Female entrepreneurs who are inthe early stages of launching companies and seeking funding are encouraged toregister for an upcoming Golden Seeds – New Jersey Chapter Office Hourssession. Golden Seeds is a nationwide angel investor network dedicated to investingin women-led startup companies. This event is limited to companies with afemale founder or C-level officer. The next session is being held on February 8th, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

During Office Hours,an experienced Golden Seeds member will lead an overview presentation on the basics of angel funding and the Golden Seeds investment process. This will be followed by 15 minute one-on-one sessions with experienced angel investors who will provide feedback on business ventures and answer questions you might have.

Calling all venture capitalists, private equity investors, and New Jersey startups who want to access capital from the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF). The NJIEF is catalyzing up to $600 million to support early-stage innovation-focused businesses in New Jersey, while creating mentoring, networking, and educational opportunities to help position these companies for success.

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Learn about the New Jersey Zero Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP) and how your small business can participate. NJ ZIP is designed to help New Jersey businesses and institutions purchase new, zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Base vouchers will range from $20,000 - $175,000, based on vehicle class, with additional bonuses available. NJ ZIP is expanding eligibility and updating application processes for the program. A virtual information session will be held on February 2nd, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. Several small business owners that participated in Phase 1 of the program will share their experiences and lessons learned.

The law now requires local officials to conduct construction inspections within three days of a request. If they miss that deadline, the developer making the request may contract with private on-site inspection agencies to complete the inspection. Final approval on a certificate of occupancy will still come from local construction officials.

501c non-profit organizations can apply for matching grants worth up to $750,000 to plan and implement the management and preservation of historic sites through the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the grant guidelines to determine if their proposal is eligible for funding. Applications are due April 19th, 2023.

Faith-Based Organizations can join a virtual workshop on disaster preparedness, resilience resources, and FEMA grant opportunities. Attendees will learn about a range of resources for faith based organizations. Current NJ Office of Faith Based Initiatives grantees can consider adopting these programs into their grant's scope of work. The workshop will be held January 30th, 2023 at 12:00pm.

Providing trash and recycling receptacles outside your store and in parking areas can reduce litter on your property. This is one of many tips in a new, freely available guide that can help your business become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) on each ounce of recreational cannabis sold in New Jersey will increase from its current rate of $1.10 per ounce to $1.52 per ounce, beginning January 1st, 2023. The SEEF payment is due to the Treasury each month on each usable ounce of recreational cannabis sold by Class 1 license holders. Medicinal cannabis sales are not subject to the SEEF.

Under state law, plastic straws can only be provided upon request of a customer. Paper straws may be distributed at the business’s discretion. Packages of straws and items like juice boxes may still be sold in stores. A new printable flyer is available to help explain the law to customers and employees.

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Teams of first-time entrepreneurs will soon be able to apply to receive grants of up to $400,000 and mentorship through a competitive program: New Jersey Innovation Fellows. Eligible applicants can apply so that entrepreneurs can devote their full-time attention to building out their new businesses.

Applications will open in early 2023.