February 28, 2014

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED
BIG CHANGES COMING TO NUTRITION LABELS
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE ANNOUNCES 2015 BUDGET
SINCERE STATEMENT

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MEMBERS: ** If you have been hoarding the pre-paid postage envelopes that used to be sent out with the renewal notices, please discard them!! Since postage has increased, they are no longer valid, and your mail will sit in a dead file at the post office … Thank You **

GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM: Important news from NJEDA -- The Generator Grant Program deadline is being extended. If you are on this list and want to apply for the program, please go to http://www.njeda.com/generators/ for complete program information. As always, NJGCA is here to help in any way possible, answer any questions, and assist in the application process.

The new application deadline is March 21, 2014. However, please begin your applications soon! Do not wait until the last minute, because many times the applications that are submitted are not complete, and you will be asked to submit additional information. Beginning this process as early as possible will ensure that your application receives a thorough review and you have the opportunity to provide all necessary documents.

Additionally, if you are not on the approved list, but you are interested in applying for a grant, please email Eric@njgca.org with the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your station's name, address and phone number
4. Your personal cell phone number
5. The best email address to contact you at

ALSO INLCUDE...

1. The storage capacity at your station for gasoline
2. The storage capacity at your station for diesel.
3. The distance to the nearest major highway
4. The distance to the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Atlantic City Expressway or any evacuation route.

NUTRITION LABEL CHANGES: This info is important if you have a c-store. For the first time in 20 years, the nutrition label on food packages is about to be overhauled. The new labels could take a year or more to appear on shelves, and include at least 6 significant changes. Though there have been many interest groups debating the merits of this change and raising concerns about the new labels, we just wanted to take this opportunity to inform our members about the changes that will be coming. With information such as calories and sugar being made more prominent on the labels, the Administration is trying to promote healthier eating, and this might begin to influence the products your customers buy, and the products that you offer. For now, just keep this information in the back of your mind.

Finally, Governor Christie announced his Fiscal Year 2015 budget this week. On issues that affect our particular industry, it should be noted that the gas tax, which funds the Transportation Trust Fund, doesn't even yield enough money to cover our yearly debt payments, let alone new projects. As we have reported in previous Road Warriors, the Democrats seem determined to raise New Jersey's gas tax. Additionally, the state plans to bring in tens of millions of dollars by subjecting e-cigarettes to the tobacco tax. We will continue to keep you updated on issues that will directly impact you and your business.

I would like to conclude this week by making the following statement: "Over the course of the past few years and in connection with the ExxonMobil and Shell New Jersey divestments, I made a number of disparaging remarks about Lehigh Gas Corp. in my role as Executive Director of the NJGCA. Those statements were made in the NJGCA Road Warrior newsletter. I fear that these statements have not been helpful to our long-term goals of resolving disagreements between our membership and organizations like Lehigh to reach mutually beneficial arrangements. While it will always be my duty to act as the voice of our members, these remarks do not advance our cause which is to achieve better relationships where they are needed. Accordingly, I retract the remarks I have made about Lehigh Gas Corp., and in the future will strive to focus more to achieve those relationships I just mentioned that are helpful to our members."

Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato,
Executive Director

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

NJGCA also assists members in selling equipment through the placement of advetisments in Road Warrior!

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

02/27/2014:
Food labels to get first makeover in 20 years, with new emphasis on calories, sugar
For the first time in 20 years, the nutrition label on food packages is about to be overhauled. The new labels could take a year or more to appear on shelves, and include at last 6 significant changes. Though there have been many interest groups debating the merits of this change and raising concerns about the new labels, we just wanted to take this opportunity to inform our members about the changes that will be coming. With information such as calories and sugar being made more prominent on the labels, the Obama Administration is trying to promote healthier eating, and this might begin to influence the products your customers buy, and the products that you offer. For now, just keep this information in the back of your mind.

A Roadmap to Christie's New $34.4 billion Budget
Governor Christie announced his Fiscal Year 2015 budget this week. On issues that affect our particular industry, it should be noted that the gas tax, which funds the Transportation Trust Fund, doesn't even yield enough money to cover our yearly debt payments, let alone new projects. As we have reported in previous Road Warriors, the Democrats seem determined to raise New Jersey's gas tax. Additionally, the state plans to bring in tens of millions of dollars by subjecting e-cigarettes to the tobacco tax. We will continue to keep you updated on issues that will directly impact you and your business.

02/26/2014:
An Update on State E-Cigarette Legislation
Now that state legislatures now having begun their 2014 legislative sessions, there have been a number of bills introduced regarding electronic cigarettes. In particular, some state legislatures are considering taxing e-cigarettes under several different tax rates and a number of states have bills pending that would ban the sale of e-cigarettes to underage youth. This article provides a brief summary of the e-cigarette bills that NATO is monitoring, however, I will highlight the proposals under consideration in NJ and NY because those will have the most impact on our members. NJ: Governor Christie announced a new budget proposal this week that would tax e-cigarettes on the same basis as traditional cigarettes. Currently, the cigarette tax in NJ is $2.70 per pack. NY: Senate Bill 6255 would exempt e-cigarettes from state taxation. However, Assembly Bill No. 8594 would impose the state’s 75% OTP tax rate on e-cigarettes.

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

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

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.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
66 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

THE MEMBER TOOL BOX

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