January 9, 2009
INVEST NJ APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
This week, as part of the Governor’s Economic Stimulus Package, the NJ Economic Development Authority made applications available for the InvestNJ Program. This limited-term program will provide new capital investment and employment grants to help expand and improve New Jersey’s economic and job growth and business retention capabilities during a challenging economic period. InvestNJ offers incentives under two separate components: Job Creation and Capital Investment. Companies may benefit from either component, or a combination of the two. Applications must be submitted prior to January 1, 2011, and funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you are a business in operation for at least two years that employs at least 5 full-time employees you can apply for a grant for the creation of new jobs AND/OR a grant for capital investment. These grants will be in the amount of $3,000 grant per each new full-time job created up to $500,000 per applicant and/or for capital investment a grant of 7% for a qualified capital investment up to $1 million per applicant.
NJFC suggests that those members who may be planning new stores in New Jersey, to look at these grants and the assistance each may provide your company. Applications and further information is available at http://www.njeda.com.
SAFETY/RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD
The New Jersey Food Council would like to invite its members to attend a special Safety Risk Management Committee Meeting at the Crowne Plaza, 9:30 AM, on January 14.
Janet Manning, Director of Nursing Services for CorVel, will be making a presentation and answering questions regarding Medical Case Management, doctor choices, medical direction, and return-to work policies.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the New Jersey Food Council at 609-392-8899.
OTHER HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK
NJFC Government Affairs Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza in Jamesburg. This meeting will begin at 9:30 am.
Also on Tuesday, January 13th, at 1:00 pm, Governor Jon Corzine will deliver his 2009 State of the State Address to the NJ Legislature.
FORMER US ATTORNEY CHRIS CHRISTIE ANNOUNCES RUN FOR GOVERNOR
After months of speculation and talk, Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie has formally announced his candidacy for Governor in the June Republican Primary. He joins Assemblyman Rick Merkt, Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and Franklin Township Mayor Brian Levine as potential candidates to challenge Governor Corzine in November.
Declaring that the experience and leadership style he developed as a prosecutor had prepared him to repair a state “broken” by high taxes and political stasis, Christie filed papers on Thursday announcing his candidacy for governor.
According to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released this week, Governor Corzine leads Republican Christopher Christie by seven points, 40%-33%, and has a 45%-40% approval rating,
GOVERNOR SEEKS $812M IN BUDGET CUTS
This week, State Treasurer David Rousseau released a list of $812 million in spending reductions proposed by Governor Jon S. Corzine as part of a larger set of solutions for closing an estimated $2.1 billion shortfall in the FY 09 budget.
Reductions include a freeze on pay raises for all State employees, cuts in spending across state agencies, and the use of $275 million of the state’s surplus. Some of the proposed reductions will require Legislative approval. The remaining solutions include the use of $500 million from the Long Term Debt Reduction Fund, the use of $208 million of increased closing surplus due to aggressive closeout of FY 08 and the anticipation of $300million from a federal stimulus package.
The cutbacks, some of which require legislative approval, are part of an unprecedented midyear change to the budget. Hearings will occur in the coming weeks, bumping up against the March introduction of Corzine’s next spending plans.
Besides the extra spending cuts, the Democratic governor wants to close the gap with and 18-month wage freeze for state workers, $300 million from a proposed federal stimulus package, diverting $500million from$650 million intended to pay down state debt, and other steps.
Among the hardest hit on Monday was the Department of Agriculture where a proposed $4.2 million cut represents more than 18 percent of its budget.
2009 EVENT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Call NJFC to join this list of premium supporters and become involved in the 2009 Event Sponsorship program. Let’s add your company name to the list! Contact us today for details.
Gold Sponsors
George Weston Bakeries
Stop & Shop Supermarket Company
Wakefern Food Corporation
Silver Sponsors
Foodtown Supermarkets
Inserra ShopRites
Saker ShopRites
Supervalu
Unilever
Village Super Markets (ShopRite)
White Rose Food
Whole Foods Market
Bronze Sponsors
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream
Frito Lay
Goya Foods
Kings Super Markets
LiDestri Foods
Mission Foods
Pepsi Bottling Group
Quick Chek Food Stores
Wawa, Inc.
Wegmans Food Markets
Wiss & Company, LLP
Brass Sponsors
Brown’s ShopRite
McCaffrey’s Markets
Murphy’s Markets of South Jersey
Pennington Quality Market
ShopRite of Hunterdon County
The New Jersey Food Council Annual Membership meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the Hilton Woodbridge in Iselin, NJ beginning at 5:30 p.m.
As is customary at the Annual meeting, the NJFC membership will elect the NJFC Board of Directors as well as the NJFC Officers. Members will also have an opportunity to network with industry leaders and congratulate the 2009 Board of Directors. The evening’s speaker will be Leslie G. Sarasin, President and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute and Mark Gastineau former NY Jets defensive end will be on hand to sign autographs. If you are not registered for the 2009 Annual Membership Meeting, please contact the Food Council at (609) 392-8899.