News Articles Archives - Page 64 of 74

By Jared Kaltwasser/NJBIZ
May 1, 2012

New Jersey small businesses hired at a slightly higher rate than the national average last month, though growth remains slow, according to a new survey.

Intuit Inc. released the results of its latest Small Business Employment Index today. The survey, which is based on data from Intuit Online Payroll customers, showed small businesses added about 40,000 jobs in April nationally, for an increase of 0.2 percent. In New Jersey, small business employment grew by 0.3 percent, beating out neighboring states New York and Pennsylvania.

By Katie Eder/NJBIZ
April 27, 2012

A new campaign launched today by Camden County’s Economic Development and Business Services team will partner municipalities with more than 170 local businesses to promote the benefits of shopping locally and spur job growth.

“Small businesses are (the) backbone of our economy. The more success they have, the better off the county will be,” said Louis Cappelli Jr., Camden County freeholder director. “We all benefit when people shop locally.”

According to Cappelli, if every household in Camden County transitioned $10 of their monthly retail spending from companies outside of the county to businesses within it, the annual economic benefit to the county would be approximately $35 million.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s next public Board Meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 36 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08625. A copy of the proposed agenda can be found prior to the meeting at www.njeda.gov/Board. Following the Board Meeting, minutes and the full agenda will also be available at www.njeda.gov/Board.

PR Web
4/26/2012

New Jersey wants to support technology entrepreneurs, and is putting its money where its mouth is. Applications are now open for the inaugural class of the State’s latest startup venture, TechLaunch (http://www.techlaunch.com), funded in part by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). Modeled after successful programs throughout the U.S. and abroad, N.J’s premier technology accelerator offers seed funding within an intensive 12-week, mentor-driven business development program—called LaunchPad—culminating with an investor conference and Demo Day.

Following a vigorous selection process, an intriguing mix of 10-12 Portfolio Companies will receive $18K – $20K of seed capital and, with the help of a network of successful entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors, will attempt to transform their ideas into successful businesses. Until now, aspiring entrepreneurs in New Jersey had to look to New York City, Philadelphia or beyond in order to pursue their startup dreams with the help of an accelerator program. “We’re looking to attract top-tier talent who would otherwise leave the state because the support infrastructure simply wasn’t there,” says founder and Managing Partner, Mario Casabona, himself a seasoned entrepreneur and Angel investor.

By Jared Kaltwasser/NJBIZ
April 26, 2012

A South Plainfield solar company is stepping up its outreach to nonprofits and municipalities, and offering them a new way to raise funds in the process.

1st Light Energy this week unveiled its new Benevolent Solar Fund program, under which the solar firm will donate cash to nonprofits that organize seminars on the benefits of solar.

“It’s definitely a win-win,” said Barrett Peck, vice president of sales and marketing for the developer.

Nonprofits or municipalities that participate in the program are asked to recruit at least 30 people to attend a seminar where 1st Light representatives will explain the process and benefits of going solar. For each solar project installed as a result of the seminar, the nonprofit will receive a check of $500 or $1,000, depending on the size and timing of the project.

By Mary Diduch and Amy Rowe/RU Daily Targum
April 19, 2012

Believe it or not, New Jersey’s economy is growing — slowly, but surely — but it still lags behind the nation and other states.

Economic experts discussed the state’s recession status and their predictions for growth yesterday at the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service semiannual subscriber conference in the Civic Square Building in downtown New Brunswick.

“The economy is really growing this time, still slowly, but we do expect an increase in jobs in the state,” said Nancy Mantell, director of the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service.

She forecasts an additional 48,000 jobs to be added to the state in 2012, as well as a drop in the unemployment rate to 8.6 percent from the current 9 percent.

Mantell also predicts the state’s unemployment rate, which has hovered consistently around the national rate, to drop further to 5.7 percent — above pre-recession levels — by 2022.

On April 18, 2012, the EDA held a webinar featuring the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program. To review the presentation, please follow the links below:

A meeting of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority has been scheduled for April 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the Eatontown Municipal Building, 47 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ. Formal action may be taken at this meeting. A copy of the proposed agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting at the websites of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority: www.nj.gov/fmera, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority: www.njeda.gov.

By Andrew Kitchenman/NJBIZ
April 12, 2012

Michael J. Van Wagner, vice of president of legislative affairs for New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., has been named by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to serve as acting executive director of the New Jersey Business Action Center, NJBIZ has learned.

Van Wagner will replace Linda Kellner, who has served as the acting executive director for nearly two years. The center is the state office charged with helping businesses stay and grow in New Jersey, serving as a “one-stop” shop for businesses seeking assistance.