Staples Now Offering Discounted PPE Supplies to Small Businesses through NJEDA PPE Access Program
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that StaplesAdvantage.com has been approved to be a “Designated Vendor” for the Authority’s NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program. The program, which launched in late October, uses an innovative public-private partnership model to provide automatic discounts on PPE purchased through NJEDA-approved “Designated Vendors.” Small businesses can purchase discounted PPE at covid19.nj.gov/ppe.
Staples joins Boxed, an online shopping club that delivers household essentials in bulk, and Office Depot as Designated Vendors offering “microsites” where New Jersey-based businesses can register and purchase a curated selection of PPE products at a 10 percent discount. Links to these microsites are available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.
“Staples has made it a top priority to work alongside businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep everyone safe and healthy,” said Sim Sohn, Vice President, Business Development, Staples. “We are proud to partner with the NJEDA to ensure business owners have access to the PPE they need at affordable prices.”
A second phase of the PPE Access Program, expected to launch next week, will make $20.4 million available to subsidize small and micro businesses’ PPE purchases from Designated Vendors. This phase of the program will allow businesses with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) to receive grants equal to 25 percent of the cost of purchases made through Designated Vendors. All eligible businesses can receive up to $400 in discounts, and businesses in one of the 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones can receive up to $500. These grants will be applied in addition to the 10 percent discount offered to all businesses, meaning small businesses will be able to save more than a third of the cost of their PPE purchases.
“Affordable, reliable access to PPE is critical to small businesses having the supplies they need to protect their employees and customers,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Easing the challenge of operating safely will enable business owners to focus on activities that will contribute to their recovery.”
Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving the additional 25% discounts can sign up for alerts on their availability at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess. Interested parties may submit questions to the NJ PPE Access Program team at SmallBusinessPPE@njeda.com.
###
