Baseball gloves used by Major League Baseball players. Windshield wipers for heavy duty trucks. Gourmet foods and beverages. Iconic leather motorcycle jackets.

What do these things have in common? They are all "Made in New Jersey" and on Monday, March 15, these and other products just like them will be on display in the halls of the State House. It's all part of NJBIA's Made in New Jersey Day, designed to highlight the products and innovations of New Jersey manufacturers.

Governor Chris Christie and the legislators have been invited to tour the exhibits, which will be set up in the halls near the Senate and Assembly chambers. These key policymakers will be able to see for themselves the interesting array of products that are still being made in the State and learn more about the challenges manufacturers face doing business in New Jersey.

"Our manufacturers are amazing," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said. "Year in and year out they stand up to fierce global competition while operating in a high-cost state. They provide quality jobs and good benefits. Manufacturing in New Jersey has a great story to tell, and Made in New Jersey Day is our chance to tell it."

Made in New Jersey Day is intended to call attention and resources to a valuable but vulnerable sector of the State economy that directly employs 260,000 workers and indirectly provides jobs to more than 100,000.

For more information, contact Chris Emigholz.

NJBIA's Made in NJ Day Exhibitors

NJBIA's Made in NJ Day Sample Bag Contributors

2. NJ Sheds 228,000 Jobs During Two-Year Recession

New Jersey has lost 228,000 jobs since the recession began in December of 2007, including 114,000 in job losses in 2009, according to revised employment figures released March 10 by the NJ Department of Labor. Employers continued to trim jobs in January, shedding 9,700 private-sector jobs in the first month of 2010.

"This recession has been one of the deepest and longest in New Jersey history," NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said. "These job losses reflect the overall weakness of not just New Jersey's economy, but that of the nation as well. Until businesses see evidence of sustainable economic growth, New Jersey's employment picture will remain challenging."

The 2009 job losses were widespread, covering virtually every sector of the economy outside of health services, education and leisure and hospitality, which added a combined 9,500 jobs. Among the hardest hit areas were manufacturing, which lost 28,200 jobs, and construction, which lost 23,400 jobs. Losses were widespread again in January, with private-sector services and construction cutting 4,100 jobs each and manufacturing losing 1,400.

3. NJBIA-Backed Regulatory Reform Bill Clears Senate

One of the things that hurts New Jersey's ability to retain and attract businesses is its tendency to change regulations in mid-stream. Even after a business submits a permit or development application, they frequently have to update or resubmit their applications to meet changing rules. That's why NJBIA has endorsed legislation, S-82 (Rice), which would require local governments to make decisions on development applications based on the ordinances that were in force when the application was originally submitted. The measure cleared the Senate on March 11.

This bill includes an exception for regulations relating to health and public safety, but overall, it should accelerate application decisions and make the process more predictable as well. The legislation mirrors action taken by Governor Chris Christie earlier this year for State agencies. In January, he signed an executive order requiring State agencies to base permit approvals on the rules in force when applications for permits are first filed.

For more information, contact Art Maurice.

4. HR101 Seminar: An Employment Law & HR Primer, Friday, March 26

Running your business is hard enough. But as an employer, you also have to deal with complex employment laws as well as critical human resource issues. That's why NJBIA is hosting a half-day seminar HR101 Seminar: An Employment Law & HR Primer on Friday, March 26 at the Sheraton, Eatontown, NJ (Exit 105, Garden State Parkway).

At this seminar our experts will tell you how to avoid costly legal problems, establish employment policies and communicate those policies to your workers. The program begins with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $129 per person for NJBIA members and $169 for nonmembers.

Register online now or, for more information, contact Katie Wittkamp at 609-393-7707, ext. 239. To become a sponsor, contact Sherry Esteves at ext. 219.