“We are still in the midst of a pandemic and need to take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard and best ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our residents,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

The program recognizes SBA-assisted small businesses for the contributions they have made to their communities and the economy.

The state has logged more than 6,000 daily cases for the past two consecutive days, the highest number since January

The state has recouped 76% of the jobs - or 548,500 positions - lost during the pandemic recession, the New Jersey Department of Labor announced on Dec. 16.

By midday on Dec. 15, nearly 500 individuals and entities had established accounts on the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission's application platform.

New Jersey is one of two states that will take part in a federal pilot program to upgrade its infrastructure and experience.

“Let’s not forget that on Election Day, there was a strong message given to everybody that affordability was a big issue for New Jersey,” Tom Bracken, who heads the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said during a press conference hosted by his organization, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses on Dec. 14.

Despite the state's recent good fortune with its public worker fund, Garden State Initiative found in a recent dispatch that the system is still vastly underfunded and cannot hope to dig itself out of its current financial circumstances without steep cuts to future benefits and adjustments to its investments and contributions.

The past four spending plans have included a variety of increases, including a millionaire’s levy on those earning above $1 million a year, and higher contributions for the state’s most profitable businesses.

The governor said the numbers represented "a good start and it’s going to get better, it needs to get better.”

Similar proposals gained traction over the summer, after the Department of Labor and Workforce Development revealed that New Jersey businesses would have to pay $252 million starting in October to replenish the state’s unemployment fund - the first of three such increases.

“By taking these steps to exclude farmland from being classified as a redevelopment area or rehabilitation area, we are ensuring the protection of these vital spaces and preventing further warehouse sprawl, which will help keep New Jersey green for decades to come,” said outgoing Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a sponsor of the legislation.