About
This is OttaTalk, where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. Wecover topics that affect your everyday life. Things like emergency services, garbage collection and nightlife in Ottawa. When is my plow going to…
About
This is OttaTalk, where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. Wecover topics that affect your everyday life. Things like emergency services, garbage collection and nightlife in Ottawa. When is my plow going to…

TRENTON – This week, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved ten corporations to purchase $85 million in tax credits to fuel the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF). This is the NJIEF’s second tax credit auction since the program launched in 2022.
“Both investors and entrepreneurs have praised the NJIEF as a strong driver for channeling investment into New Jersey startups, and once again business leaders have recognized the Fund’s significant value,” said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “The Murphy Administration has bolstered New Jersey’s innovation economy by engaging with the state’s industry leaders to catalyze investment and foster mentorship and networking opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.”
The NJIEF is a unique tool to increase access to strategic resources and venture capital in New Jersey. Under the NJIEF, the State acts as an equity investor in early-stage companies, deploying up to $600 million into companies alongside professional venture capital firms. The Evergreen Fund currently has approximately $13.6 million of unallocated capital available to fund additional investments into high-growth businesses in New Jersey.
Following a successful inaugural sale in 2022, a second auction of $50 million was announced this summer. Due to greater than anticipated demand, funding for the tax credit auction was increased in September to $85 million. The companies approved represent a diverse array of industries, with businesses hailing from the financial technology, information technology consulting, consumer goods, insurance, banking, and healthcare sectors.
“The NJIEF provides the Authority with another distinct resource to support start-ups through a holistic approach that extends well beyond financial assistance,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “This recent tax credit auction demonstrates the state’s commitment to supporting innovative ventures and we look forward to continuing to invest high-growth startups that will propel economic growth across the state.”
The following applicants were approved to purchase tax credits through the NJIEF:
· OceanFirst Financial Corp.: Approved to purchase approximately $1 million in tax credit awards for $750,000
· Verizon Communications, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $19.5 million in tax credit awards for $16.0 million
· Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or MetLife: Approved to purchase approximately $7.6 million in tax credit awards for $6.5 million
· Comcast Corporation: Approved to purchase approximately $27.7 million in tax credit awards for $22.8 million
· The Prudential Insurance Company of America: Approved to purchase approximately $13.6 million in tax credit awards for $10.9 million
· Selective Way Insurance Company: Approved to purchase approximately $3.0 million in tax credit awards for $2.4 million
· Unilever United States, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $5.4 million in tax credit awards for $4.3 million
· CRB Group, Inc. or Cross River Bank: Approved to purchase approximately $2.9 million in tax credit awards for $2.3 million
· CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $930,00 in tax credit awards for over $697,000
· Haleon US Holdings, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $3.4 million in tax credit awards for $2.5 million
As part of the auction, each corporation will support the state’s innovation economy along with their financial bids, including through a commitment to serve on the NJIEF Advisory Board for one year. Additionally, the ten corporations made strategic commitments to support the State’s innovation community through unique and impactful projects with costs totaling nearly $4.4 million. Examples of this strategic support include contributions to support innovation focused workforce development and mentorship programs throughout New Jersey, free shared workspace open to innovative startups, and partnerships with Strategic Innovation Centers. These commitments, which include networking, mentoring, and educational opportunities, are a scored component of the tax credit purchasers’ bids.
These purchases will fund Program investments into innovative high-growth NJ-based businesses made through public-private partnerships with Qualified Venture Firms (QVFs), who also invest their own private sector capital into the transactions. Additionally, the Program portfolio companies and innovation ecosystem stakeholders throughout the Garden State will benefit from the strategic commitments made by NJIEF tax credit purchasers.
Applications for venture firms seeking to qualify as a QVF can be found here and are being accepted on a rolling basis. The firms approved to date represent diversity in terms of investment strategy, industry, and stage. Additionally, there continues to be strong momentum from interested managers. The roster of the 28 currently approved managers can be found here.
Applications for approved QVFs to apply for Qualified Investments into high-growth, innovative businesses based in New Jersey are also now open. The total capital available for new investments stands at approximately $13.6 million.
About the NJEDA
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

TRENTON – This week, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved ten corporations to purchase $85 million in tax credits to fuel the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF). This is the NJIEF’s second tax credit auction since the program launched in 2022.
“Both investors and entrepreneurs have praised the NJIEF as a strong driver for channeling investment into New Jersey startups, and once again business leaders have recognized the Fund’s significant value,” said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “The Murphy Administration has bolstered New Jersey’s innovation economy by engaging with the state’s industry leaders to catalyze investment and foster mentorship and networking opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.”
The NJIEF is a unique tool to increase access to strategic resources and venture capital in New Jersey. Under the NJIEF, the State acts as an equity investor in early-stage companies, deploying up to $600 million into companies alongside professional venture capital firms. The Evergreen Fund currently has approximately $13.6 million of unallocated capital available to fund additional investments into high-growth businesses in New Jersey.
Following a successful inaugural sale in 2022, a second auction of $50 million was announced this summer. Due to greater than anticipated demand, funding for the tax credit auction was increased in September to $85 million. The companies approved represent a diverse array of industries, with businesses hailing from the financial technology, information technology consulting, consumer goods, insurance, banking, and healthcare sectors.
“The NJIEF provides the Authority with another distinct resource to support start-ups through a holistic approach that extends well beyond financial assistance,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “This recent tax credit auction demonstrates the state’s commitment to supporting innovative ventures and we look forward to continuing to invest high-growth startups that will propel economic growth across the state.”
The following applicants were approved to purchase tax credits through the NJIEF:
· OceanFirst Financial Corp.: Approved to purchase approximately $1 million in tax credit awards for $750,000
· Verizon Communications, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $19.5 million in tax credit awards for $16.0 million
· Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or MetLife: Approved to purchase approximately $7.6 million in tax credit awards for $6.5 million
· Comcast Corporation: Approved to purchase approximately $27.7 million in tax credit awards for $22.8 million
· The Prudential Insurance Company of America: Approved to purchase approximately $13.6 million in tax credit awards for $10.9 million
· Selective Way Insurance Company: Approved to purchase approximately $3.0 million in tax credit awards for $2.4 million
· Unilever United States, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $5.4 million in tax credit awards for $4.3 million
· CRB Group, Inc. or Cross River Bank: Approved to purchase approximately $2.9 million in tax credit awards for $2.3 million
· CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $930,00 in tax credit awards for over $697,000
· Haleon US Holdings, Inc.: Approved to purchase approximately $3.4 million in tax credit awards for $2.5 million
As part of the auction, each corporation will support the state’s innovation economy along with their financial bids, including through a commitment to serve on the NJIEF Advisory Board for one year. Additionally, the ten corporations made strategic commitments to support the State’s innovation community through unique and impactful projects with costs totaling nearly $4.4 million. Examples of this strategic support include contributions to support innovation focused workforce development and mentorship programs throughout New Jersey, free shared workspace open to innovative startups, and partnerships with Strategic Innovation Centers. These commitments, which include networking, mentoring, and educational opportunities, are a scored component of the tax credit purchasers’ bids.
These purchases will fund Program investments into innovative high-growth NJ-based businesses made through public-private partnerships with Qualified Venture Firms (QVFs), who also invest their own private sector capital into the transactions. Additionally, the Program portfolio companies and innovation ecosystem stakeholders throughout the Garden State will benefit from the strategic commitments made by NJIEF tax credit purchasers.
Applications for venture firms seeking to qualify as a QVF can be found here and are being accepted on a rolling basis. The firms approved to date represent diversity in terms of investment strategy, industry, and stage. Additionally, there continues to be strong momentum from interested managers. The roster of the 28 currently approved managers can be found here.
Applications for approved QVFs to apply for Qualified Investments into high-growth, innovative businesses based in New Jersey are also now open. The total capital available for new investments stands at approximately $13.6 million.
About the NJEDA
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
RPRA has posted 2023 supply and 2024 collection and recovery data for the tires program. This is data that was reported to RPRA in 2025.
The following data is available in the tires section of the Resource Recovery Reports webpage:
With this update, RPRA enhanced the way data is presented to show collection and recovery data by registrant group (producer, PRO, hauler, processor, retreader) to give a more transparent and fulsome picture of the data reported to RPRA. These changes have also been applied to historical data.

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Updated information on the ways climate change will continue to impact Nova Scotia was released today, December 19.
Powering the Transition: Nova Scotia 2025 Climate Change Risk Assessment shows that Nova Scotia will continue to experience warming temperatures, stronger storms, rising sea level, changes in rain and snow patterns, and other effects.
The information can help homeowners, businesses, municipalities, first responders, supply-chain operators, infrastructure developers and essential service providers, including utilities and hospitals, prepare and make informed decisions to adapt, plan and prepare.
The update will also provide more detailed information at the local level to help guide action.
“Our best defence in the face of climate change is informed action and innovation,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “The risk assessment helps inform where Nova Scotians need to be proactive to safeguard homes, businesses, infrastructure and communities. This will help keep people, our way of life and our economy resilient. We also know that climate change, while concerning, also drives economic and technological innovation. That is why our government is focused on developing wind, tidal and solar energy along with other green solutions that will reduce emissions and grow our economy.”
To help Nova Scotia achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets and become energy independent, Nova Scotia is pursuing opportunities in clean energy such as onshore and offshore wind, green hydrogen, tidal energy and small modular reactors.
The Government of Canada has identified Nova Scotia’s Wind West as a nation-building strategy and has committed to working with the Province to develop the project further and help make it a reality.
Some sectors where the response to climate change can drive innovation and create economic opportunities are:
The updated risk assessment, which shows how climate change could impact Nova Scotia between now and 2100, is available at: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/climate-change-risk–assessment-2025.pdf
“We are pleased to see the updated risk assessment completed. Farmers are on the front lines of climate change and are already experiencing its impacts first-hand. Having this information helps our industry plan, adapt and be better prepared for what lies ahead – so we can continue producing safe, reliable food for our communities. We look forward to working with government to support practical, industry-led adaptation efforts.”
— Alicia King, President, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
“Having an updated climate change risk assessment gives us the tools we need to make informed decisions, protect our communities and invest wisely in infrastructure and services. By understanding today’s risks, we are better prepared to reduce future impacts and build a safer, more resilient municipality for residents now and for generations to come.”
— Cecil Clarke, Mayor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
“Severe weather events in 2024 caused over $9 billion in insured damage in communities across Canada, shattering the previous record of $6 billion from 2016. Natural catastrophes are not an abstract future threat, they’re today’s reality. Insurance Bureau of Canada supports this initiative to help residents, businesses and communities better understand their risks so they can protect what matters most.”
— Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Ontario and Atlantic Regions, Insurance Bureau of Canada
“Just as plants need soil to grow, growers need informed information to navigate the uncertainties of climate change. The more information I have, the better I can position my company for the uncertainties of climate change.”
— Luke den Haan, CEO, den Haan Greenhouses, Lawrencetown, Annapolis County
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
Our Climate, Our Future – Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
Government of Nova Scotia tools and supports to help Nova Scotians adapt to climate change:
The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: The plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change along our coast: https://novascotia.ca/coastal-climate-change/
Nova Scotia’s offshore wind energy plan, Wind West: https://novascotia.ca/wind-west/
Nova Scotia’s plan to phase out coal use and transition to clean energy, Clean Power Plan: https://novascotia.ca/clean-power-plan/
Stories about Nova Scotians adapting to climate change: https://transitionsstories.ca/
Canadian Climate Institute: https://climateinstitute.ca/
Environment and Climate Change on X: https://x.com/ns_environment

PA MediaThe former teacher of Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies described her as a “born performer” who showed promise even as a child.
Catherine…

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