Governor Phil Murphy

This Week In New Jersey: February 7, 2020

02/7/2020

Governor Murphy Announces P-TECH Grant for Trenton Central High School Opening Pathways for Students to STEM Careers

Governor Phil Murphy announced a grant award of nearly $200,000 to bring the P-TECH educational model to Trenton Central High School. P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) is a model co-developed by IBM through which public high schools, community colleges, and businesses work collaboratively to create a program where high school students graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree in a STEM field. Students in the six-year program also receive workplace experience through mentorships and internships.

“A cornerstone of our Jobs NJ initiative is ensuring that we have a workforce that has received a high-quality education and that has the high-demand skills employers need in the 21st century,” said Governor Murphy. “Programs like this will bring innumerable benefits to graduates and their families, to local businesses, and to the New Jersey economy. I am proud of the continued expansion of P-TECH and of the innovative approaches we are taking in New Jersey to prepare our students for the future.”

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Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Establishing Coronavirus Task Force

Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 102, establishing the Coronavirus Task Force to coordinate all State efforts to appropriately prepare for and respond to the public health hazard posed by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Governor Murphy also noted that Newark Liberty International Airport will serve as one of eleven major airports in the United States authorized to receive flights from China that require enhanced entry screening for coronavirus.

“With the outbreak and rapid spread of coronavirus around the world, it is critical that New Jersey has strong preparedness protocols in place,” said Governor Murphy. “By establishing the Coronavirus Task Force, we are bringing together experts across state agencies, health officials, and federal partners to ensure that we are working collaboratively to protect the health and safety of all New Jerseyans.”

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Governor Murphy Announces Over $1.6 Million in County Innovation Grants to Combat the Opioid Epidemic

Recognizing the continued public health crisis of opioid addiction in our communities, Governor Phil Murphy today reiterated his Administration’s commitment to combating the opioid epidemic during a roundtable with individuals in recovery and health professionals at Ocean Mental Health Services in Bayville. Preliminary overdose death data for January 2020 show that suspected drug-related deaths have decreased 2.8 percent from December 2019, an overall downward trend since November 2019, resulting in 280 lives lost just last month.

“These numbers are a reminder we must stay vigilant in our work,” said Governor Murphy. “Each resident lost to the epidemic is a loved one gone too soon. This crisis requires us to pursue smart and compassionate policies laser-focused on solutions – increased availability of medication-assisted treatment, greater access to Naloxone, education and outreach to residents in need, and enhanced social supports for those on the path to and working to maintain their recovery, like housing and employment services.”

Additionally, Governor Murphy announced the relaunch of Reach NJ, a public service initiative managed by the Department of Human Services, to encourage people to seek help for addiction, with messaging based on input from individuals in recovery and families of individuals with addiction. Please visit https://reachnj.gov/ for more information about the initiative.

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Golden Seeds Launches New Jersey Chapter in Partnership with First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, NJEDA

First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy and representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Golden Seeds gathered at Montclair State University to kick off the New Jersey chapter of Golden Seeds. They were joined by angel investors and other members of the Garden State’s innovation ecosystem.

Founded in 2005, Golden Seeds is a nation-wide angel investor network dedicated to investing in female-led startup companies. The organization has more than 300 members that include accredited investors from a diverse range of locations, sectors, and backgrounds. The New Jersey chapter of the organization joins seven established Golden Seeds chapters in Arizona, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, New York City, and Silicon Valley. 

“We are honored and excited to welcome Golden Seeds investors to New Jersey, where they will find many accomplished women eager to learn from them,” First Lady Murphy said. “We are so impressed with Golden Seeds’ track record of ensuring that female-led startups have access to the capital they need to succeed and compete on the global stage. With Golden Seeds network of support, the potential for New Jersey’s female entrepreneurs is limitless.”

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Governor Murphy Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Health Care Affordability in New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy, alongside consumers, health care providers, and cabinet officials, today hosted a roundtable discussion on health care affordability in New Jersey. Governor Murphy also announced Shabnam Salih as the first Director of the newly created Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency within the Governor’s Office.

“Many families lose sleep over the cost of health insurance coverage, how to pay their medical expenses, and about the financial turmoil an unexpected accident or illness will cause,” said Governor Murphy. “My Administration has taken action to alleviate some of this burden, such as protecting the Affordable Care Act, ending surprise out-of-network bills, and capping out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Our new Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency will continue our work and lead the effort to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to high-quality, affordable health care by reducing consumer health care costs, making insurance more affordable, and improving price transparency.” 

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