Three Additional Firms Can Now Leverage Up to $12.5M Annually to Invest in NJ-Based Companies

TRENTON, N.J. (September 12, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today approved three additional venture capital firms as Qualified Venture Firms (QVFs) in the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF). With these latest approvals, a total of 10 QVFs can each access up to $12.5 million annually per investor from the NJIEF to co-invest in innovative, high-growth New Jersey-based businesses. 

Established under the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act (ERA) of 2020, signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, the NJIEF allows the State to become an equity investor in innovative early-stage businesses based in New Jersey, investing up to $300 million in New Jersey companies alongside approved QVFs for a total of $600 million. The capital raised from the sale of tax credits auctioned off to eight corporations in December 2022 will result in the funding of initial investments into high-growth businesses in New Jersey.

“Governor Phil Murphy has always prioritized connecting New Jersey startups with access to the funding they need to succeed,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The NJIEF offers a unique and responsive solution for getting capital into the hands of the state’s youngest companies while also building on New Jersey’s role as a leader in innovation.”

Sullivan noted that venture capital firms throughout the world can apply to be QVFs to invest in early-stage businesses and potentially receive matching capital to further benefit the startups. The QVFs approved today have a proven track record of investing in the growth of emerging companies throughout the country.

The three QVFs approved today are:

“Venture firms nationwide are taking notice of New Jersey’s leadership in innovation and are eager to invest into our state’s high-growth startups through the NJIEF,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “We are excited to partner with the approved QVFs as we begin to make strategic investments that will benefit emerging companies as they expand and thrive in the Garden State.”

Applications for venture firms seeking to qualify as a QVF can be found here and are being accepted on a rolling basis. The ten firms approved to date represent diversity in terms of investment strategy, industry, and stage. Additionally, there continues to be strong momentum from interested managers.   

Applications for approved QVFs to apply for Qualified Investments into high-growth, innovative businesses based in New Jersey are also now open. The total unallocated capital available for new investments stands at over $46 million. 


About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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Update August 21: Feedback on all C-PACE-related documents released by the NJEDA this year will be accepted through August 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program will support clean energy projects, invest in green economy

TRENTON, N.J. (August 14, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has released draft supplemental uniform assessment documents for the Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program for public review and feedback.

The documents released today complement the draft program guidelines released by the Authority earlier this year. The NJEDA appreciates the market input and feedback received to date from the industry on the program guidelines. Such input is important and valuable in shaping the Garden State C-PACE program. The documents posted are in advance of any updates that will result from the feedback received on the program guidelines. NJEDA will be making updates simultaneously to the guidelines and feedback received from this posting of the C-PACE documents. 

WHAT: The C-PACE Program will provide a new form of financing to New Jersey property owners for renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, and certain types of resiliency-related improvements. The program will enable eligible commercial, industrial, agricultural, and certain multi-family residential real property owners to access financing to undertake these kinds of improvements on their properties and repay the financing through the payment of an additional assessment to their municipality, similar to a property tax, sewer, or water bill.

As part of his administration’s ongoing commitment to address climate change, in August 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring the NJEDA to establish the C-PACE program to facilitate the financing of eligible projects in municipalities that adopt an opt-in ordinance.

WHERE: Draft uniform assessment documents are available here on the right side of the webpage. Feedback can be submitted to Gardenstatecpace@njeda.gov.

WHEN: Feedback on all C-PACE-related documents released by the NJEDA this year will be accepted through August 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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Governor Murphy’s innovative $57.6 million program supported purchases from hundreds of local restaurants to feed families throughout New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. (August 1, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced today that it has reached the remarkable milestone of supporting the purchase and distribution of more than five million meals through its Sustain & Serve NJ program. Launched by Governor Phil Murphy in late 2020 as a $2 million pilot program to support restaurants impacted by COVID-19, Sustain & Serve NJ grew into a $57.6 million program that has enabled 36 organizations to purchase meals from nearly 450 restaurants and distribute those meals at no cost to New Jerseyans facing food insecurity. The Garden State is the only state in the country to launch a program of this scale.

“Sustain & Serve NJ brings out the best in our communities – nonprofit organizations working together with their local restaurants to ensure neighbors have access to nutritious meals,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The enormous benefits of this recovery-focused program can simply not be overstated.”

Through three rounds of funding, Sustain & Serve NJ has enabled 36 grantees to purchase meals from 449 restaurants in 179 municipalities across all 21 counties, distributing nearly 5.4 million meals to New Jerseyans in need. As New Jersey emerges from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and following the conclusion of Phase 3 of Sustain & Serve NJ in August, the lessons of Sustain & Serve NJ will continue to inform and guide NJEDA’s continued efforts to support food security.

“Sustain & Serve NJ started as an innovative model for helping restaurants endure the economic emergency created by COVID-19 and grew to provide over five million meals to hungry individuals and families all over the state,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Officer Tim Sullivan. “We are grateful to Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature entrusting us to deliver on the promise of Sustain & Serve NJ, which has expanded the capacity of our grantees to serve the New Jerseyans that depend on them for food, while lifting up the restaurants that are a source of jobs, culture, and vitality in our communities.”

The NJEDA today issued a report and a video outlining the impact Sustain & Serve NJ has on grantees, restaurants, and New Jerseyans facing food insecurity. A copy of that report and the video can be found here.

Sustain & Serve NJ has been a key part of Governor Murphy’s whole-of-government approach to strengthen the food security of all New Jerseyans. As part of that effort, the NJEDA is putting forth a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate food deserts within the state, supported by funding designated through the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which Governor Murphy signed into law in January 2021. More information about the Food Desert Relief Program can be found here. The NJEDA has also launched programs to support food access in Food Desert Communities through the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) and Food Security Planning Grant. Future food security efforts will be funded through the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit auction, launching later this year. More information about the auction can be found here.

Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin has long championed the creation of programs to combat hunger and has hailed Sustain & Serve NJ as “an integral part of our battle against food insecurity.” 

“Sustain & Serve NJ is a model example of the effective partnership between our state, local restaurants, and nonprofits in the fight against food insecurity. The program’s success has been twofold: putting hot meals on the plates of those struggling while also supporting small, often family-owned businesses,” said Speaker Coughlin. “Since it was launched in 2020, Sustain & Serve NJ has helped deliver five million fresh, nutritious meals to those in need. Resources like this are critical as we continue to combat hunger in our communities.”

“Sustain & Serve NJ is a phenomenal example of Governor Murphy’s innovative, solutions-oriented and whole of government approach to helping New Jersey families achieve food security,” New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “I congratulate CEO Sullivan and the NJEDA for the incredible success of Sustain & Serve NJ, which has provided financial support to so many small restaurant businesses and non-profits and most importantly, has now delivered five million meals to those in need across New Jersey. And as always, I urge anyone in need of assistance affording groceries to visit www.njsnap.gov.”

“True food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, economic and social access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). “The Sustain and Serve NJ program supercharged local economies, especially our restaurant industry, while helping provide social services organizations to provide physical and social access to healthy and nutritious food. Not only this, Sustain and Serve NJ also helped our restaurant and nonprofit sectors innovate and co-create solutions. I applaud the NJEDA for their leadership with this program and OFSA is looking forward to continuously supporting their food security efforts.”

In the video, grantees and restaurant owners shared sentiments on the significant impact Sustain & Serve NJ has had on their organizations and communities.

“At the Coalition for Food and Health Equity, we mobilize food,” Coalition for Food and Health Equity Founder & CEO Dr. Leeja Carter said. “We think about not just food security being food on the table, but it’s how do we get food from point A to Point B, the logistics around food. The Sustain & Serve NJ program helped us evolve the work that we were doing here in Hudson County.”

“At the start of COVID, our organization was only providing about 120 to 150 meals per week and then when COVID hit, we were taxed and the demand for meals rose up to 900 to 1,000 meals per week,” A Need We Feed President Mark Blackwell said. “We knew long-term that that wasn’t sustainable in our budget. Then the NJEDA’s Sustain & Serve NJ grant became available, the timing of that was just perfect.”   

“Revenue from the meals purchased through Sustain & Serve NJ helped us keep our doors open and our employees paid throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mohamed Elrawy, owner of Pita Square, a restaurant in Newark working with multiple Sustain & Serve NJ grantees. “It’s been an honor working with local organizations like Coalition for Food and Health Equity, Newark Working Kitchens, and University Hospital to get our food into the hands of people who need it most. I cannot speak highly enough about this program.”

More information about Sustain & Serve NJ can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/sustain-and-serve/.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

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 http://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (July 12, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is creating a publicly available database of providers that may be able to offer a variety of technical assistance and financial support to help applicants and participants purchasing commercial electric vehicles through the New Jersey Zero-Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP). The NJEDA encourages technical assistance providers – such as consulting firms – and financial institutions wishing to provide assistance to complete an intake form here.

WHAT:  The NJ ZIP pilot program is a first-come, first-served voucher program designed to incentivize the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by New Jersey businesses and institutions, especially those operating within overburdened communities. To date, the NJEDA has approved nearly $40 million in vouchers to over 225 entities, of which over 90 percent are small businesses.

The NJEDA, in partnership with Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, will offer to share the list of interested technical assistance providers and financial institutions, and their services, to current and potential NJ ZIP participants seeking help with a variety of aspects of electric vehicle purchasing and ownership.

The services provided by the technical assistance providers and financial institutions will be supplemental to those provided by Rutgers University via an agreement entered into earlier this year between the university and the NJEDA. Under the agreement, current and potential NJ ZIP applicants can each receive up to approximately 10 hours of free technical assistance. After that, interested parties can opt to use providers on this list to receive further assistance at their own expense.

Technical assistance services may include, but are not limited to, understanding electric vehicle types, operation and maintenance characteristics, charging/refueling requirements, and performance characteristics. Financial institutions would serve as a potential source of funding for businesses and organizations as they look to purchase electric vehicles. Engagement with this database is purely voluntary.

All interested respondents will negotiate all financing terms and service fees directly with the NJ ZIP awardees or applicants and engage and enter into any agreement at their own risk. Inclusion in this list in no way serves as an endorsement or approval of any kind by the NJEDA. 

In line with the Murphy Administration’s transportation decarbonization priorities, NJ ZIP aims to expedite the adoption and use of clean-energy vehicles for business owners to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and bolster the state’s clean energy economy.

WHERE: Interested entities should visit https://www.njeda.gov/nj-zip-technical-assistance-and-financing-business-form/ to submit their information. Please direct any questions to the NJ ZIP help desk through Rutgers University via email at njzip-help@ejb.rutgers.edu or by phone at 732-790-0663.

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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14 NJ Clean Tech Startups Poised to Receive Funding to Test & Validate Their Technologies

TRENTON, N.J. (July 11, 2023) – The Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) has awarded over $3.6 million to 14 New Jersey startups through its Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program. The competitive program supports clean technology businesses that have existing prototypes of their technologies and are ready to validate them in a real-world setting.

The Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program provides grants of up to $250,000 to help startups develop their technologies focused on creating a cleaner and greener future for New Jersey. Funding received through the program can be used for testing and validating technological performance at demonstration and/or customer sites.

Funding for the Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program is being provided by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). The program both helps to meet plans laid out in New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) and plants roots for new clean energy innovation in New Jersey. The EMP offers a strategic vision for the production, distribution, consumption, and conservation of energy in the State of New Jersey.

The following startups were awarded funding through the program:

In keeping with CSIT’s mission to support the state’s smallest companies, each of the awardees had fewer than 25 employees at the time of application, with all but three having fewer than 10 employees.

“Fostering opportunities for startups to succeed and impact the marketplace has been our top priority from Day 1,” said CSIT Executive Officer Judith Sheft. “Through the awards announced today, we are getting funding into the hands of entrepreneurs and innovators to further their important work in the clean technology space. We are pleased to collaborate with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the NJBPU on this initiative to help get clean technology in New Jersey to the next step.”

“The clean energy transition is inevitable, and especially in New Jersey, it is exciting to see the continued momentum for clean energy technologies and companies that in turn will grow the industry while helping create a greener future in the Garden State,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “In addition to providing critically necessary funding to startups as they advance their technologies, the Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program will also help progress Governor Phil Murphy’s clean energy goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2035.”

Innovation spurring from awardees announced today include a power source that doesn’t require connection to the grid, an indoor farm that uses 80 to 90 percent less water than traditional farming, and next-generation, low-cost and high-performance lithium ion (Li-ion) battery materials and energy storage systems, among many others.

“The broad array of technologies being created by our grantees showcases New Jersey’s growing role as a leader in innovation,” said CSIT Chair Debbie Hart. “We knew that there was a significant need for this funding by startups statewide, given the vast number of our portfolio companies that have some form of prototype. We are pleased to support more than a dozen startups through this program.”

“As we plan for a clean energy future it is vitally important we provide support for startups that can create the technologies to help make the goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2035 a reality,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Further, connecting clean tech startups with funding needed to validate their technologies is an important step toward creating the green economy that Governor Murphy champions. We look forward to hearing about grantees’ successful testing and validation in the future.”

The Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program is the latest in a series of resources available to New Jersey startups growing within the state’s green economy. This program complements other CSIT clean tech-focused programs including the Clean Technology Seed Grant and Clean Tech Research & Development Voucher Programs. The NJEDA also offers funding to support companies as they advance through their lifecycle, including the New Jersey Clean Energy Loans program and the New Jersey Zero-emission Incentive Program.

About CSIT

In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the State as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn

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Update (June 29, 2023): The deadline to respond to this RFI has been extended to July 24th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

TRENTON, N.J. (June 13, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) yesterday issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking insight from qualified stakeholders on opportunities to accelerate building decarbonization within the commercial building sector. The information gathered through the RFI will guide the development of programs to reduce harmful emissions from New Jersey’s building sector; the second highest source of overall greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The RFI can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#OET with responses due by July 6.


WHAT:
The NJEDA is exploring the creation of programs, especially around project financing, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing and new commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings within the state. The RFI issued yesterday will ensure the Authority has a better understanding of key opportunities and barriers of building decarbonization, as well as specific partnerships, funding, programs, and other resources needed to support the acceleration of decarbonization efforts. Building decarbonization efforts include, but are not limited to, energy efficiency improvements, on-site renewable energy generation, and the reduction of operational emissions via fuel switching or beneficial electrification.

Commercial buildings alone account for 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey, emphasizing the critical need of robust building decarbonization efforts in reducing overall statewide emissions. In line with Governor Phil Murphy’s vision to bolster New Jersey’s clean energy economy and reduce dependance on harmful pollutants, the RFI is an important step in the continuation of the NJEDA’s efforts to support the state’s innovative clean energy industries and further the Governor’s goal of reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050.

WHO: Respondents do not need to be located within the State of New Jersey to provide input. The RFI seeks responses from qualified entities, organizations, and individuals in commercial building decarbonization efforts. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Commercial building owners and property developers of all development models and sizes, including those with single buildings or larger portfolios
  • Financial institutions involved in real estate transactions and construction financing
  • Building management, maintenance, and operations personnel
  • Building construction businesses and workers, including, but not limited to, industry associations, chambers of commerce, and unions
  • Other businesses and associated trade groups (restaurants, manufacturers, retailers, grocers, etc.)
  • Building design professionals (engineers, architects, planners, modelers, etc.), especially those with experience in green buildings, energy management, and building decarbonization approaches
  • Subject matter experts and entities with expertise on green building technologies and best practices, including research institutions
  • Manufacturers and installers for electric heating and cooling systems (including heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow systems) and other electric appliances
  • Energy efficiency, building envelope, and related contractors
  • Utility providers and operators
  • Environmental and other public policy-focused organizations
  • Organizations representing Environmental Justice communities (together with individual representatives of these communities)
  • And Jurisdictional and regulatory representatives (from New Jersey, all other states and territories, and international sources)


HOW TO RESPOND: All questions concerning this RFI must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2023, via e-mail to buildingdecarbRFI@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should state: Questions-2023-RFI-180. Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the Authority’s website on or about June 26, 2023, at https://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#OET as Addendum.

All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 PM EDT on July 6, 2023, via e-mail to: buildingdecarbRFI@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should state: RFI Response-2023-RFI-180.

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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Pilot Program Designed to Increase Foot Traffic and Catalytic Development in Municipalities Impacted by COVID

TRENTON, N.J. (June 8, 2023) The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has opened the application for the Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (ART) Program, which is a one-time grant opportunity for projects in urban areas with mass transit that have faced economic disruption due to the reduction of commuter foot traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic. The first round of funding made available under the ART Program is for projects in Atlantic City and Newark. Applications are due Tuesday, August 22nd at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Funded at $10 million through the American Rescue Plan, the ART pilot program aims to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic through the creation of two programs, one for Real Estate Rehabilitation and Development projects and one for arts-based initiatives aimed at engaging public audiences and local communities.

A virtual information session, including a walk-through of the application process, will be held on June 14th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. register here.

The NJEDA will host in-person events in Atlantic City and Newark in the upcoming weeks to provide opportunities for potential applicants and other stakeholders to learn more about the ART Program.
For additional information about the ART Program, click here

About the NJEDA

The 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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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$2M+ in Grant Funding will be Available to Startups Developing Food and Agriculture or Drug Therapeutic Innovations

TRENTON, N.J. (May 31, 2023) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) will open applications on June 5 for two seed grant programs. Both the Food and Agriculture Research & Development (R&D) Pilot Seed Grant Program and Round 2 of the Catalyst R&D Seed Grant Program are designed to help New Jersey startups accelerate their R&D from the research stage to commercially viable products and services.

Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development plan, “The State of Innovation: Building a Stronger and Fairer NJ Economy,” identifies life sciences and food and beverage (non-retail) as two of the strategic sectors for accelerating growth in New Jersey’s economy. These seed grants programs will support New Jersey startups in these vital sectors. 

WHAT: CSIT plans to open applications for the following programs on June 5 at 9:00 a.m. EDT:

  • The Food and Agriculture R&D Pilot Seed Grant Program is a $750,000 competitive grant program supporting innovative technological solutions designed to improve food security statewide. The program will offer grants of up to $75,000 to startups working on food and/or agriculture-related innovation in the life sciences, technology, and food and beverage (non-retail) sectors. Complete eligibility requirements can be found here. The application will be available here until July 14, 2023.
  • The $1.5 million Round 2 of CSIT’s Catalyst R&D Seed Grant Program will provide grants of up to $150,000 to New Jersey startups that are developing life sciences therapeutics. The grant funds should enable applicants to make significant progress and have a meaningful impact on their commercialization outcomes. Complete eligibility requirements can be found here. The application will be available here until July 14, 2023.

Informational Webinar: CSIT will host an informational webinar about both of these programs on June 5 at 4:00 p.m. Registration for the webinar can be found here. A recording of the webinar will be available on each program’s website.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov/csit and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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Update (June 14, 2023): The deadline to respond to this RFI has been extended to July 11, 2023.

TRENTON, N.J. (May 18, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) yesterday issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input for innovative ways that employers can help solve New Jersey’s child care challenges. Input may be used to inform the development of a pilot program that engages employers in supporting New Jersey’s parents and children. The RFI can be found at http://www.njeda.com/bidding with responses due by June 20.

WHAT: The RFI issued today will gather information and perspectives on how New Jersey employers can be empowered to offer support and resources for working parents. This includes innovative approaches to employer-provided child care benefits, expanded partnerships between employers and child care providers, and flexible policies for workers with child care needs. For the purposes of this RFI, ‘child care’ may include care for children ages 0 – 5, as well as before- or aftercare for school-aged children.

This input will help the NJEDA better understand possible strategies to strengthen New Jersey’s child care sector in order to bolster this crucial piece of the state’s economic infrastructure. The labor force participation of working parents depends on the availability of safe, quality, affordable child care. This RFI will build on Governor Phil Murphy’s commitment to a whole-of-government approach to fortify the state’s child care sector. The information gathered through this RFI may be used to help the NJEDA shape the usage of state funds that were appropriated to the NJEDA in Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget to establish the Child Care Employer Innovation Pilot Program.

WHO: The RFI seeks responses from all interested stakeholders, including those located within and outside the State of New Jersey. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Parents/caregivers
  • Employers and employer associations/consortia;
  • Child care and/or parent/caregiver advocacy organizations;
  • Policy and academic researchers;
  • Companies that provide child care benefit services;
  • Technology companies serving the needs of families or caregivers;
  • Child care providers;
  • Child care technical assistance providers;
  • Business and entrepreneurship support organizations;
  • Child care resource & referral agencies;
  • Community Development Financial Institutions providing loans and/or financial support to child care providers;
  • Higher education institutions;
  • Foundations and philanthropic initiatives. 

HOW TO RESPOND:

All questions concerning this RFI must be submitted in writing no later than noon EDT on June 2, 2023 via e-mail to: childcareRFI2023@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should state: Questions – 2023-RFI-178.

Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the Authority’s website on or about June 9, 2023 at http://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#OET Addendum.

All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2023 via e-mail to childcareRFI2023@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should state: RFI Response – 2023-RFI-178.

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 FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.

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