NJEDA Expands Discounts, Extends Deadline for PPE Access Program

Businesses and organizations with 100 or fewer employees can apply for nearly 70 percent discounts on PPE purchases

TRENTON, N.J. (November 23, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that it will increase the discounts available on purchases of personal protective equipment made through the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program to nearly 70 percent, effective Tuesday, November 24, 2020. The Authority will also double the per-business cap on discount vouchers. These discounts will be available to New Jersey businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees until December 10, 2020. Businesses that have already made purchases through the program will be able to receive vouchers for additional purchases up to the new program caps, but the 65 percent discount will only apply to purchases made on or after November 24, 2020. 

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks: #5. Talent Acquisition

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

#5. Talent Acquisition
Before any employee can become a key team member, you first need to be able to identify and attract them in the recruitment process. Oftentimes, the inability to find or secure the right candidates is due to mistakes made in this selection process.

SGS Webinar: Introduction to GMP & HACCP - FREE

Date & Time: Monday, November 23, 2020 at 10AM EST

During this free food webinar, SGS will take the viewer through a ‘path to certification’ as it is necessary to implement safe handling practices and procedures at every stage of food production. They will briefly introduce globally recognized standards Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) & Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and outline how they build upon each other. Lastly, you will learn what to include in your food plan, how to do a full risk assessment outlining the 7 principles of HACCP, how to implement preventive control measures as well as data management and reporting to prevent harm to your consumers.

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks: #4. Career Planning & Progression

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

#4. Career Planning & Progression
Your responsibility to your employees should not end with providing them a salary and job responsibilities. Employees will want to stay with employers who also value and enable their career progression. If you do not have one already, design your organizational chart by department to map out the progression of positions available in your company. Include descriptions that allow employees to understand how the roles are gradually elevated and connected.

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks: #3 Work-Life Integration

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

#3 Work-Life Integration
In today’s stressful and fast-paced existence, employees may find value in getting paid less if it means they can better balance their lives in and out of the office. Offering part-time or flex options to employees in this situation can sometimes mean the difference between retaining a key employee or losing them to a more flexible employer.

Foreign Supplier Verification Program Training - Online
Association of Food Industries

Today’s travel restrictions have created a limited-time opportunity for industry members to take the Foreign Supplier Verification Program course – fully online. Take note that even with travel restrictions in place, FDA is continuing FSVP inspections and is issuing warning letters for non-compliance. AFI is offering 2 upcoming corses. 

Register now for two upcoming course dates.

• November 18-19, 2020 - 9:00 AM • 5:00 PM EST
• December 16-17, 2020 - 9:00 AM • 5:00 PM EST

NJFPA & NJMEP Training Partnership

5 Self Paced, Online Food Training
Courses - Available Now!
NJFPA partnered with NJMEP to provide members
with even more access to critical training.
Get started today!

New NJFPA Partnerships : NJ Manufacturing Extension Program

The NJ Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) is a private, not-for-profit organization that improves the profitability and competitiveness of New Jersey’s manufacturers. Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NJMEP enables organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance.

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks: #2 Employee Compensation

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

#2 Employee Compensation
With many companies focused on containing costs and freezing pay raises or bonuses during the economic downturn, it is more important than ever to be creative in the ways you are compensating your employees and communicating these benefits to them.

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks: #1 Employee Retention

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

#1. Employee Retention
Your business is your long-term priority, but have you considered what keeps your employees connected or disconnected from your organization? Most likely, it is employee culture – or the lack thereof. Employees stay when they like who they work with, are treated well and feel part of the organization’s mission.

News from the FIC: COVID-19 Impacts FSMA Rule

Intentional adulteration…when a food product is intentionally contaminated by a person or group of people, either internal or external to a food business, has become even a greater concern as food processors battle through the challenges and ramifications of COVID-19. The most common cause of intentional adulteration within the food supply chain has been disgruntled employees seeking revenge on their employer or co-workers. On July 26, 2019, the FSMA final rule for intentional adulteration came into force: Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration. 

Read more from the Rutgers Food Innovation Center

New NJFPA Partnerships : Rutgers Food Innovation Center

The Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC) is a unique food business incubator and accelerator. Combining years of industry expertise and the advanced technologies offered by Rutgers, we provide business, marketing, food safety, product design and scale up expertise within FDA and USDA certified facilities to help companies successfully build and grow their business.

Through a partnership with the FIC, NJFPA membership now has additional benefits!

Overcoming the Top 5 HR Risks

Jeff Agranoff, HR Consulting Principal, Grassi Advisors & Accountants

Through the ups and downs of your business, the people behind your company name will play a large part in its rise or fall. Like any major element of your business, your workforce and Human Resources (HR) function should be regularly evaluated to ensure they are moving the company in an upward path.

Investors Bank Virtual Business Exchange

In the current world, where we are all trying to increase business through virtual efforts, any assistance or tips to improve on this would help. Investors Bank is hosting an event led by speaker Jeb Blount. Thursday, Nov 5, 2020 10:00 AM ET

Jeb Blount is a celebrated author, speaker and trainer on sales training, creating connections, overcoming objections, and virtual selling.  He has authored—Objections: The Ultimate Guide for Mastering The Art and Science of Getting Past No, Fanatical Prospecting, Sales EQ, Inked and many more.  In the new reality attached to doing business in COVID, Investors Bank sees how effective Jeb’s training has been and wanted to offer it to our community.

Webinar: Election 2020 Tax Policy
Wednesday, October 28
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Join Withum’s Federal Tax Experts, Dan Mayo and Jeremias Ramosas for an overview of the tax proposals from both candidates and what they mean for you and your business. We don’t know yet which proposal will be implemented but tune in for the different possibilities of what could happen November 3, 2020.

Discussion Topics Include

Regular readers of the NJFPA newsletter will already be aware of these industry events and programs but we wanted to broaden our reach! 

For more details on each of these and other ongoing programs be sure to visit Ongoing Industry Events & Programs

The NJFPA community has a long tradition of supporting each other and sharing resources. For 100 years the New Jersey food processors community has come together; from friendly competitions like the "Ten Ton Tomato Club" and Golf Outings to the outpouring of tips and experiences to help each other through a global pandemic. 

True to the NJFPA community, the current crisis has actually resulted in a growth of our reach and resources. The amount of timely information on training, partner articles on industry topics, and more has exceeded the capacity of our newsletter.