business briefs 

The Goddard School, Route 520, Morganville (next to TD Bank), will sponsor a Goddard Community Games event on Feb. 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will involve children and their families in a variety of playful learning activities based on the core curriculum and enrichment programs that are an integral part of the FLEX Learning Program offered at the Goddard School. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732- 617-8181.

National Association of Women Business Owners, Central Jersey Chapter, is issuing a call for entries to its Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs’ Development (SEED) Business Plan Competition, which will be the highlight of the April 18 annual Women’s Business Conference and SEED Competition, held at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick. Submissions are due by Feb. 25. To receive an application to enter, send an email to [email protected]. The purpose of SEED is to provide a way for the established businesses in the organization to help new businesses grow quickly. The program encourages entries from any business that is at least 50 percent woman-owned, no more than 2 years old, and demonstrates potential. Ten finalists will be selected to present their business plan to an audience of their peers. For more information about NAWBO, visit the website at www.nawbocentraljersey.org.

Games2U Entertainment, a game theater and entertainment franchise, is now booking events in Monmouth County and surrounding areas. Looking for a way to combine their entrepreneurial skills with his passion for having fun, David and Joanmary Lavitz are launching a Games2U franchise in Monmouth County which provides video games, laser tag, 4-D Movie Rides and more delivered to the door of the party location. According to David Lavitz, the business offers the chance to have a “rock star” party at an affordable price (starting at $199) with unlimited combinations that can make each party a completely different experience. Trained game coaches oversee the entire experience and personally manage each Games2U party throughout the entire event, allowing parents and event coordinators the chance to enjoy the party. In addition to traditional birthday parties, Games2U franchisees also book parties for school fundraisers, house of worship functions, local festivals and corporate functions for adults. To book events, log on to www.G2U.com and click “Book a Party.”

Central Jersey Business Partners is a local networking group actively seeking members. The group meets at 8 a.m. locally on the first and third Tuesdays of every

month at Panera Bread, Mount’s Corner shopping center, Route 537 Freehold Township. All are welcome to visit and see how to grow a business through networking. Details: 732-804-3083.

The Howell Chamber of Commerce will host a Breakfast Bonanza networking event from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Chickfil a, 4881 Route 9 north, Howell. All are welcome to attend for networking and to hear a presentation of “Stop and Think: Are You Maximizing Your Marketing Dollars?” presented by Connie Schmidt Kirman of Kumon Learning Center of Howell and “Think” children’s newspaper. Admission is free to chamber members, $5 for prospective members. Refreshments are available for purchase. Details: 732-363-4114.

The LearningExpress Job and Career Accelerator is now available at New Jersey libraries to help unemployed people obtain jobs. Funds from the $5.1 million federal Broadband Technology Opportunity Program Grant, awarded to the New Jersey State Library, are being used to provide job search assistance resources to library card holders throughout the state. One of those resources is the Learning- Express Job and Career Accelerator, which brings together important job search features in a single source, including full-featured resume and letter builders; more than 120 model resumes; in-depth personal interest assessment; cutting-edge career occupation exploration; an expansive job listing database and refined search engine; and job application tracking and progress management. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded the federal grant to the state library as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (federal stimulus).

Howell Chamber of Commerce will conduct a Breakfast Bonanza networking event at the Chapter House, 1454 Route 9 south, Howell, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Feb. 4. All are welcome to attend for networking and “Aging in Place with Independence” as presented by speaker Rick Kaplan of Com- Forcare Home Care. Free to chamber members, $5 for prospective members. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Details: 732-363-4114.

Howell Chamber of Commerce will host a “Lunch and Learn” networking event from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at Federici’s, 6469 Route 9, Howell. Networking will be followed by a presentation from Gene-Ann Pesano of AXA Advisors. Cost to attend: $15 for chamber members, $25 for nonmembers. To register, call 732-363- 4114.