Please be advised that a telephonic meeting of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

The Members will convene to via conference call only.  Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in on the conference line.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting.

The following conference number is being provided:

CONFERENCE NAME: NJEDA BOARD MEETING (December 8, 2021)

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER: 877-692-8955

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE: 4204420

Members of the public are encouraged to call in prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to begin to avoid any delays. 

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting on our website: https://www.njeda.gov. The meeting will also be recorded and posted to the NJEDA website shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.

COVID-19 Outbreak
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program-Phase 4
Notice of Funding Availability

Language Assistance

Please see below for multilingual versions of this Notice of Funding Availability. If you need language assistance, please send NJEDA your name, spoken language and telephone number to languagehelp@njeda.com

español (Spanish)
ATENCIÓN: si habla español, los servicios de asistencia lingüística, gratuitos, están disponibles para usted enviando un correo electrónico a languagehelp@njeda.com.

اللغة  (Arabic)
تنبيه: إذا كنت تتحدث اللغة العربية، فإن خدمات المساعدة اللغوية مجانية متاحة لك عبر إرسال بريد إلكتروني إلى
languagehelp@njeda.com.

粵語 Traditional Chinese (Cantonese Chinese)
注意:如果您說粵語,可以透過傳送電子郵件至 languagehelp@njeda.com 免費獲取語言協助服務。

普通语 Simplified Chinese (Mandarin Chinese)
注意:如果您说普通语,可以通过发送电子邮件至 languagehelp@njeda.com 免费获取语言协助服务。

ગુજરાતી (Gujarati)
ધ્યાન આપો: જો તમે ગુજરાતી બોલતા હોય તો, તમારા માટે languagehelp@njeda.com પર ઈ-મેઈલ કરવાથી ભાષા સહાય સેવાઓ મફતામાં ઉપલબ્ધ છે. 

हिंदी (Hindi)
ध्यान दें: यदि आप हिंदी बोलते हैं, तो languagehelp@njeda.com पर ईमेल द्वारा, आप के लिए नि:शुल्क भाषा सहायता सेवाएं उपलब्ध हैं।

italiano (Italian)
ATTENZIONE: se parla italiano, può usufruire gratuitamente di servizi di assistenza linguistica scrivendo all’indirizzo languagehelp@njeda.com

한국어 (Korean)
알림: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스가 무료로 이메일 languagehelp@njeda.com을 통해 제공됩니다.

po polsku (Polish)
UWAGA: Jeśli mówisz po polsku, możesz uzyskać pomoc tłumacza bezpłatnie wysyłając e-mail pod adres languagehelp@njeda.com.

português (Portuguese)
ATENÇÃO: se você falar português, oferecemos serviços de apoio de idioma gratuitos. Envie um e-mail para languagehelp@njeda.com.

Tagalog
ATTENTION: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, magagamit mo ang libreng mga serbisyong tulong sa wika sa pamamagitan ng pag-email sa languagehelp@njeda.com.

Pre-registration will open at 9:00 am on Monday, April 19th at 9:00 a.m. and remain open until Thursday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m. Following pre-registration, applications will become available on a rolling basis. Pre-registered applicants will need to return to https://programs.njeda.com/en-US/ to complete an application based on the following schedule:

• Businesses that did not apply for, or were not approved for Phase 3 funding – 9:00 a.m. on May 3, 2021;
• Restaurants and child care providers – 9:00 a.m. on May 5, 2021;
• Micro businesses (five or fewer FTEs) – 9:00 a.m. on May 10, 2021; and
• All other small businesses – 9:00 a.m. on May 12, 2021

Overview

On March 9, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 103, declaring a State of Emergency and a Public Health Emergency to ramp up New Jersey’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Governor Murphy has continued to extend the Public Health Emergency since that date. Subsequent containment measures were implemented, including restrictions on public gatherings and mandated closure of non-essential businesses. While these measures are consistent with similar measures being taken nationally that are expected to limit the public’s exposure to COVID-19, there has been and will continue to be a significant adverse impact on our state’s economy.

In response, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) established various financial assistance initiatives, including the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program – an emergency grant funding program to provide funding as efficiently and quickly as possible to small and medium sized enterprises (businesses and non-profits) (“SMEs”) that needed payroll and working capital support as a result of adverse economic impacts following the March 9, 2020 declaration of a State of Emergency and a Public Health Emergency. The initial phase of the grant program focused on the smallest enterprises in targeted industries that were among the most adversely impacted by the containment measures.

Thereafter, the NJEDA established the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program-Phase 2, accepting $51 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (the “Fund”), as established under the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to both provide additional funding to Phase 1 and to capitalize Phase 2. The second phase of the grant program expanded its focus to include businesses of up to 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), and removed industry-related restrictions to eligibility, in acknowledgement of the reality that nearly all SMEs in a wide range of industries have been adversely affected by the economic consequences of the public health emergency and were in urgent need of assistance.

On October 14, 2020, the NJEDA launched the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program-Phase 3, accepting an additional $70 million from the Fund for grant with expanded eligibility for small and medium sized businesses and non-profits with up to 50 FTEs and increased amounts of funding per business, and reserved funding for the most adversely affected businesses, i.e., restaurants, micro-businesses, and businesses based in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts.

Based on a package of bills recently passed by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, an additional $85 million has been made available from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for the NJEDA to administer as new grant funding.

Purpose

The purpose of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program-Phase 4 is to provide short-term, immediate payroll and working capital support to SMEs that that have been negatively impacted during the declared state of emergency, thereby helping to stabilize their operations and minimizing any potential furloughs and/or layoffs.

Eligible Uses

Under the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program-Phase 4, funding may be used for reimbursement of certain lost revenue as result of the business interruption caused by COVID-19. Funding cannot be used for capital expenses, including construction.

Funding Disbursement

The $85 million available from the Fund, as established under the CARES Act, will be allocated as follows:

Restaurants: $35 million reserved to support businesses classified as “Food Services and Drinking Places” under NAICS code 722 (described as “Restaurants”), given the disproportionate impact these businesses have experienced due to COVID-19, including caps on on-location dining and unusual costs they incurred to adapt their business models for safe operations; 33 percent of the funding within this category will be directed to support entities that have a commercial business address located (fully or partially) in a census tract that was eligible to selected as New Jersey Opportunity Zone (i.e., a New Market Tax Credit census tract). Because this is a reserve to be used for the applications received, any amount of the 33 percent Opportunity Zone eligible reserve that remains after processing all applications from entities in Opportunity Zone eligible census tracts will be used for any other applicant to the $35 million restaurant funding pool. Similarly, any amount of this $35 million pool that remains after processing all applications from restaurants will be used for any other eligible Phase 4 applicant.

Child Care Providers: $10 million reserved to support businesses classified as “Child Day Care Services” under NAICS code 624410 (described as “Child Care”), given the disproportionate impact these businesses have experienced due to COVID-19, including caps on capacity numbers and unusual costs they incurred to adapt their business models for safe operations; 33 percent of the funding within this category will be directed to support entities that have a commercial business address located (fully or partially) in a census tract that was eligible to selected as New Jersey Opportunity Zone (i.e., a New Market Tax Credit census tract). Because this is a reserve to be used for the applications received, any amount of the 33 percent Opportunity Zone eligible reserve that remains after processing all applications from entities in Opportunity Zone eligible census tracts will be used for any other applicant to the $10 million childcare funding pool. Similarly, any amount of this $10 million pool that remains after processing all applications from child care providers will be used for any other eligible Phase 4 applicant.

Micro-Businesses: $25 million reserved to support businesses that have had 5 or fewer FTEs in each of their past eight quarters of WR-30 filings (including businesses with no FTEs), given the unique financial vulnerability experienced because of COVID-19 by micro-businesses, which typically have lower financial reserves; 33 percent of the funding within this category will be directed to support entities that have a commercial business address (or home address for home-based businesses) located (fully or partially) in a census tract that was eligible to selected as New Jersey Opportunity Zone (i.e., a New Market Tax Credit census tract). Because this is a reserve to be used for the applications received, any amount of the 33 percent Opportunity Zone eligible reserve that remains after processing all applications from entities in Opportunity Zone eligible census tracts will be used for any other applicant to the $25 million micro-business funding pool. Similarly, any amount of this $25 million pool that remains after processing all applications from micro-businesses will be used for any other eligible Phase 4 applicant.

Other Small Businesses: $15 million reserved to support businesses that are not eligible under the micro-business category; 33 percent of the funding within this category will be directed to support entities that have a commercial business address (or home address for home-based businesses) located (fully or partially) in a census tract that was eligible to selected as New Jersey Opportunity Zone (i.e., a New Market Tax Credit census tract). Because this is a reserve to be used for the applications received, any amount of the 33 percent Opportunity Zone eligible reserve that remains after processing all applications from entities in Opportunity Zone eligible census tracts will be used for any other applicant to this $15 million funding pool. Similarly, any amount of this $15 million pool that remains after processing all applications will be used for any other eligible Phase 4 applicant.

An applicant is only eligible for one allocation of funding. For example: if a business is eligible for the Restaurant or Child Care Providers allocation, as determined by its NAICS code, it can only apply for that specific allocation and not the Micro-business or other small business allocation.

If any additional funding becomes available beyond the initial $85 million, that funding will be available to any eligible Phase 4 applicant, regardless of whether they fall into the Restaurants, Child Care Providers, Micro-Businesses, or Other Small Businesses category.

Grant Amounts

Award sizes for all categories, including “Food Services and Drinking Places” businesses with NAICS beginning with 722 and “Child Care Providers” businesses with NAICS code 624410, Micro-Businesses and Small Businesses, are based on FTEs, as follows:

FTEs Award

5 or fewer FTEs, including businesses with no FTEs: $10,000
6 to 25 FTEs: $15,000
26 to 50 FTEs: $20,000

FTEs will be determined for award size in the same manner as for eligibility. If the grant amount for the applicant is greater than the unmet need, the amount will be determined in $500 increments, not to exceed the amount of need. For applicants with an unmet need between $500 and $1,000, the minimum grant award shall be $1,000; no grant amount will be approved if the applicant’s unmet need is less than $500.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible, applicants must be SMEs with no more than 50 FTEs.

The Authority will utilize the applicant’s New Jersey WR-30 filings with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD). Initially, the highest FTE count of the past eight quarters – 1st Quarter 2019 to 4th Quarter 2020 – will be used, enabling businesses to receive the award corresponding to their peak headcount in 2019 or 2020 rather than their current headcount, which may reflect substantial headcount declines due to significant losses in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To determine eligibility, the 4th Quarter 2020 WR-30 or 3rd Quarter 2020 WR-30, whichever is the most recently filed, will be reviewed. If the most recent WR-30 FTE count is less than the eligibility threshold, the business will be eligible and receive a grant award based on the largest FTE category. Implied FTE calculations will be rounded to the nearest FTE (e.g., 2.49 FTE would be counted as 2 FTE for the program, whereas 2.50 FTE would be counted as 3 FTE). While the calculation of FTEs is based on weeks worked and wages as reported on the WR-30 filing, in no event will a company receive grant funding based on a number of FTEs that exceeds the number of employees employed by the company, EXCEPT that if a sole proprietor or other applying entity has no FTEs, it may be eligible for the minimum grant award based on business type. For entities like sole proprietors the NJEDA will work with the Division of Taxation in the Department of Treasury, to identify tax filing status.

The SME must have a physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey (e.g., an office, a physical point of sales, a warehouse, manufacturing facility, etc.). With regard to home-based businesses, the home must be located in New Jersey.

Non-profit entities organized under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c) will be eligible, with the exception of organizations whose primary activity is political lobbying.

Prohibited businesses include, but are not limited to: gambling or gaming activities; the conduct or purveyance of “adult” (i.e., pornographic, lewd, prurient, obscene or otherwise similarly disreputable) activities, services, products or materials (including nude or semi-nude performances or the sale of sexual aids or devices); any auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-our-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sales; sales by transient merchants, Christmas tree sales or other outdoor storage; any activity constituting a nuisance; or any illegal purposes.

Businesses that were approved for grant funding under Phase 1 to 3 of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program will be eligible for Phase 4 funding. Funding received in Phases 1 to 3 will not affect the award sizes these businesses are eligible to receive in Phase 4 (except to the extent those prior awards reduce the business’s unmet need to below the grant amount the business would otherwise be eligible for). However, businesses that applied in Phase 1 to 3 will need to re-apply and submit all required documentation regardless of their prior application.

The CEO/equivalent officer of the SME must self-certify that the firm:

• Was in operation on February 15, 2020;

• Will make a best effort not to furlough or lay off any individuals from the time of application through six months after the end of the declared state of emergency. SMEs that have already furloughed or laid off workers from the time of application must make a best-effort pledge to re-hire those workers as soon as possible. Any material breach of its best efforts certification may result in the NJEDA seeking repayment of the grant;

• Has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared state of emergency on March 9, 2020 (e.g., has been temporarily shut down, has been required to reduce hours, has had at least a 20% drop in revenue, has been materially impacted by employees who cannot work due to the outbreak, or has a supply chain that has materially been disrupted and therefore slowed firm-level production); and

• Has a material financial need that cannot be overcome without the grant of emergency relief funds at this time (e.g., does not have significant cash reserves that can support the SME during this period of economic disruption).

The SME must be registered to do business in the State of New Jersey, as evidenced by a current registration status from the Division of Taxation. If the SME is not recognized by the Division of Taxation, the SME must provide proof of registration prior to February 15, 2019 and a valid Business Registration Certificate (BRC). The SME will have 4 weeks from initial notification from the NJEDA to satisfy that requirement. No grant agreement will be executed without a current registration status from the Division of Taxation or a valid BRC.

In addition, the SME must satisfy the Division of Taxation’s requirement to ensure that the SME does not have tax debts due to the State. As with Phase 1 to 3, the applicant shall certify that it does not owe any taxes and will be subject to repayment if the certification is not correct.

The SME must be in good standing with DLWD, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of DLWD’s Commissioner. If the SME is regulated by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), then it must also be in good standing with ABC, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the ABC. If the SME is regulated by the Department of Human Services (DHS), then it must also be in good standing with DHS, with all decisions being at the discretion of the DHS. If the SME is regulated by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), then it must also be in good standing with DCF, with all decisions being at the discretion of the DCF.

Entities with multiple EIN can submit one application per EIN. Businesses with multiple locations but only one EIN will be limited to one application (under the sole EIN).

Additional eligibility requirements may apply, which will be based on any applicable Federal requirements tied to the CARES Act funding, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Applicants must acknowledge and agree to the requirement that grant proceeds only be used for eligible uses as defined below;
• A restriction on duplication of benefits that could exclude potential applicants that have already received emergency COVID-19 assistance; and
• A requirement that the applicant demonstrate that it has had negative impacts from COVID-19.

Application Process

Interested SMEs will need to pre-register at https://programs.njeda.com between Monday, April 19th at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is NOT first-come, first-served, but SMEs are encouraged to begin the process as early as possible.

SMEs THAT DO NOT PRE-REGISTER WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PHASE 4 GRANTS.

Online applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, based upon the date in which the Authority receives a completed application submission. The Phase 4 application will open 2 days earlier for businesses, in any category, that were not approved for Phase 3 funding.

Fees

Due to financial hardship, no fees will be collected by the Authority for this program.

Additional Information

Additional information on the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program may be found at business.nj.gov/COVID.

A meeting of the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board has been scheduled for Friday, April 9, 2021 at 10:00 am

A copy of the proposed agenda can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/csit.

+1 551-220-2262

Conference ID: 425 596 600#

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Please be advised that a telephonic meeting of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

The Members will convene to via conference call only.  Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in on the conference line.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting.

The following conference number is being provided:

CONFERENCE NAME: NJEDA BOARD MEETING (April 14, 2021)

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER: 877-692-8955

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE: 4204420

Members of the public are encouraged to call in prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to begin to avoid any delays. 

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting on our website: https://www.njeda.gov. The meeting will also be recorded and posted to the NJEDA website shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.

Please be advised that a telephonic meeting of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

The Members will convene to via conference call only.  Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in on the conference line.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting.

The following conference number is being provided:

CONFERENCE NAME: NJEDA BOARD MEETING (March 10, 2021)

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER: 877-692-8955

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE: 4204420

Members of the public are encouraged to call in prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to begin to avoid any delays. 

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting on our website: https://www.njeda.gov. The meeting will also be recorded and posted to the NJEDA website shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.

The Capital City Redevelopment Corporation Board Annual meeting is scheduled for 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, via teleconference only.

Members of the public whom wish to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting, pertaining to agenda items, may call into the meeting by using the following conference number:

Teleconference #:

+1 551-220-2262  

Conference ID: 217 357 697#

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting at our website: www.njeda.gov/ccrc