March 27, 2014

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM UPDATE
OPPOSITION TO 75% E-CIG TAX RATE
OVER-TIME RULE REVISIONS WILL IMPACT C-STORE MANAGERS
 

Generators:  As of Friday, March 21, the application period for the Generator Grant Program is closed.  In the last two weeks of the application period the State received a flood of applications, and while we were originally hopeful that the program guidelines might expand to include some other stations that were not eligible in the beginning, it seems as though the amount requested is very close to the amount that the State had made available for grants. As I said, the state received over 100 applications in the last two weeks, so they have a lot of information to sift through. But, for the time being, we are no longer confident that the State will expand the program guidelines. If they determine that many of the applicants were ineligible, then, of course, things may change. However, I just wanted to update you all on the latest info that we have from our contacts at the State.
 
Additionally, for anyone who has applied, you should be receiving preliminary approvals or denials within the next month. These letters will inform you of what steps will come next in the process. NJGCA will be providing you with more information as we get it, too.  So be on the lookout! There are a number of potential pitfalls that can be problematic for those of you who are approved for a grant. I am hoping to continue communicating with you so that I can be certain you don't fall into any of those pitfalls as you are making arrangements to select a contractor and especially when you sign a contract.
 
E-cigarettes: NJGCA continues to actively oppose the proposed 75% tax on e-cigarettes.  Please see the email that we sent out on Monday.  The special alert includes links to a petition that you can sign, and coupons that you can print out and provide to your customers, to allow them to sign the petition as well. The coupons contain the information that will allow your customers to go home and use a link to sign our petition. Please participate in this important advocacy campaign! 
 
New Overtime Rules: Over the past month NJGCA has been monitoring the proposed new rules coming from President Obama and the US Department of Labor. Right now, the rule changes are just proposed, and no formal or official language has been released. The final rules will not go into effect until early 2015, but this is something that you should be aware of so that you can start planning. These changes will affect those of you who have managers that you pay on salary. We don't have all the details yet, however, we believe that the new labor regulations will change the over-time exemption rules, and make it nearly impossible to pay a manager a salary without also paying overtime.
 
As I said, this proposed rule change is still in the early stages, and once formal language is made public, there will be a 90-day opportunity to comment on the exact regulations that are being suggested. We will continue to keep track of this issue and let you know how you can get involved and have your voice heard!

Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

• NJGCA was recently able to lend a hand to members looking to sell their business by getting the word out.  Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects! 

NJGCA also helps members sell equipment by placing advertisements in the Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out!      

If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

03/26/2014:
Honda, Toyota Will Launch Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles By 2015
Are you already over electric cars? Do you find Tesla a bit ho-hum? If so, here's something to perk you up: Honda and Toyota both plan to roll out hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and the cars are on-target to hit showrooms next year. The fact that both Japanese automakers are working on fuel cell vehicles isn't surprising. Honda's FCX Clarity test fleet has been roaming the streets for nearly six years, and on numerous occasions, Honda has reiterated its plans to release a model for the general public by 2015. Last summer, the company announced a partnership with General Motors to co-develop next-generation fuel cell technology. Toyota has been equally aggressive on the fuel cell front, and has been showing off versions of the FCV Concept, and like Honda, the automaker has had plans to bring fuel cell vehicles to market in 2015. To read more, please click the link above.

03/25/2014:
In light of Tesla ban, NJ lawmakers introduce bill allowing direct sales for electric cars
Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate introduced legislation Monday that would allow for electric car consumers in NJ to purchase the vehicles directly from a manufacturer as opposed to through a licensed dealer.  The bills, sponsored by Assemblyman Timothy Eustace (D-Paramus) and state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Ewing), are a direct response to a recent decision by the state Motor Vehicle Commission mandating that all new vehicle purchases in New Jersey must be done through licensed dealers, effectively banning electric carmaker Tesla from the state by disallowing its direct-sales business model. Tesla currently operates showrooms in Paramus and Short Hills but company chairman Elon Musk has said in light of the state's decision, the stores will soon be forced to become informative galleries and all potential customers will be directed instead to locations in NY and PA.  To read more, please click the link above.

03/24/2014:
Aluminum vehicles to reshape repair business
Expensive body shop tools and training, and labor rates that could nearly double, will rock the auto body repair industry following Ford Motor Co.'s foray into aluminum-body vehicles. The automaker's new F-150 pickup, which debuts later this year, will be the first mass-market vehicle with a body made mostly of aluminum. As others follow Ford's lead to create light-weight cars and trucks to meet stringent fuel economy requirements, it will prompt a shift in how body shops align their businesses. Some of the 35,000 U.S. repair facilities will each invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in new equipment and training necessary to fix the smallest dents and the biggest structural collapses and will pass those costs along to consumers through higher labor rates. Others will focus solely on the steel-body cars and trucks that remain the dominant share of vehicles on the road.  To read more about the changes that may be coming, please click above.

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a "Written Exam" given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the New Jersey State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh   signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.