November 01, 2013

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

Here is what you will find in this edition:

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE

TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                                                                 

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

MORE INFO ON THE GOVERNOR'S GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM
TOBACCO LAWS IN NYC – WILL THEY COME TO NJ?
PAID SICK LEAVE IN NEWARK
ELECTION ON TUESDAY -- REMEMBER TO VOTE!

Last week, I wrote about the Generator Grant Program recently announced by the Christie Administration.  NJGCA has received many phone calls from members looking for more information about the program.  How do you apply? Is there a time frame or deadline?  Must gas stations use only specific contractors and generator companies, or can the business owner choose to use whomever they like?  Over the past week, we have worked diligently to start getting the answers to some of your questions. After reaching out to our contacts in the Governor’s Office, we learned that businesses cannot yet apply for the grant because the details are still being finalized.
 
The program will be administered by the state’s Economic Development Authority (EDA).  They are scheduled to have a formal meeting to discuss the program on November 15th, after which they will publish the formal Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).  Rest assured, once that information has been released, NJGCA will make sure to alert you.  We will also keep you updated on any other developments that we learn. 
 
We know that many members were disappointed to learn that they were not on the list to be eligible to receive a grant.  NJGCA was not involved in the selection process.  The Governor's press release indicates that locations were chosen specifically based on their geographic location. It appears that the criterion that was used is very similar to what was put forth by the Department of Homeland Security, with an emphasis on the state's major roadways and coastal evacuation routes.
 
According to our sources in the Governor’s Office, the stations chosen were selected on three criteria: they needed to be located on or within a half mile of one of the selected major highways, they needed a minimum capacity of 30,000 gallons of fuel storage, and they needed to sell both gas and diesel fuel.  There were a handful of stations that may not have met one of those conditions but were selected anyway because there was simply no one else around them that did meet all three. 
 
If this program proves to be successful (which I certainly believe it will be) there is a chance it could be expanded afterward, but it will likely be a few months before they start looking at that as a real possibility. 
 
Again, we will continue to keep our members updated with any new information that is released.
 
Switching gears now, I think it is time to revisit an issue that I have spoken about a few times in recent months -- New York City's crusade against tobacco use.  There have been several times this year that I have highlighted the poop that the NYC government has tried to flush onto NYC businesses.  NJGCA's major concern is that NYC's sewage tends to flow into New Jersey.  
 
For those members that took the time to study the Voter Guide that we sent in the OTR, you will notice that (luckily) there didn't seem to be much support for these proposals amongst legislators in Trenton. However, 30 years of experience tells me to keep my eyes and ears open, and keep looking over my shoulder.  Should this legislation start to make progress in New Jersey, be prepared to join us in our fight to oppose it!
 
Now, I hate to keep talking about local issues, but it has become a major concern, since many of these efforts have been blocked (rightfully so) in Trenton, and municipalities are starting to act on their own. I said last week that Newark introduced legislation for paid sick leave. I am sure that NJGCA will join together with our friends in other like-minded business associations and take the same action that we did in Jersey City, but remember, we were not successful in Jersey City and we will be fighting an uphill battle in Newark as well.
 
This is just one more example of the importance of your vote, and the decision that you make about who to elect.  This is my last opportunity to reach you before Election Day.  If I could, I would drive to all of your stations and take each one of you to the polls, but I can't.  So instead I'm sending you this message and praying that you have been paying attention to the materials that NJGCA has been sending out, so that you can go to the polls on Tuesday and make an informed decision about which candidates will support you and your business.
 
Finally, we still have more minimum wage signs at the office, and it would be great to have them out on the streets during the final few days before the election!

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 assists members in selling equipment through the placement of advetisments in 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

10/31/2013:
NYC Raises Smoking Age to 21
The New York City Council voted to pass a bill raising the minimum age to purchase cigarettes and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21, according to an Associated Press report. The legislation makes New York the most populous place in the United States to raise the tobacco-buying age to 21, rather than the federal minimum of 18 that is the standard in most locations. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration supports the age increase and says it will discourage teenagers from smoking.
 
10/30/2013:
Newark City Council votes to introduce paid sick-leave legislation
As anticipated, the Newark City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to introduce a mandatory paid sick-leave ordinance. Similar to an ordinance recently passed and signed in Jersey City, Newark's legislation would allow for both full and part-time employees to earn up to one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with a cap at 40 hours per year for businesses with 10 or more employees or that offer child care, food service or direct care. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would not be required to offer workers more than 24 hours of paid sick time per year. Both in Newark and in Jersey City, statewide business groups have vocalized their opposition to mandatory paid sick-leave measures. They say not only would they force employers to give fewer raises and bonuses, but it could ultimately mean layoffs as well. "This is trying to impose a one-size-fits-all approach when the needs of every business are different," said Stefanie Riehl, an assistant vice president with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

10/29/2013:
NJGCA in the News: Prep the pumps -- Gas stations brace for next Sandy
This article examines whether New Jersey would be prepared if another Hurricane Sandy were to reach our shores.  This article was written on the heels of Governor Christie's Generator Grant Program being announced.  Sal was asked about his thoughts on the program. He explained that, "This program is going to help. But is this going to alleviate the problem we had a year ago? The answer to that is 'no' ... I keep telling people, even if we had backup generators prior to Sandy, we would have had the same experience with long gas lines because the problem wasn't power and electric generation. The problem was receiving gasoline deliveries. We had many gasoline facilities that had their power restored rather quickly, however, after their power was restored, they quickly ran out of inventory and sat for as long as another week before receiving a gasoline delivery." To read the rest of Sal's comments, please click on the above link.
 
10/27/2013:
NJGCA in the News: NJ bills inspired by Sandy stalled
This article describes some of the legislative action that has been taken in the wake of Super-Storm Sandy, and also details a lot of the proposals that were introduced but never made any progress in Trenton.  Sal explained that the fuel crisis that occurred after Sandy was caused by reasons more complex than the absence of generators, and that the storm damaged ports and flooded underground equipment that sends fuel through pipelines. To read the rest of Sal's interview, please click on the above link.

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

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.