“These bills will help our economy and hopefully address these distressing numbers,” New Jersey Business and Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Christopher Emigholz said.

With the Garden State expecting to see roughly $6.4 billion of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” major stress could be relieved from New Jersey’s pandemic-hit finances.

A coalition is asking the governor to provide “definitive thresholds” of data that would prompt further relaxation of restrictions.

“Our partnership with other states has been really good,” but “it doesn’t mean we all move in lockstep together,” the governor said.

A bill proposed in the Senate does not look to enact any new taxes or fees, but rather attempt to undo a practice of raiding the hotel and motel tax revenue which the law earmarks for these industries.

From June forward last year, a myriad of business restrictions were in place in an effort to curb the spread of the virus: mask mandates, bans on indoor dining, theaters and gyms, and reduced capacity at casinos and retail.

Data released March 4 by the New Jersey Department of Labor found that just 10,384 people filed for unemployment, or 9,214 claims according to the federal labor department.

Thanks to the infusion of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine Gov. Phil Murphy believes the supplies of all the COVID vaccines on either side of Easter are going to explode.

As of March 5, outdoor receptions will be limited to 150 people, while indoor receptions will be capped at 35% capacity or 150 people, whichever is lower.

Over $23 billion in state and federal jobless benefits have been distributed to the more than 2 million New Jerseyans who have filed for unemployment in the past year because of the pandemic.

The Economic Redevelopment and Growth incentive program is aiming to assist the state out of the COVID-19 recession, triggered by mass business closures, cratering consumer spending and soaring unemployment.

Mayor Ras Baraka and Invest Newark launched an initiative to improve the quality of life for Newark residents. The program will help boost the city's economy post-COVID by increasing homeownership and create affordable and market-rate housing.