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January 3, 2019

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

• Happy New Year: NJGCA Hitting the Ground Running; New Jersey Tax Amnesty Program; Wage and Hour Webinar

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Mercer County: Gas Station for Sale
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Tesla Will Cut Prices To Combat Tax Credit Phase Out
• NJ Has More Convenience Stores Than Ever — And More Coming Soon
• It's Not Your Imagination. Convenience Stores Are Multiplying In NJ, With No End In Sight
• ‘I Don’t Believe This’ Auto Body Shop Refurbishes Van, Donates It To Veteran

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!

??????• EMISSIONS INSPECTOR TRAINING CLASS: MONDAY, January 28th, THURSDAY, February 28th, TUESDAY, March 26th.
??????• ENTIRE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: Coming Soon
??????• RECERTIFICATION EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: Coming Soon

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation!
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER-- CLICK HERE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

HAPPY NEW YEAR: NJGCA HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING
NJ TAX AMNESTY REMINDER
WAGE AND HOUR WEBINAR

Welcome to 2019! You can expect NJGCA to be tackling many different issues this year that will affect your businesses:

$15 Minimum Wage: As a reminder, as of January 1, the new minimum wage is $8.85 per hour. As $15 minimum wage plans resume discussion in the new year, we will continue to voice our strong opposition. However, the battlefield is shaping up and some preliminary shots have been fired.
Legalized Marijuana: Technically, this is not in our wheelhouse, though many of you may have a personal opinion on the legalization of marijuana. My concern, however, is for you as employers because employees coming to work stoned poses a risk to you and your business. There are workplace safety issues related to stoned employees pumping gas and more serious safety issues regarding the technicians that work in your repair shop. I know in the years that I owned my own repair shop, I encountered several technicians who went out for lunch and had a beer or two. I was not happy about it and made a point to always monitor employees to determine if they might possibly be intoxicated. Determining if an employee is intoxicated from alcohol is much easier to do than if they are under the influence of marijuana.
Self-Serve: We are hoping to renew our effort in 2019 to get support to change the self-serve laws. Keep checking our website and communication efforts for these updates as they come.
Liquor Laws: We are also looking to step up our efforts to change the antiquated liquor laws in the state. Consumers and retailers would both love to see wine and beer sales permitted in convenience stores.

Due to the quiet nature of things over the holiday, I want to remind you that New Jersey’s tax amnesty program will end on January 15th. As a reminder, if you do not take advantage of this, any and all taxes, penalties, and loan shark interests will be due shortly after, and an additional 5% unwaivable penalty on any eligible amount not resolved will be added to the final amount due. If any of you are in this situation and would like to discuss it, feel free to call me and we can speak privately. IF YOU HAVE DELINQUENT TAX ISSUES, DO NOT IGNORE THIS OPPORTUNITY. Find more information HERE.

We are also less than a week away from our next webinar on Wage and Hour laws hosted by Alicyn Craig at our MBP McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli (MARC) Law. The webinar will be held January 9th from 2 to 3 PM. You can register for that webinar now HERE.

Finally, I want to wish our members a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year! We are certainly hitting the ground running and hope you all are as well.

That's all for this week-

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
MONDAY, January 28th, 2019 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
THURSDAY, February 28th, 2019 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
OR
TUESDAY, March 26th, 2019 -- 7 AM to 3 PM

Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices! We are offering the class: Monday, January 28th, Thursday, February 28th, and Tuesday, March 26th from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Cost is $275 for members. Click HERE for January, HERE for February, and HERE for March registration forms.

Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
Sections 1-7
1 PM to 9 PM
February through March: Exact dates coming soon!

Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
1 PM to 9 PM
February through March: Exact dates coming soon!

Stop turning away work!

The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are $2,395. Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879.

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 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!

CLASSIFIEDS -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

NEW!
FOR SALE:
GAS STATION FOR SALE
EWING NEW JERSEY
OWNER RETIRING
CALL: 609-882-1105

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

FOR SALE:

Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale in Bergen County!

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA approved and very busy.

Towing business also available which includes 3 Freightliner/JerrDan flatbeds (2015, 2016 & 2017), a 2012 Dodge crew cab wrecker with a Jerrdan Quick Pick & dual cable winch & 2 service trucks (a 2012 GMC 2500 utility truck with a plow & a 2014 Ford transit battery/service vehicle).

Pumping over 1,000,000 gallons per year. 100x300 lot with plenty of parking. Excellent location!!! Call Jim @ 201-851-3084.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1/2/19
Tesla Will Cut Prices To Combat Tax Credit Phase Out
Tesla is cutting its car prices in the United States by $2,000 to combat a cut in a federal tax credit for its buyers. Tesla triggered the tax credit phase-out in July when it became the first car maker in the United States to sell more than 200,000 plug-in vehicles. The government designed the credit to be phased out for each automaker once it reaches that milestone. Before that benchmark, Tesla buyers were entitled to a tax credit of $7,500 for purchasing a plug-in electric car. But as of January 1, Tesla buyers will only get half that credit, or $3,750, for the next six months. The credit falls to $1,875 in July, and then disappears in 2020.

12/27/18
NJ Has More Convenience Stores Than Ever — And More Coming Soon
New Jersey's nearly 760 Wawa, 7-Eleven and QuickChek locations represent just a quarter of the total number of convenience stores in the Garden State. And there are plenty more of these quick-stop shops coming to New Jersey in 2019. "The convenience store has capitalized on human nature to the 10th degree," said Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association. Tobacco, lottery, energy shots and drinks, and most other vices of the average New Jersey consumer, are covered by these stores — hundreds more of which exist today in New Jersey compared to last decade. But what brings in customers more than anything else? "Coffee, coffee and coffee," Risalvato said. According to Risalvato, about 40 percent of all gasoline retail locations have a convenience store on site. The two avenues mix together quite well, he said, and owners can make more on one cup of coffee than they would on filling a car's entire tank with gasoline.

12/23/18
It's Not Your Imagination. Convenience Stores Are Multiplying In NJ, With No End In Sight
It's not your imagination — there are thousands of convenience stores dotting the North Jersey landscape and more "coming soon." The convenience store craze is officially on. Remember Garden State Farms? Sal Risalvato does. He's executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association. The group represents mom-and-pop c-stores and 7-Eleven. Garden State Farms dotted the Garden State. Its stores still do, but since the 1980s they have been known as Krauszer's, Risalvato said. "Then one by one the Krauszer's started closing up. Krauszer's used to be a pretty big chain," he said. In the 1980s, about 100 Krauszer's called New Jersey home; today there are maybe 20, Risalvato said. . . Are there too many? "I don't think so," Risalvato said. "I think that they're growing because of the word 'convenience.' Our society has geared everything towards convenience. And they're popular because of the convenience."

12/20/18
‘I Don’t Believe This’ Auto Body Shop Refurbishes Van, Donates It To Veteran
Each year, Boggs Auto takes a donated vehicle or one that is deemed totaled by insurance companies, fixes it, and gives it away for free. Boggs Auto works with local organizations to nominate someone who needs a car, and is most deserving of one. Baker, a U.S. Army Veteran who served in South Korea, is both of those things.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

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 require 12 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 732-256-9646 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 PARTICIPATION: 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
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
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.

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.