NJGCA Status: Most of our staff is working remotely. If you have any questions please contact the appropriate person directly:
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***Important Notice: Starting Wednesday, April 1, all employers with fewer than 500 employees will have to provide the new Federal FFCRA Leave to all their employees. The US Department of Labor just released the official notice which all eligible employers must provide their employees and which must be posted at the worksite. You can download the notification HERE and read DOL’s FAQ about the notice HERE.***
Coronavirus Communications
UPDATES AS OF 3/18/21:
Possible PPP Small Business Extension; Federal Income Tax Extension; Visa/Mastercard Pump The Brakes On Swipe Fees; One Week Away: FreeWire Webinar
See Road Warrior – March 18th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 3/11/21:
One Year Coronaversary: Looking Back At Last Year; Fuel Cell Tax Exemptions – Don’t Count Out Hydrogen; FYWNJ Update; Freewire Webinar March 24th
See Road Warrior – March 11th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 3/04/21:
Fuel Your Way NJ Self-serve Presentation; NJ Expands Vaccine Eligibility; Repair Shops? Noncompete Bill – Will This Effect You?; Electrifying The Marketplace; Second Round PPP; Visa & Mastercard To Raise Swipe Fees; NJGCA Credit Card Point Of Sale Update
See Road Warrior – March 4th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 2/25/21:
RIP Senator Gerald Cardinale: NJGCA Champion; Fuel Your Way NJ; Governor Murphy Delivers Budget Address; Ford To Phase Out Fossil-Fueled Vehicles In Europe By 2035; New Changes To PPP For Small Businesses’; What’s Going On In The Marketplace
See Road Warrior – February 25th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 2/18/21:
New Jersey Small And Micro Business PPE Access Program Phase 2; CDC Announces New Quarantine Guidance For Fully Vaccinated Individuals; Long And Short Term Predictions On Gas; ATM Thefts On Rise: What You Can Do; Governor Murphy Establishes Office Of Climate Action & The Green Economy
See Road Warrior – February 18th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 2/11/21:
PPP Loans To Be Tax Exempt And Expenses Will Be Tax Deductible, Shops Beware! Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise, Ford To Invest In Electric And Autonomous Vehicles, Lunchtime Auto Tech Training Classes, EMV4NJ Promotion And Webinar
See Road Warrior – February 11th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 2/4/21:
Road Warrior: Grant & Loan; Covert Cars & Secret Shoppers; Tires; GM; Gift Cards; Trainings; Webinar
See Road Warrior – February 4th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 1/28/21:
Biden Signs Environmental Executive Orders; Reminder: PPP Fully Reopened; Vaccine Toolkit For Essential Businesses
See Road Warrior – January 28th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 1/21/21:
PPP Officially Fully Reopens; Required Employee Posters; Smoking Cessation Mandate Stalls; Inauguration Of #46: President Joe Biden; New INL Training Session Dates Scheduled; Sound Payments Webinar Today
See Road Warrior – January 21st, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 1/14/21:
NJ Opens Availability To Vaccine; PPP Loans Available Fully Open Tuesday; 2021 Compliance Calendar; COVID’s Effect On Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Register For Sound Payments Webinar
See Road Warrior – January 14th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 1/7/21:
Vaccine Eligibility & Pre-Registration; Governor Signs U.I. Legislation; Federal Stimulus & PPP Update; COVID Workplace Violations On The Rise; Rent Payments Via Credit Card; Sound Payments Webinar
See Road Warrior – January 7th, 2021
UPDATES AS OF 12/10/20:
Reminder: Mandatory Face Mask Wearing At Your Business, EV Charging Bill To Be Heard Today, NJGCA/Chargepoint EV Charging Webinars: Listen Now!, Minimum Wage Increase Reminder, Will We See More COVID Relief Before 2021?, Happy Hanukkah
See Road Warrior – December 10th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 12/3/20:
Stage II Decommissioning, More Discounts For Small Businesses In PPE Program, Small Business COVID Aid, Price Gouging Reminder, Electric Vehicle Webinar Series, Successful Turkey Drive, Please Participate In NACS Survey
See Road Warrior – December 3rd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 11/19/20:
NJ New Grants And Announcements, Local Ordinances Conflict With Governors Order, Compliance Reminder On Low Permeation Hoses And Dripless Nozzles, Webinar Announcements, Decommissioning Your Stage II Systems, Unemployment Insurance Tax Bill, Important Announcement For Online Banking Members, Turkey Drive
See Road Warrior – November 19th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 11/12/20:
Reminder EMV Webinar Today!, Updated Election Overview, Marijuana Legalization In New Jersey, Newark COVID Restrictions — More Curfews Coming?, Plastics Ban Coming Next Year, Continued Battle Against Tobacco Taxes, NJGCA Turkey Drive, Happy Veterans Day & Diwali
See Road Warrior – November 12th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 11/5/20:
Very Preliminary Election Overview, Two Governor Actions On Businesses, EDA PPP Initiative, Stage II Decommissioning — We Need To Hear From You, Important Message For Members Paying Dues Online, Annual NJGCA Turkey Drive
See Road Warrior – November 5th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 10/29/20:
Mail-In Ballot Instructions, New Covid Mandate From Governor, MA Right To Repair, NJ Liquor License Crackdown, Phase III NJ EDA Grant Final Reminder
See Road Warrior – October 29th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 10/22/20:
Phase III EDA Grants, Stage II Decommissioning, New Perspectives On Gas Tax, NJDEP Climate Change Report
See Road Warrior – October 22nd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 10/15/20:
Simpler PPP Forgiveness For Loans Of $50,000 Or Less, Murphy Announces Additional $100 Million In CARES Grants, Please Complete Our MBP Survey, October On The Road Newsletter Is Available!
See Road Warrior – October 15th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 9/17/20:
Workers Comp Legislation Signed, Budget Deal Made: Are Cig Taxes Off The Table?, Please Complete Our Survey!
See Road Warrior – September 17th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 8/20/20:
A/B Operator “Renewal” Notifications, MVC Auditing And Facemask Safety, Republicans Propose COVID Stimulus, NJ Budget Update
See Road Warrior – August 20th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 8/13/20:
Station Generators And Emergency Preparedness, Workers Comp And Liability Updates, Employee COVID Documentation
See Road Warrior – August 13th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 8/6/20:
Tropical Storm Isaias: Do You Have Power?, New Federal Relief & Liability Discussions, Liability Discussions In NJ Continue, 7-Eleven Purchases Speedway, Inspection Sticker Update
See Road Warrior – August 6th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 7/30/20:
Trenton Update: Healthcare And Workers Compensation Legislation, New Grant Programs, In-Person Inspection Sticker Sales To Resume
See Road Warrior – July 30th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 7/23/20:
Health Insurance Premium Tax, Federal Small Business Liability Protection, Inspection Sticker/MVC Update, Tobacco Product Ban: Remove From Your Shelves, New Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Coming Soon, Potential NJ Firework Ban
See Road Warrior – July 23rd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 7/16/20:
MVC Further Extends Deadlines & New Advisory, Reminder: Best Practices For Reopening, Union County Small Business Grant Program, NJ EV Charger Grant Program – Apply Now!
See Road Warrior – July 16th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 7/9/20:
MVC Chaos & Obtaining Inspection Stickers; Governor Mandates Face Masks; NJ Hits The Brakes On Reopening The State; PPP Update; Reminder: Taxes Due Wednesday, July 15th; Coronavirus & Liability Protection
See Road Warrior – July 9th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 7/2/20:
NJGCA Latest Business Survey Results, New Stage II Decommissioning Advisory, UST Fill Port Color Change, Vehicle Inspection Lockouts In Error, National Coin Shortage – Stock Up!, NJGCA Board Election Results, Happy 4th Of July
See Road Warrior – July 2nd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 6/25/20:
County Grants For Small Businesses Available, NJGCA Training Classes To Resume This Fall, NJGCA Economic Survey Reminder, C-Store Scam Alert, Minimum Wage Update, Tax Filing Day Deadline Extension, PPP Reminder Deadline
See Road Warrior – June 25th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 6/18/20:
New Grant/Loan Opportunities Available, An Important Note On Workplace Attire And PPE, Update On NJGCA Classes, MVC Licensing Extension, Trinity Solar Special Offer For NJGCA Members
See Road Warrior – June 18th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 6/11/20:
EV Charger Grants, Cease And Desist Letters On Price Gouging, Best Practices For Reopening the State, Updates On NJ EDA Grants
See Road Warrior – June 11th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 6/9/20:
NJGCA Best Practices Guidance Document Available
UPDATES AS OF 6/4/20:
New Congressional Action On PPP Loans, NJEDA Grants Available Tuesday June 9, 9am, Looting Concerns – Guidance For Vulnerable Members, PPP Forgiveness Webinar Available Now & Best Practices Webinar Today
See Road Warrior – June 4th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 5/28/20:
NJ EDA Grant Program/ PPP Listings, NJ Covid-19 Business Survey, Pandemic Implications On The Used Car Industry, NJ Revenue Report, FeedNJ Initiative
See Road Warrior – May 28th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 5/21/20:
PPP Forgiveness, Upcoming NJGCA Webinars, When Will New Jersey Reopen, Gas Tax, Cash For Clunkers 2.0?, MVC Issues Extensions, Mastercard Delays EMV, Happy Memorial Day
See Road Warrior – May 21st, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 5/18/20:
SBA Loan Forgiveness Application, NJEDA Receives More Federal Funding for Small Business
UPDATES AS OF 5/14/20:
New Guidance Available On PPP, NJGCA Fights Harmful Workers Comp Legislation, Debt Collection Bill Amended, Discover Now Agrees To Delay EMV At The Pumps
See Road Warrior – May 14th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 5/8/20:
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness
UPDATES AS OF 5/7/20:
Covid-19 Financial Security For Consumers Act, Amex Joins EMV Extension, What’s Going On In The Marketplace, Covid-19 & UST Compliance
See Road Warrior – May 7th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 5/5/20:
COVID-19 Financial, Security for Consumers Act UPDATE, Final Framework Document For Reopening the State
UPDATES AS OF 5/4/20:
Visa Extended EMV until April 2021, COVID-19 Financial, Security for Consumers Act
UPDATES AS OF 5/1/20:
Relief Money Still Available: If You Have Not Done So Act Now
See Wildfire Alert – May 1, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/30/20:
MVC Agency, Inspection Station Closures: Extended Until May 11, Protect Our Employees Update, Oil Price, Economic Relief Payment Plan, Personal Protection Equipment
See Road Warrior – April 30th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/28/20:
Reminder: New Funding Available and Helpful Loan Information, Update on Loan Availability, Governor Murphy Outlines Reopening Strategy, Make Your Member of Congress Work for YOU, Relief Eligibility Wizard, Price Gouging, Thank You to Our Members AND Thank You from Our Members
Read our update for April 28th
UPDATES AS OF 4/24/20:
President Approves More Funding For Small Business Loans: Act Now!
See Wildfire Alert – April 24, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/23/20:
Phase 3.5 Small Business Loans Coming: Be Prepared!, Whats Going On With Oil Prices?, EMV Requirement Still On, Unemployment And Hiring During Coronavirus, Self-Serve In The Media, Tax Relief For C-store Workers, Face Masks And Cleaning Services Available, Happy Ramadan
See Road Warrior – April 23rd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/21/20:
Federal Loans Update, Self-Serve Update, Face Masks and Cleaning Services Available
Read our update for April 21st
UPDATES AS OF 4/20/20:
Loan/Grant Update and Messages to Congress, Your Survey Responses, White House Plan to Reopen Economy, Self-Serve in the Media, Vape Flavor Ban, Trinity Solar Special Offer for NJGCA Members
Read our update for April 20th
UPDATES AS OF 4/16/20:
NJGCA Coalition Efforts – Small Business Assistance, Summer/Winter Blends Of Gasoline, Repair Shops – ASE Certifications, PIFs Monthly Inspection Equipment Charges, Self-Serve Efforts Continue, More Media And Tv Self-serve Coverage, Insurance Concerns And Advice, What’s Trenton Doing This Week? Help Or Hurt?
See Road Warrior – April 16th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/14/20:
Should Motorists Wear A Mask When Filling Up?, Email Us Your Grant/Loan Stories, PPP Update, Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan, We Still Need To Hear From You, Vaping Ban Reminder, Inspection Equipment Charges, No Extensions For NJDEP Compliance, Workers Comp COVID Liability Aimed At Employers
Read our update for April 14th
UPDATES AS OF 4/10/20:
Reminder New Executive Order Goes In To Effect Tonight, Poster For Your Store, New EDA Loan Apps Begin Monday 9am, NJGCA Members Help Healthcare Workers, First Responders & Other NJGCA Members
Read our update for April 10th
UPDATES AS OF 4/9/20:
New Executive Order For Essential Retail Businesses, PPP Update, UST Compliance Testing Still Ongoing, Happy Easter/Passover
See Road Warrior – April 9th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/7/20:
Help Us Keep Governor Updated, Federal Loan Updates, NJGCA MBP Banks Ready To Assist; NJ Grants & Loans, NJGCA Webinar Recording; ASE Certifications; Repair Shop Creativity; Reminder Vaping Flavor Ban
UPDATES AS OF 4/3/20:
Urgent: Gas Station – We Need Your Updated Status, Reminder: Also Urgent – Letters To Governor Murphy
UPDATES AS OF 4/2/20:
Limited Grants Available Tomorrow, Business Coalitions Appeal To Governor, Repair Shops: Time To Get Creative, NJGCA Coronavirus Webinar, Any Stations Closing?
See Road Warrior – April 2nd, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 4/1/20:
Assistance and Requirements, New Info And Reminder Info Re: More Action Needed Please Read Below
UPDATES AS OF 3/31/20:
Still Trying To Suspend Self Serve Law, Letter To Governor, Radio And TV Interviews, OSHA Employee Guidance, April 1 Employee Leave Benefits
Read our update for March 31st
UPDATES AS OF 3/30/20:
Efforts to Suspend Self-Serve Law, Customers Letters to Members, Information on PPP
Read our update for March 30th
UPDATES AS OF 3/27/20:
Grant and Loan Information Available, Survey Notice
Read our update for March 27th
UPDATES AS OF 3/26/20:
NJGCA Email Requests – Please Help Us Help You, Senate Passes Coronavirus Relief Bill/Recapping The Week, Lockdown In Newark, Hand Sanitizer Available, Repair Shops: Contactless Services
See Road Warrior – March 26th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 3/25/20:
Relief Update, Don’t Be Stupid, Self Serve Suspension?, Let’s Help Others, Survey
Read our update for March 25th
UPDATES AS OF 3/24/20:
Price Gouging, Request to Suspend Ban on Self-Serve, Request for Customers That Want to Pump Their Own Gas, Request for Business Updates
Read our update for March 24th
UPDATES AS OF 3/23/20:
Essential Businesses, Letter for Storefront, Legislation to Help Employees, CARES Act, Action Alert
Read our update for March 23rd
UPDATES AS OF 3/21/20:
Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, Auto Repair Have Been Deemed Essential Businesses
See Wildfire Alert – March 21, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 3/20/20:
Small Business Loans, Non-Essential Business Shut Down, FFCRA Updates, Proposed DC Senate Bill
Read our update for March 20th
UPDATES AS OF 3/19/20:
Bergen County cancels total retail shutdown Executive Order scheduled to go into effect Saturday. Please see 3/18/20 Road Warrior below for more information on Bergen County’s order as well as the State Executive Order.
UPDATES AS OF 3/18/20:
Coronavirus: Uncertainty And Confusion, What You Need To Know Take A Deep Breath – We Will All Get Thru This Emergency You Are Tougher Than You Think And You Can Do This!
See Road Warrior – March 18th, 2020
UPDATES AS OF 3/17/20:
The State of Emergency declaration triggers the price gouging law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-109).
Specifically, this law makes it an unlawful practice to sell merchandise at what constitutes an excessive price increase. An excessive price increase is defined as:
“Excessive price increase” means a price that is excessive as compared to the price at which the consumer good or service was sold or offered for sale by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency. A price shall be deemed excessive if:
(1) The price exceeds by more than 10% the price at which the good or service was sold or offered for sale by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency, unless the price charged by the seller is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller’s supplier or other costs of providing the good or service during the state of emergency;
(2) In those situations where the increase in price is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller’s supplier or additional costs of providing the good or service during the state of emergency, the price represents an increase of more than 10% in the amount of markup from cost, compared to the markup customarily applied by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency.
A violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for the second and subsequent offenses. Each individual sale of merchandise is considered a separate and distinct event.
The Governor and the Attorney General have already made it clear that they are on the lookout for any instance of price gouging on any item, especially bottled water, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. They are clearly looking to hit someone with a fine, don’t let it be you!
NJGCA in the News on Coronavirus
NJGCA Resources
Let’s Get Back to Work: Returning Employees to the Workplace NJGCA Webinar Recording
NJGCA PPP Forgiveness Webinar Recording
NJGCA PPP Forigiveness Webinar Slides
NJGCA Your Coronavirus Questions Answered Webinar Recording
NJGCA Your Coroavirus Questions Answered Webinar Slides
UPDATED MAY 2020: NJGCA Families First Coronavirus Leave Breakdown
Email template to customers that approve self-serve during Coronavirus outbreak
As you are all aware, the Coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes, COVID-19, has posed a major global public health crisis that is currently having an effect on the business market. In order to protect yourself, your customers; and your businesses; employment attorney and NJGCA MBP Steven Horowitz has created two forms for you to print with your letterhead and post at your businesses and distribute to your employees:
NJGCA MBP CSG Law has also created a COVID-19 page with helpful resources and have established the CSG COVID-19 Crisis Management Task Force to provide guidance: https://www.csglaw.com/csg-
covid19-resource-center
Other Resources
The following trustworthy websites contain useful information on how businesses can prepare for and help slow the spread of Coronavirus and what precautionary measures to take:
CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers
State of New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub
New Jersey Business Page – COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses
New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19: A Guide for Businesses
NFIB – Side-By-Side Comparison EIDL & PPP
Senator Cardinale Supports Allowing Self-Serve Gas During COVID-19 Crisis
Governor Murphy Executive Orders:
Governors Executive Order 122 – April 8, 2020
Governors Executive Order 108 – March 21, 2020
Governors Executive Order 107- March 21, 2020
Governors Executive Order – March 16th, 2020
Vaccine Information
General Notes:
o You can require employees who are not vaccinated to wear a mask while on company property and/or to get weekly COVID tests in lieu of getting a vaccine.
o Additionally, for the safety of your employees, you are also allowed to require proof of weekly COVID tests (although you are lawfully not permitted to seek detailed medical information or a prognosis beyond proof of testing. Nor are you allowed to leak to other employees the name of the co-employee who tested positive).
Additional things notes and factors to consider:
o If the former, you could possibly extend the offer, while steering the area they work/who they interact with in person/etc.
o Don’t go too deep into detail so that the person is revealing much about their medical history.
Wider, Over-arching considerations:
o In all instances above, you may want to speak to an Employment Law attorney about addressing these factors.
o NJGCA can help steer you toward an MBP to assist you in that endeavor (to limit your liability and prevent you from possible litigation down the line).
Please feel free to call the office at 732-256-9646 or email michelle@njgca.org with any other questions you may have