>> FUNDING FOR NJ BUSINESS BEAT -- >>> THIS WEEK ON NJ BUSINESS BEAT, HELP IS ON THE WAY.

DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR DISASTER AID IF YOUR BUSINESS WAS IMPACTED BY TROPICAL STORM IDA.

>> A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR PUBLIC WORKER PENSIONS.

THE NEW REPORT ON THE CHALLENGES THAT STATE FACES WITH FUNDING THE SYSTEM.

>> AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN FOCUS.

LOOKING AT THE RESILIENCY OF MOM AND POP AND THE BEST ADVANCE FOR STARTING A BUSINESS IN NEW JERSEY, THAT IS AHEAD ON NJ BUSINESS BEAT.

>>> HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON NJ BUSINESS BEAT.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POSTNEW EPISODS AND CLIPS.

MORE NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES CAN GET FEDERAL HELP AS THEY WORK TO REPAIR FLOOD DAMAGE FROM FLOOD DAMAGE FROM TROPICAL STORM IDA.

11 COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DECLARED MAJOR DISASTER AREAS FROM FEMA, ENABLES BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE.GOV.

THEY ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE AUTHORITY'S NEW $10.5 MILLION GRANT PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES DAMAGED BY FLOODING.

YOU CAN RECEIVE A GRANT BETWEEN 1 AND 5.

>> THE APPLICATIONS OPENED YESTERDAY ON FRIDAY.

IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

MAKE SURE, EVEN IF THEY ARE WATCHING IT ON THE WEEKEND OR NEXT WEEK, APPLY ANY TIME.

IT WILL BE OPEN FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

WE ARE EXPECT FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUSINESSES CAN APPLY.

WHENEVER THEY ARE READY.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET AT IT IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

>> ANY CONCERN THAT YOU WILL BE OVERWHELMED WITH APPLICANTS AND THE GRANT PROGRAM WILL NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING?

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT OUTSET, THERE WILL BE MORE NEEDED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

THE FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED FOR A NUMBER OF COUNTIES, TURNS ON A LOT OF FEDERAL RESOURCES.

WE KNEW THAT IT WAS IN THE EARLY STAGE.

A SET OF RESOURCES TO HELP BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAID IT RIGHT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO STEP UP AND HELP WITH EMERGENCY RESOURCES AND RECOVER RESOURCES.

WE WILL SEE WHAT ACTUAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WE GET FOR THE PROGRAM AND DO OUR BEST TO APPROVE AS MANY AS WE CAN.

>> AND RESCUE FUNDS?

>> VERY SPECIFICALLY AROUND COVID RECOVERY.

BUSINESSES HAVE COVID ISSUES OR CHALLENGES TO BE BEGIN WITH.

SPECIFIC FLOOD OR OTHER STORM RELATED IS UNLIKELY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> AND THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO, YOU WERE OUT IN SOME LOCATIONS, HOW CRITICAL IS THE NEED RIGHT NOW FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY STILL TRYING TO BOUNCE BACK?

>> IT IS A LOT OF PAIN IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMY.

THE FOR BUSINESSES THAT WERE HIT OUT OF NO WHERE.

BY MOTHER NATURE HERE, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF RAIN AND FLOODING, SOME WIND AND STORM DAMAGE, TORNADO DAMAGE.

FROM THE FLOODS, PRINCIPALLY.

SIGNIFICANT.

SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAD AS CHALLENGES OF AN 18 MONTHS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FROM COVID.

IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING BACK UP AND GETTING BACK STRONGER THAN EVER, THEN, MOTHER NATURE WITH A STORM.

IT HAS BEEN RESILIENT THROUGH THIS CRISIS, I AM SURE THEY WILL GET BACK TO REBUILDING, AND PUTTING THEIR BUSINESSES BACK TOGETHER.

THIS IS ABOUT THE LAST THING THE SMALL BUSINESSES NEED WAS ANOTHER CHALLENGE FROM MOTHER NATURE.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> HERE IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SAID IN A LONG TIME.

PUBLIC WORKER PENSION FUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE IN BETTER FINANCIAL SHAPE.

HOW DOES NEW JERSEY FARE?

IT IS COMPLICATED.

WE BROUGHT IN NJ BUDGET, JOHN, WHEN WE GET REPORTS ON PENSION REPORTS, TELL US WHAT IS BEHIND THE REPORT, WHAT WERE THE FINDINGS IN IT?

>> THE REPORT COMES TO US FROM THE CHARITABLE TRUST.

THE TOP LINE NUMBER FOR STATE PENSION PLANS AS A WHOLE ARE PROMISING.

STATES HAVE BEEN INCREASING CONTRIBUTIONS, NEW JERSEY, AMONG THEM.

THAT CAME JUST ON THE EVE OF THIS BIG UPSWING IN INVESTMENT RETURN THAT IS WE JUST SAW ON THE BULL MARKET OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED ON JUNE 30th.

YOU HAVE AN INCREASE OF CASH INFUSION INTO PENSION PLANS, COINCIDE WG A BIG INVESTMENT RETURN YEAR.

WHAT IT HAS DONE, IT PUT PENSION PLANS AS A GROUP ABOVE THE 80% FUNDED BENCH MARK.

THAT IS PROMISING NEWS, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC PLANS.

>> FOR SURE.

WHERE DOES NEW JERSEY STACK UP, WITH THAT 80%?

>> MORE OF A MIXED BAG WHEN IT COMES TO NEW JERSEY, SPECIFICALLY.

NEW JERSEY IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS REPORT.

FOR THE RECENT PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS.

IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, INCLUDED FUNDING FOR THE FIRST FORMAL CONTRIBUTION, AS WOULD BE ACCESSED BY THE STATE ACUARIES IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, NEW JERSEY IS AMONG THE STATES WHERE INCREASED CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE RATE OF REVENUE THAT IS ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THE LEDGER FOR NEW JERSEY.

UNFORTUNATELY, NEW JERSEY HAD YEARS OF UNDER FUNDING THE PENSION OBLIGATIONS, THAT 80% BENCH MARK IS WAY OFF INTO THE FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY, THE LATEST AUDITED FIGURES COME FROM THE 2019 FISCAL YEAR.

NEW JERSEY IS ABOUT CLOSER TO 40% FUNDED.

A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET BACK TO GOOD HEALTH IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING IN A STORY THAT YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS NEW JERSEY MAKES ASSUMPTION ABOUT HOW MUCH THE PUNCTUATION FUND IS GOING TO GENERATE FROM INVESTMENTS, AND THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE CONCERN SIDE OF THE LEDGER HERE.

NEW JERSEY'S IS A LITTLE ABOVE 7%.

RIGHT NOW.

THE LONG TERM, FOR PENSION AFTER THE PANDEMIC, CLOSER TO 6%.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT, THEY WOULDN'T BE UPSET WITH A 6% YEAR RETURNS, UNFORTUNATELY FOR NEW JERSEY, THAT WAS FAR BELOW THE ASSUMED RATE.

ONE PERCENTAGE POINT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG VARIANCE, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A $90 BILLION FUND, IT TERMS TO ADD UP, IN THE COST THAT GETS SHIFTED TO TAXPAYERS.

IN NEW JERSEY, THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FIXED.

THE RESULTS, THE INCOME IS SUBJECT TO MARKET CONDITIONS, IT IS MADE UP BY TAXPAYERS.

>> IF YOU ARE COLLECTING OR WILL COLLECT A PENSION, SHUWORRY?

>> THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD, IF YOU ARE A TAXPAYER OR ENROLLED IN THE FUND, HOW DOES NEW JERSEY SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF HIGH FUNDING.

FUNDING LEVELS, SOUGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS, HOW DOES NEW JERSEY MAINTAIN THAT, IF INVESTMENT RETURNS TRY TO COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH, AND REVENUE IS MADE.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FINDINGS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

E-COMMERCE IS EXPANDING AGAINST IN NEW JERSEY.

AMAZON WILL HIRE 8700 WORKERS HERE, ADDING TO THE CURRENT WORKFORCE OF 40,000 EMPLOYEES.

AMAZON IS HIRING FOR WAREHOUSE AND TRANSPORTATION JOBS.

THE STARTING PAY AT $18.

AN HOUR.

IN SOME LOCATIONS, IT IS HIGHER.

>> THE GROWTH IN NEW JERSEY IS PART OF A NATIONAL TREND FOR AMAZON.

IT HIRED 450,000 WORKERS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, AND MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO STOP ONLINE.

SOMETIMES, THIS WAS NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, WE ARE PUTTING SCRABBY START UPS, AND MOM AND POP SHOPS IN FOCUS.

HOLDING VIRTUAL EVENTS, HIGHLIGHTING ENTREPRENEURS, SHARING ADVICE, AND HONORING THE RESILIENCY OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

J-LO; WHO MADE HER MARK IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

NEW JERSEY IS HOME TO 947,000 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY 2 MILLION PEOPLE.

HALF OF THE STATE'S WORK FORCE.

MOST EMPLOY FEWER THAN 20 PEOPLE.

BETWEEN VO VID RESTRIKES, A LABOR SHORTAGE, FOR SOME, THE FLOOD FROM IDA, THE LOW LIMITS ON A COVID DISASTER PROGRAM, AND PAYMENTS TO HELP BUSINESSES.

WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?

CAN SMALL BUSINESSES LEAD THE ECONOMY FORWARD?

THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTION, I ASKED ANTON GRIFFEN.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG WEEK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WE MISSED OUT ON SMALL BUSINESS WEEK DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE HERE, AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS REGRETTABLE, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, WE ARE FORCED TO CARRY OUT SMALL BUSINESS WEEK IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT.

SPOTLIGHTING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND SOME OF THE THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT THE RESILIENCY FOR AMERICA'S ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE THE COLORS OF THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GOING TO NEED BUSINESSES BACK AT PEAK PERFORMANCE TO GET BETTER.

>> COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO BUSINESSES IN NEED.

WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING?

>> I AM GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT JUST LAST WEEK, THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED AS PART OF HIS BUILD BACK BETTER COVID 19 PLAN THAT WE ARE MAKING ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR ECONOMIC INJURY DISAST PLAN.

THOSE INCLUDE INCREASING THE CAP TO 2 $MILLION.

A LOT OF COMPANIES NEED WORKING CAPITAL, HAVE TAKEN ON DEBT IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, WE HAVE TO HELP THEM BETTER FINANCE THAT DEATH.

>> ABLE TO EXPAND THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS DEFERRED PAYMENTS, THEY WON'T HAVE TO START REPAYING THAT DEBT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> WE REPORTED ON IT A BIT IN NEW JERSEY, WAS, THE WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE A FAIR SHAKE GETTING THE FUNDS FOR THEIR BUSINESSES.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ON A POLICY LEVEL TO CHANGE THAT?

>> THE FIRST WAVES OF ECONOMIC INJURY PROGRAMMING, SMALLER COMPANY FIRMS HAD TROUBLE ACCESSING.

THE ECONOMIC DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM I MENTIONED, IS BEING EXECUTED DIRECTLY BY THE SBA.

NO PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANY, THAT IS GOING TO ADMINISTER IT ON OUR BEHALF.

WHAT WE FOUND THAT IS THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER DIRECTLY AT THE SBA.

WE HAVE A BETTER ABILITY TO MAKE SURE IT IS REACHING OUT TO ALL MARKETS.

THOSE WHO MIDDLE OUT ON THE PPE, PAY CHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

GO TO SBA.GOV, WE HAVE A LOT MORE DISCRETION IN OUR ABILITY TO MAKE LOANS ACCESSIBLE EVEN TO THE SMALLEST OF THE SMALL.

>> A LOT OF BUSINESSES CLOSED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

INTERESTING STATISTIC WAS, THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT OPENED.

AND DECIDED IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

HOW WILL THAT HELP THE ECONOMY REBOUND?

>> PEOPLE LOOKING TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEMSELVES, MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.

NOW IT IS THE TIME, NOW IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE PLUNGE.

WE ARE SEEING IT NOT JUST IN NRNLGSZ BUT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

FOLKS WANTING TO JUMP BACK IN AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, HAVE BETTER CONTROL, AND IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND WITH THE SBA, AND PARTNERS ON THE GROUND STAND READY TO ASSIST.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> A NEW JERSEY ENTREPRENEUR, CHRISTOPHER FENIC, NAMED NEW JERSEY SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR IN 2020.

THIS YEAR HE WAS HONORED FOR HIS ABILITY TO PIVOT DURING COVID 19.

FENIC IS CEO OF MOMMA'S SOUTHERN STYLE BARBECUE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HONOR, BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE SBA, SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR.

IT IS TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED.

>> MY UNCLE RETIRED, THEN WE HAD TO CHANGE IT OVER.

IT WAS A FAMILY-BASED BUSINESS.

MY UNCLE HELPED TO TRAIN US AND EVERYTHING.

IT IS A FAMILY BUSINESS WITH A FAMILY FEEL.

24 YEARS NOW.

WE JUST WORKING HARD.

>> ACTUALLY HONORED IN PART OF YOUR ABILITY TO EXPAND THE BUSINESS AND GROW IT.

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

HOW HARD WAS THAT TO DO?

>> WELL, THAT WAS REALLY HARD.

THIS MENU WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAD THE MENU FOR 24 YEARS, IN THE PLACE WE ARE WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO.

20 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS MAYBE 700 TO 750 SQUARE FEET.

IT WAS ROUGH.

WE HAD MAYBE FOUR FRYERS, ONE BIG OVEN, AND A PIT.

YOU KNOW.

WHEN WE EXPANDED THE BUSINESS, BY THE HELP OF THE SBA, NOW, WE TRIPLED OUR SIZE OF THE LOCATION.

WE HAVE 22 SQUARE FEET.

A PARKING LOT, CURB SIDE PARKING AT THE OTHER PLACE.

AND TWO KITCHENS, WHERE WE CAN CATER AND MEET THE DEMANDS OF ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> HOW HAS IT IMPACTED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS FIND THE RESILIENCY TO GET THROUGH THAT?

>> WELL, WE WERE HIT HARD.

AT THE TIME THE PANDEMIC HIT, THAT IS COMING OFF OUR SLOW SEASON, WITH THE HOLIDAYS BACK TO BACK, WE WERE ALWAYS A CALL-IN BUSINESS.

WE WERE TAKE-OUT.

NOW WE HAVE MORE ROOM.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WAS GOING TO GO.

I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL MY EMPLOYEES.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HOW I WAS GOING TO CUT THEIR TIME.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS GOT TURNED AROUND.

AND THEN, I GOT THE HELP WITH THE SBA, AND THE PPP.

SO, I WAS ABLE TO NOT ONLY KEEP ALL OF MY EMPLOYEE, I WAS ABLE TO HIRE A COUPLE OF PART-TIME WORKERS, AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED.

IT WAS A GREAT THING.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO.

>> WE LOVE TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS ON THIS SHOW, CAN YOU GIVE GREAT ADVICE TO OTHERS, WHO DREAM OF DOING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, IN TERMS OF HAVING A SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE THAT YOU COULD GIVE SOMEONE LOOKING TO DO WHAT YOU DO?

>> MAKE SURE IT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

PUT YOUR ALL INTO IT.

AND KNOW THE BUSINESS.

IF YOU CAN'T -- PREPARE THE MEALS YOURSELF, IT IS REALLY ROUGH.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> AND I THANK YOU.

IT WAS A PLEASURE SPEAKING TO YOU, TOO.

>> HE WAS FORTUNATE TO LEARN THE ROPES FROM HIS FAMILY, OTHERS FIND THEIR WAY WITH MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH ANTHONY, IT HAPPENED TO ABF CREATIVE, A PRODUCTION COMPANY.

LOOKED FOR A PROGRAM RUN BY MORGAN STANLEY.

THE LOB IS PART OF NEW JERSEY'S ACCELERATOR PROGRAM, CONNECTING ENFREPRENEURS WITH ACCESS TO LOANS, THEY ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

I SAT DOWN WITH THE HEAD OF THE LAB, AND ANTHONY FRAZIER TO LEARN MORE.

>> ANTHONY, LET'S START WITH YOU EXPLAINING TO US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND THE SUCCESS YOU HAVE HAD.

>> WELL, ABF CREATIVE.

WE FOUND A DATA DRIVEN LINK TO PRODUCE PODCASTS, USING THAT TO CREATE AN AWARD WINNING AUDIBLE, BEN & JERRY'S, CREATING PODCASTS FOR THEM.

>> AT THE INNOVATION LAB, YOU SAW WHAT ANTHONY WAS DOING, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ANTHONY'S COMPANY.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HIS IDEA OR HIS BUSINESS PLAN THAT MADE YOU EXCITED TO FUND IT.

>> THE POTENTIAL.

THE PODCAST INDUSTRY IS ONE THAT IS GROWING.

WE HAVE SEEN EXPLOSIONS OF PODCASTS IN THE MARKET THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND FOUNDERS OF COLOR, STORIES OF COLOR, THAT RESONNATE AUZIENCE AUZIENCES.

>> IT CAN BE SCARY, MANY ARE NOT HIP TO INVESTING IN MEDIA COMPANIES, WE ARE MORE THAN A MEDIA COMPANY, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE MORGAN STANLEY UNDERSTAND WHERE THE VISION WAS, WHERE WE WERE GOING AT A COMPANY, HOW BIG WE CAN ACTUALLY BE.

>> ANTHONY, ONE STORY, WITH COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORTED, WHY DID MORGAN STANLEY FEEL THAT MULTICOLOR INNOVATION LAB WAS SOMETHING NEEDED IN THE MARKET PLACE?

>> WE SAW A GAP.

FOUNDERS OF COLOR AND WOMEN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS INTEN CENTS IS INVESTED IN WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, THAT IS IN TOTAL.

THAT CLSD ALL DEMGRATTICS, AND HISPANICS, THERE IS AN EFFICIENCY WITH HAVING OUT-SIZED POTENTIAL FOR RETURNS, IN THE DEMOG DEMOGRAPHIC.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> A WOMAN, OR BLACK OR ASIAN HERITAGE, AND A PRODUCT IN PLACE, THEY HAVE A PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD TO THE MARKET.

THEY HAVE REVENUE.

AT THAT POINT, LOOK AT TRACTION, AND WHERE THE REVENUE IS GOING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS A TECH OR TECH-ENABLED COMPANY, USING TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR PRODUCT OFFERING, THEN, GO FROM THERE.

>> IT WAS GREAT HEARING ABOUT WHAT THE LAB IS UP TO.

AND ANGT NEE, GREAT HEARING ABOUT YOUR COMPANY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STRUGGLING TO REBUILD THE WORK FORCE IN THE PANDEMIC.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WANTS TO HELP TO RETRAIN.

A NEW REPORT, OFFERING STRATEGIES TO RESKILL, RESHAPE AND REHIRE NEW JERSEY'S WORK FORCE.

>> ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE CAREER PATH WAYS, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF COLLABORATION AMONG BUSINESS TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE SKILL SETS OF THE FUTURE.

AS WELL AS ACADEMIC, TO OFFER THOSE CRITICAL DEGREES NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE WORK FORCE.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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