ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced that Essex County is allocating $10 million for a grant program to help small businesses and nonprofit agencies in Essex County that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus. Essex County businesses and nonprofit agencies with fewer than 25 employees would be able to apply for grants of up to $10,000. Essex County is partnering with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to administer the program. Information and a sample application available in English, Spanish and 10 other common languages can be found at cv.business.nj.gov. Applications are now being accepted.
“Small businesses form the backbone of our local economy and nonprofit organizations provide a vital safety net of social services for our residents. Both have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus and both need our help to be able to economically survive,” DiVincenzo said. “Through our partnership with the NJEDA, we are making grants available to help small businesses and nonprofits weather this unprecedented storm. The first phase of grants awarded by the state were a tremendous boost for businesses. There is still a grave need and the additional funds being provided by Essex and the state will help reach a greater number of businesses and nonprofits.”
The $10 million from Essex County will be awarded to Essex County-based businesses and nonprofits through Phase 2 of the NJEDA’s Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. This statewide grant program will use $50 million the NJEDA received from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to support small businesses and nonprofit agencies. The NJEDA will use $5 million of federal funding to fund waitlisted applications from Phase 1 of the grant program, with the remaining $45 million allocated to Phase 2 applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. The application is available at https://forms.business.nj.gov/grant-2/.
“Partnering with Essex County will expand our reach as we advance this next round of support for business owners and their employees during this unprecedented time,” NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said. “The COVID-19 outbreak has brought many underlying inequities to light, and the NJEDA is dedicated to awarding grant funding in a manner that bears out Gov. Phil Murphy’s vision for a stronger and fairer state economy.”
Phase 2 of the program will provide grants to a significantly expanded variety of businesses and nonprofits with up to 25 full-time employees, including sole proprietorships and home-based businesses, which were excluded from Phase 1. To ensure equitable access for businesses in economically disadvantaged communities, $15 million of Phase 2 funding will be reserved for businesses in census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones.
Grants can be used to help businesses and nonprofits agencies replace revenues interrupted by the coronavirus. Grants cannot be used for capital expenses, including construction. There are no application fees.
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