New Jersey must do more to ensure the survival of its small businesses, especially those owned by Blacks and Hispanics that have been impacted most by the pandemic and subsequent state-ordered operating restrictions.
That was the message from Jill Johnson, CEO of the independent nonprofit Institute for Entreprenurial Leadership (IFEL) in Newark, who underscored the plight of small business owners at the New Jersey Business Coalition’s online Town Hall on Jan. 11.
“While many businesses small and large have suffered, we know that some are impacted more than others,” Johnson said. “The restaurant industry has been decimated, and businesses in black and brown communities have experienced a disproportionately high number of business closures.”