According to Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, in 2021 tourism was a $2.3 billion industry for the county supporting 20,000 jobs, up from 2020's $1.8 billion and 17,000 jobs.

The firm, led by Mercury vet Mike DuHaime, is welcoming former Gov. Chris Christie, former U.S. Sen. and former Attorney General Jeff Chiesa, and former Attorney General Chris Porrino.

Established under legislation signed by the governor last November, the group is charged with developing policies to address the social and economic needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in New Jersey.

In addition to activating price-gouging laws, the order coordinates relief efforts and enables state agencies to take emergency measures necessary to protect families from issues arising from the shortage.

Research Director Nicole Rodriguez, who has guided the Trenton-based think tank’s policy agenda and supervised its research staff since 2019, will succeed Brandon McKoy.

At its first in-person meeting since the onset of the pandemic, the group took up the recent nomination of Kris Kolluri as CEO and received an update on the Hudson Tunnel Project.

The new American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program introduced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday will provide awards of up to $75,000 for local and regional departments to provide emergency workers with proper protective, cleaning and sanitization equipment.

While lawmakers have different ideas of how to spend the windfall, which came in $6.9 billion higher than anticipated, one thing is certain: New Jersey’s financial health appears relatively stable, especially emerging from the pandemic.

Overall, $254.5 million will be distributed to 265 communities nationwide. In New Jersey, the funding from the Brownfields Grants will go to four state applicants.

The new initiative would distribute $900 million in relief to nearly 1.8 million homeowners and renters across the state.

Launched in 2018, the initiative provides training and surety bonding education through a series of workshops and strategic counseling sessions to help better prepared companies to bid on government contracts.

On May 11, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority approved the Child Care Facilities Improvement Pilot Program, which in its first phase will provide nearly $15 million in grants to cover costs for upgrading facilities.