Businesses in New Jersey are calling on the Murphy administration to use federal relief funds to replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which has run dry after paying out millions of unemployment claims. The New Jersey Business Coalition, comprised of nearly 100 business and trade associations, made the request in a letter sent to the governor this week. Without federal assistance, businesses are faced with a $252-million tax increase this fall, and additional increases in the next two years. When asked about this during a news conference earlier in the week, the governor declined to make a specific commitment. Some Republican lawmakers are also pushing for federal funds to be used for the unemployment trust fund.
The number of people filing first-time jobless claims in New Jersey increased slightly in the latest week. More than 10,500 new claims were filed in the state, according to the federal government’s weekly state-by-state breakdown of advance initial claims. Meantime, New Jersey is still paying out expanded pandemic unemployment benefits, but that federal program is due to end during the first week in September.
A New Jersey company has received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its new at-home COVID-19 test. Franklin Lakes-based Becton, Dickinson and Company says it’s the first at-home COVID-19 antigen test that uses computer vision technology in a smartphone to interpret and display the test results. The test does not require a prescription. According to the company, the test will be made available to businesses, schools and governments.
Cannabis company Curaleaf has opened a new dispensary in Bordentown, in central New Jersey. It’s the second Curaleaf location in the state.
