER CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

>> AND YOU REALLY TOUCHED THOUSANDS OF LIVES, RIGHT?

YOUR DOGS HAVE MADE THE ROUNDS?

>> SINCE 2015, WE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH FIVE DOGS ON OUR TEAM, AND WE ARE NOW UP TO 61 DOGS AND WE HAVE SERVED OVER 191,000 INDIVIDUALS.

UNDUPLICATED SERVICES.

WITH THAT, WE'VE WORKED IN THE COMMUNITY, IN OUR TRISTATE AREA, WE'VE ALSO CALLED OUT NATIONALLY, WHEN DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, IN NEW JERSEY.

>> SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE WORKED AT MEGA VACCINE CENTERS, SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND THE NURSES, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING 24/7 AROUND THE CLOCK, WE ARE GOING TO SCHOOLS.

YESTERDAY, WE WENT TO AN AIR FORCE BASE, WHERE WE WERE WORKING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.

>> WHAT SORT OF RESPONSE DO YOU GET, ONCE AN ORGANIZATION INVITES TO YOU COME ON THE SCENE, WHAT DO THEY SAY TO YOU AFTERWARDS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE?

>> THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BREATHE UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE DOG.

FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO LAUGH OR TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING, THAT IT MADE THEIR DAY BETTER, AND STUDENTS WILL SAY THAT THEY'RE READY TO TAKE THEIR TEST NOW, AFTER WE WILL WORK WITH THEM, BEFORE WE GO INTO THE DESTRESSING, AND IT'S JUST THAT THE DOGS ARE ABLE TO TOUCH THE LIVES AND TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT WE CAN'T.

>> AND TELL ME HOW YOU'RE SUPPORTED.

HOW DO YOU COVER YOUR COSTS?

IS IT THROUGH DONATIONS?

WHAT IS THE FUNDING MODEL THAT YOU WORK WITH?

>> WE'RE AN ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP.

WE DON'T HAVE ONE PAID POSITION.

WE ARE PAID, OUR PUPPIES ARE PAID WITH TREATS AND HUGS AND LOVE.

AND WE ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR COMMUNITY.

WE JUST HAD A SCHOOL RAISE $178 AND CHANGE, IN QUARTERS, SEQUOIA SCHOOL DONATED THAT TO US.

WE HAVE CHILDREN, THE BOY SCOUT CLUB, SPONSORED ONE OF THE DOGS, A VESTING CEREMONY FOR $250 AND THEY FOLLOWED THE DOG FOR THE YEAR, AND WHAT THEY DO, WE DO HAVE A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, WITH SUBARU, AND THEY SUPPORT US WITH HELPING US ONBOARD NEW DOGS, AND THEY ALSO PROVIDED US TRANSPORTATION, WITH ONE OF THEIR CARS, WHICH WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR.

>> JANICE, IT'S BEEN SO NICE TALKING WITH YOU.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> AND AS WE WRAP UP THIS EPISODE OF "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," WE SIGN OFF BY SHOWING OFF SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PETS HERE AT NJ PBS.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHERE WE DISCUSS THE BUSINESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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

WE'RE THE VOICE REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES.

WORKING TOGETHER, TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY.

THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

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/GAME CHANGER.

AND IBEW LOCAL 102.

PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102.

LIGHTING THE PATH.

LEADING THE WAY.