TRENTON, N.J. (February 10, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced plans to bring back discounts of nearly 70 percent off the price of personal protective equipment (PPE) purchased through the Authority’s New Jersey Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program. The expanded discounts will be available to New Jersey-based businesses with 100 or fewer employees beginning Tuesday, February 16th at 9:00 a.m. Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving these discounts must apply at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov. Businesses that were approved prior to December 17, 2020 do not need to reapply.

“Ensuring businesses have access to the personal protective equipment they need to operate while keeping their employees and customers safe is crucial to mitigating the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the stage for a strong recovery,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The PPE Access Program’s success in 2020 played an important role in helping New Jersey businesses stay safe during the winter and we are glad to continue providing this resource for small businesses in the new year.”

The NJEDA launched the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program in late 2020 in response to consistent concerns emerging from the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission, the nine sector-based committees of the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, and input from numerous small businesses indicating the need for readily available, fairly priced PPE.

During Phase 1 of the program, the NJEDA identified and vetted “Designated Vendors,” including Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples, who have partnered with the Authority to create “microsites” where New Jersey-based businesses can purchase a curated selection of PPE products at a 10 percent discount. The NJEDA also collaborated with the New Jersey Department of Health to create an online PPE Planning Tool that helps businesses understand PPE product requirements and estimate their organizational PPE needs. Links to the Designated Vendor microsites and the PPE Planning Tool are available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.

In addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, the NJEDA also made additional discounts of 65 percent available to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees that make purchases from Staples or Office Depot. These discounts were available until December 17, 2020. During this time, the NJEDA approved nearly 9,000 small businesses for discounts totaling more than $7.6 million.

In light of the program’s success, the NJEDA has devoted another $2.5 million to expanded discounts for small businesses. These discounts will be available in addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, so businesses will be able to receive nearly 70 percent off PPE purchases. The expanded discounts will only be available to businesses with 100 or fewer employees and will be subject to the same caps that were placed on the program in 2020: $800 for all eligible businesses or $1,000 for businesses located in one of New Jersey’s 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones.

Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving these additional discounts must apply at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov. Once the NJEDA has confirmed a business’s eligibility, the business owner will receive vouchers for purchases from a Designated Vendor of their choice. Businesses that have previously applied and been approved to receive discounts through the program are eligible and do not need to reapply. However, any discounts they have redeemed previously will be counted toward the program cap (i.e. a business outside an Opportunity Zone that used $200 in discounts in December 2020 will only have access to discounts up to $600 now). Vouchers will expire at 11:59 PM on March 24, 2021. Businesses and nonprofits will still be able to receive 10 percent discounts on PPE purchases after this date.

More information about the PPE Access Program and the application for discounts up to 70 percent are available at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov.

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (8 de febrero de 2021) – La Autoridad para el desarrollo económico de New Jersey (NJEDA) hoy anunció que se diferirá la preinscripción para la Fase 2 del Programa de préstamos de emergencia para pequeñas empresas. La preinscripción estaba programada para comenzar el miércoles, 10 de febrero de 2021. La Autoridad no anunció una nueva fecha para el programa.

La Autoridad pospuso el lanzamiento del programa para poder coordinar la implementación de financiamiento federal adicional para el Programa de protección de salarios (Paycheck Protection Program, PPP) para pequeñas empresas, que no se anunció cuando la NJEDA preparaba el lanzamiento del Programa de préstamos de emergencia para pequeñas empresas. Hasta hoy, se han prestado más de $2.1 mil millones a empresas de New Jersey a través del PPP en 2021. El diferimiento permitirá a la NJEDA adaptar el Programa de préstamos de emergencia para abordar las brechas en la disponibilidad de fondos federales y satisfacer de forma más eficaz las necesidades exclusivas de las empresas.

La NJEDA compartirá actualizaciones adicionales sobre el Programa de préstamos de emergencia y otros recursos de ayuda durante la COVID-19 a medida que estén disponibles. También se compartirá información en el Centro de información comercial durante la COVID-19: https://cv.business.nj.gov. 

Acerca de la Autoridad para el desarrollo económico de New Jersey

La Autoridad para el desarrollo económico de New Jersey (NJEDA) es la agencia principal del Estado para impulsar el desarrollo económico. La NJEDA tiene el compromiso de hacer del Estado de New Jersey un modelo nacional para el desarrollo económico inclusivo y sostenible al centrarse en estrategias claves para ayudar a construir comunidades fuertes y dinámicas, crear buenos trabajos para los residentes de New Jersey y ofrecer oportunidades para una economía más sólida y justa. Mediante asociaciones con diversas partes interesadas, la NJEDA crea e implementa iniciativas para mejorar la vitalidad económica y la calidad de vida en el Estado y para fortalecer la competitividad económica a largo plazo de New Jersey.

Para obtener más información acerca de los recursos de la NJEDA para empresas, llame a la línea de atención al cliente de NJEDA al 609-858-6767 o visite https://www.njeda.gov y siga a @NewJerseyEDA en Facebook, Twitter, Instagram y LinkedIn.

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Notice of Funding Availability: Applications become available when the program re-opens at 9:00am Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

BACKGROUND ON SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESS PPE NEEDS

The NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program was developed in response to consistent concerns emerging from the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission, the nine sector-based committees of the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council and input from numerous small and micro businesses. Both the Commission and the Advisory Council highlighted the need for readily available, priced PPE to accelerate economic recovery.  As small and micro businesses and organizations in historically underserved communities are particularly vulnerable to being crowded out of essential goods when tight market conditions occur, a key consideration of the program has been the need to ensure equitable distribution and pricing of PPE.

More than one third of all New Jersey workers are employed by organizations of 100 employees or fewer. Many of these companies do not have the reach or the resources to obtain goods outside of their normal retail buying channels, particularly in times of significant supply/demand imbalances. PPE falls squarely into the category of a good that was not essential to many of these organizations before the COVID-19 outbreak but is critical today.


PROGRAM PURPOSE

Overall Program

The NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program is designed to make fairly priced PPE more easily available to all the small and micro businesses and non-profit organizations in the state, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and reduce their burden of sourcing for the PPEs from the competitive markets. In addition to the above the program will:

  1. Facilitate the State’s economic recovery by ensuring that small and micro businesses and non-profit organizations – the customers – can access affordably priced PPE and other safeguarding equipment to protect their employees as they return to work and continue to operate in a COVID-19 environment;
  2. Ensure small and micro businesses and non-profit organizations have access to the information they need to select the appropriate PPE needed for their context;
  3. Ensure that businesses in historically underserved communities are particularly able to access affordable PPE; and
  4. Support the State’s manufacturing sector by providing an offsetting subsidy for purchases of PPE manufactured or assembled at a manufacturing facility in New Jersey.

The Phase 1 Program – Selecting Designated Vendors and Sourcing PPE from NJ Companies

On August 11, 2020, NJEDA approved Phase 1 of the PPE Access Program. The focus of Phase 1 has been to identify and designate qualified vendors to launch online platforms where NJ companies can buy PPE at fair prices from reliable vendors offering a curated array of quality products all at a discount to normal market prices.  Within the Program, these vendors are called “Designated Vendors” (DVs).  Small and micro businesses will access Designated Vendors’ online platforms via a PPE Access Program website hosted on the State’s COVID19.nj.gov site (covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess).  Small businesses will also be able to learn about workplace PPE best practices and use a simple tool to determine their PPE needs.

In addition, Phase 1 includes an economic development component to encourage the Designated Vendors to make wholesale purchases of PPE from NJ manufacturers and from small distributors located in traditionally underserved NJ communities.  To support this aim, the NJEDA approved the creation of a $3.5 million grant pool to be used as subsidies to bridge potential pricing gaps between NJ manufacturers and distributors and the global market.

The Phase 2 Program – Providing Purchase Subsidies to Benefit Small and Micro Businesses

Based on the response received from DVs of varying types and sizes, the program was expanded by launching a second Phase, aimed at providing purchase subsidies through DVs to benefit the State’s small businesses with a focus on those located in historically underserved communities.

As part of Phase 2, on October 14, 2020, NJEDA approved a grant pool of $20.4 million for purchase price discounts of 25% through Designated Vendors to small and micro businesses.  The subsidized discount  had an initial cap of $400 per organization generally and $500 for organizations located in historically underserved communities (i.e., located in one of New Jersey’s 715 Opportunity Zone Eligible census tracts).  Companies eligible to benefit from these subsidies are determined by company size (based on full-time equivalent (“FTE”) employment) and location, as described more fully below.

Under paragraph 6(a) of the Request of the Members in the October 14, 2020 Board memo, the CEO was given the delegated authority to make changes to “extend internal program deadlines,” and under paragraph 6(b), he has the delegated the authority to “adjust per round small business coupon/discount values,” based upon program demand.

Based on initial experience of the Program’s second phase, Staff requested changes that substantially increased the level of program participation and ensured wider availability of essential PPE for New Jersey small businesses. The requested changes took effect on Tuesday, November 24, 2020. These changes:

The initial Phase 2 of the program ended on December 31, 2020.  Under his delegated authority to extend internal program deadlines, the CEO has granted an additional extension of the PPE Access program Phase 2 until no later than March 31, 2021.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND ELIGIBILITY

Benefits through the Program

Phase 2 of the extended PPE Access Program has been structured to provide $2.5 million of grant funding

to cover 65% of eligible small businesses’ or non-profits’ PPE purchases through the Designated Vendors PPE Access Program sites. The 65% discount is capped per organization, per round of the Program, at $800 generally, and $1,000 for organizations in opportunity zone eligible census tracts.  This subsidized discount is in addition to the minimum 10% discount offered by each of the Designated Vendors under Phase 1 of the Program.

Discounts are made available by the Designated Vendors to businesses and non-profits (“Subsidy-Eligible Recipients” or “SERs”) having 100 or fewer FTE employees, based on EDA confirmation of eligibility.  The program eligibility threshold is at 100 FTEs for the following reasons:

A business’s FTE is determined based on its most recent NJ Department of Labor (“DOL”) form “NJ Employer Report of Wages Paid” (WR-30) where available, or, in limited circumstances where NJ DOL data is not available, through company self-certification.

Where possible, Designated Vendors will split the total value of the coupon/discount into multiple coupons/discounts of lower value to enhance flexibility of the program (i.e., allow SERs to split their PPE purchase up over multiple purchases).  The ability to offer that flexibility will be determined by the Designated Vendors’ technical capabilities and may differ by Designated Vendor.

While businesses will have the ability to purchase goods other than PPE from the Designated Vendors, all subsidies under this program will only apply to PPE offered through the Program.

General Program process

To simplify the administration of the grant funding for small businesses and non-profits, funds flow from NJEDA to the Designated Vendors, who provide the benefits to SERs in the form of a coupon/discount to reduce their payment obligations. 

The flow of application, approval and receipt of subsidies occurs as follows:

NJEDA’s determination that a business is eligible for a coupon/discount amount will be subject to continued funding availability.

Coupon/discount reimbursement to Designated Vendors will be made within 30 days after receipt of accounting documentation. To comply with the expenditure requirements of the CARES Act and the MOU with NJ Treasury, the Designated Vendor must document the PPE purchased by each SER and must request NJEDA disbursement from NJEDA no later than March 29, 2021 (or applicable deadline based upon any updated State and Federal CARES Act disbursement requirements).

Eligibility confirmation process

Organizations seeking to qualify as SERs and to benefit from the Phase 2 subsidies will be required to confirm their eligibility on the PPE Access Program website.  While the subsidy is offered through the Designated Vendors, NJEDA will be responsible for eligibility checks to ensure privacy, timeliness and simplicity. 

Eligibility will be determined once per round per EIN (meaning that businesses that utilize one EIN for multiple locations will only be able to access the coupons/discounts once per round).

Eligibility screening will include:

A tax clearance certificate from the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Taxation will not be required for a small business to benefit from this program.  However, tax clearance certificates continue to be required for the Designated Vendors in the Program.

During the eligibility check process, the SER will be required to confirm their correct email address.  SERs will be solely responsible for entering a correct email address; NJEDA will not verify or confirm the email address.

Appeals

Organizations will be able to appeal the Authority’s determination of Phase 2 eligibility within 5 days of notice of the determination.  Appeals will be reviewed by a NJEDA member who has not up until that point been directly involved in the eligibility determination. 

As the Authority is not involved in the actual issuance of the coupon/discount, in the use of the coupon/discount, in the sale of the PPE, the operation or functionality of the DV website, or such other actions or decisions under the DV’s sole control, any attempt to appeal from such actions will be rejected, as they are not a protest of an EDA action or decision. 

Similarly, any attempt to appeal because the SER entered and confirmed an incorrect email address will not be a valid basis for an appeal. Funds will be set aside for the maximum amount of subsidy support for any appeals that are lodged with the Authority. 

Post-eligibility audits

NJEDA will conduct audits to confirm that small business self-certifications provided during the eligibility assessment process were accurate.  In such cases where the audit reveals that a self-certification was not accurate, NJEDA may request that the funds be returned and/or may refer these organizations to the relevant State agency for further investigation.

Funding Disbursement

Disbursements (reimbursements of subsidized discounts) to Designated Vendors from the $2.5 million grant pool will be made up to 30 days after receipt of acceptable Phase 2 documentation.  Designated Vendors must submit request for NJEDA disbursement no later than March 29, 2021 to enable enough time for disbursement.

Additional Information Additional information on the New Jersey Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program and this grant may be found at: https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess

TRENTON, N.J. (February 5, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that pre-registration for Phase 2 of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program will be deferred. Pre-registration was scheduled to open on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. The Authority has not announced a new date for the program.

The Authority deferred the launch of the program to accommodate the rollout of additional federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) financing for small businesses, which had not been announced when the NJEDA was preparing to launch the Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program. To date, more than $2.1 billion has already been loaned to New Jersey businesses through the PPP. The deferral will allow the NJEDA to tailor the Emergency Assistance Loan Program to address gaps in the availability of federal financing and more effectively meet businesses’ unique needs.

The NJEDA will share additional updates on the Emergency Assistance Loan Program and other COVID-19 relief resources as they become available. Information will also be shared on the COVID-19 Business Hub: https://cv.business.nj.gov.  

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (December 16, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that applications are open for Sustain and Serve NJ, a $2 million grant program that will provide funding to organizations to purchase meals from New Jersey-based restaurants that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information and the program application are available at https://business.nj.gov/covid/eligibility-for-sustain-and-serve. Applications are due by January 8, 2021.
 
While restaurants may not directly apply for Sustain and Serve NJ grants, restaurants interested in providing meals through the program may opt to have their information posted publicly on the NJ COVID-19 Business Information Hub by completing the Sustain and Serve NJ Restaurant Interest Form available at https://forms.business.nj.gov/ssnj/restaurants/interest/.
 
“The NJEDA’s COVID-19 relief efforts have prioritized supporting industries and communities that have been the most severely impacted by the pandemic. We know the restaurant industry has been hit particularly hard, and we are committed to ensuring restaurants have the resources they need to stay in business while keeping their employees and customers safe,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Phase 3 of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program committed more than $35 million in targeted funding to restaurants. Now Sustain and Serve NJ builds on that with additional relief for our restaurant sector. This is crucial to ensuring New Jersey’s communities and economy withstand the pandemic and are in a strong position to recover.”
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit restaurants harder than almost any other industry. Without assistance, 37 percent of New Jersey restaurant owners predict they will have to close in the next six months. To support restaurants impacted by the pandemic, Sustain and Serve NJ makes up to $2 million of funding from the NJEDA Economic Recovery Fund available to organizations in New Jersey. Eligible organizations will receive grants of at least $100,000 for bulk purchases of meals from New Jersey-based restaurants.
 
The program is open to entities that are legally registered to do business in New Jersey and are in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and the New Jersey Division of Taxation, including 501(c) non-profit organizations. Grant applicants will be required to demonstrate prior bulk purchases of 3,000 or more meals valued at $50,000 or more from New Jersey-based restaurants since March 9, 2020.
 
In addition to meeting these requirements, applicants will need to identify the restaurant or restaurants from which they will be purchasing meals. To receive funding, participating restaurants must have 50 or fewer employees; maintain a physical commercial location in New Jersey; be legally registered to do business in New Jersey; be in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor, New Jersey Division of Taxation, and (where applicable) the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control; and possess valid certification from municipal or county government inspection showing a current rating of Satisfactory per the New Jersey Retail Food Establishment Rating system. Restaurants will also have to certify that they were in operation on or before February 15, 2020, and detail how their business has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Applications for Sustain and Serve NJ grants are due by January 8th, 2021. Restaurants may not directly apply for grants, but may express interest in the program and have their information posted publicly by completing the Sustain and Serve NJ Restaurant Interest Form. Applicants can refer to the list of restaurants that have expressed interest when deciding where to purchase meals. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement from NJEDA as to eligibility and applicants are strongly advised to exercise due diligence when selecting participating restaurants.
 
Grant funding awarded through the Sustain and Serve NJ Program will be restricted to expenses related to the direct cost of purchasing meals, as determined by participating restaurant(s). This cost may include the restaurant’s cost of food and ingredients, labor, packaging, facilities, and profit margin. Sales tax and gratuity cannot be paid for using grant funds. Reimbursement will be capped at $10 per meal. No other expense incurred by the grantee, whether in support of the meal purchase from the restaurant or otherwise, is eligible. Grant funding can only be used to support expenses incurred between the date of grant execution and April 30, 2021.
 
In addition to Sustain and Serve NJ, the NJEDA administers a variety of grant, low-cost financing, and technical assistance programs for small and mid-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19, including $35 million of targeted grant funding for restaurants through Phase 3 of the Authority’s Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. Comprehensive information about these programs and other State support for businesses impacted by the pandemic is available at https://cv.business.nj.gov.
 
 
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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 

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TRENTON, N.J. (December 16, 2020) – Only one day remains for New Jersey small businesses to receive discounts of nearly 70 percent on purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE) through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program. The deadline to receive discounts is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 17th. Businesses will still be able to purchase PPE at 10 percent discounts after this time, but higher discounts for small businesses will no longer be available. Businesses can purchase discounted PPE now at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov.

Launched in October 2020 in response to high demand for affordable PPE, the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program allows New Jersey businesses to purchase discounted PPE through NJEDA identified and vetted “Designated Vendors.” Current Designated Vendors include Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples. These suppliers have created “microsites” where any New Jersey-based business or nonprofit can purchase PPE at a 10 percent discount.

In addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, the NJEDA has also made $20.4 million available to provide additional discounts of 65 percent to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees that make purchases from Staples or Office Depot. These discounts are available in addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses; meaning businesses with 100 or fewer employees can receive nearly 70 percent off PPE purchases, up to a program cap of $800 for all eligible businesses or $1,000 for businesses located in one of New Jersey’s 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones.

Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving these additional discounts on PPE purchases must apply at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov. These nearly 70 percent discounts expire tomorrow, December 17th, so businesses that want to benefit should make purchases as soon as possible. Businesses and nonprofits will still be able to receive 10 percent discounts on PPE purchases after this date.

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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COVID-19 Outbreak
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
Sustain and Serve NJ
 
Para ver esta información en español, haga clic aquí

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 the state’s economy.
 
Businesses classified as “Food Services and Drinking Places” under NAICS code 722 (described in this document as “Restaurants”), have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, because of caps on location dining and unusual costs incurred to adapt business models for safe operations.
 
With the Public Health Emergency in place and millions of New Jerseyans abruptly staying home, restaurant revenue has plummeted or disappeared, and many restaurants have had little choice but to change – or abandon – their operating model overnight, with some having to close their doors completely and lay off or furlough all staff. Many restaurants that have changed their operating model have rapidly shifted to a takeout-only model, which resulted in a significant reduction in staff.
 
In 2019, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), 270,000 restaurant workers were employed in New Jersey. Since the beginning of the pandemic, as of October 31, NJDOL reports that 131,710 restaurant workers have filed Unemployment Insurance claims. In 2018, the National Restaurant Association reported there were over 19,000 restaurants in New Jersey.
 
Prior to the pandemic, the sector was growing, with NJDOL projecting the sector would expand by more than 12 percent by 2026. Now, the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association estimates as many as 30 percent of New Jersey restaurants remain at risk of permanent closure.
 
While these figures are staggering, they were likely mitigated, in part, due to several New Jersey-based initiatives that emerged in direct response to COVID-19, that share the same core function, i.e., the bulk purchase of pre-made meals from New Jersey restaurants, which were then distributed for free to target populations.
 
Specifically, these initiatives aimed to achieve two central goals: to provide urgently needed revenue to restaurants to offset direct losses due to COVID-19, particularly, restaurants that had temporarily closed, were preparing to close, and/or reduced their staff through layoffs or furloughs; and to distribute free meals purchased from local restaurants to target populations, including low-income individuals, senior citizens, health care workers, and first responders.

The Sustain and Serve NJ Program builds on prior New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) initiatives supporting restaurants impacted by COVID-19.
 
Purpose
 
The purpose of the Sustain and Serve NJ Program is to provide urgently needed revenue to New Jersey-based restaurants to offset direct losses due to COVID-19, including restaurants that had temporarily closed, were preparing to close, and/or reduced their staff through layoffs or furloughs.
 
Under the program, up to $2 million will be utilized to make grants of at least $100,000 to certain entities to support prospective expenses for making bulk meal purchases from New Jersey-based restaurants negatively impacted by COVID-19.
 
As part of the Serve and Sustain NJ Program requirements, the grantee is prohibited from reselling any meals purchased with grant funding.
 
Eligible Uses
 
Under the Sustain and Serve NJ Program, grant funding may only be used for direct costs associated with bulk purchasing of meals that are projected to be incurred between date of grant execution and April 30, 2021, for: the restaurant’s costs of food and ingredients; labor, packaging, and facilities; and, any profit margin for the restaurant.
 
However, no other expense(s) incurred by the applicant, whether in support of the meal purchase from the restaurant or otherwise, is eligible, including, but not limited to: indirect/overhead costs incurred by the applicant (e.g., rent, insurance), transportation, distribution, marketing, communications, sales tax and gratuity.
 
Grant Amounts
 
The Sustain and Serve NJ Program offers a minimum grant amount of $100,000, with grant awards calculated based on the projected number of meals to be purchased and estimated cost (per meal), excluding sales tax and gratuity.
 
Under the Sustain and Serve NJ Program, all meal purchases will be reimbursed based on a flat rate per meal. Although there is no exclusion for entities purchasing meals from restaurants at more than $10 per meal, grant funding will be capped at $10 per meal.
 
As part of the application for grant funding, entities will request a grant amount based on the projected number of meals to be purchased and estimated cost (per meal), excluding sales tax and gratuity. All grant estimates must be based on a flat rate per meal, subject to the cap of $10 per meal. For any grant that is awarded, disbursement of the total grant amount will be made incrementally from NJEDA to the grantee as eligible expenses are incurred and disbursement is requested by the grantee. These disbursement requests must document that the expenses actually incurred are consistent with eligible uses of grant funding (i.e., the quantity of meals purchased, the cost per meal, and the restaurant from which the meals were purchased).
 
Once the NJEDA receives all applications, if the total amount of grant funding requested among all eligible applications exceeds the $2 million available for the Program, NJEDA will prorate grant awards based upon the amount determined for each eligible applicant, reducing all grant awards to reflect an eligible applicant’s share of the eligible pool.
 
Eligible Applicants
 
Restaurants may not directly apply for this grant. Restaurants interested in the program are recommended to contact an entity with an established bulk meal purchasing and distribution program to discuss potential participation. Restaurants may also opt to have their business publicly listed on the Sustain and Serve NJ page of the New Jersey COVID-19 Business Hub expressing interest in being a participating restaurant that Sustain and Serve NJ applicants can reach out to for bulk meal purchases. To list your restaurant, please fill out this form. Potential grant applicants may choose to refer to this registry and contact restaurants about participating in the Sustain and Serve NJ program.
 
The Sustain and Serve NJ Program is limited to public or private entities, including 501(c) non-profit organizations. To be eligible, applicants shall provide the following documentation:

1. NJ Business Registration Certificate which may be obtained at  https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/gettingregistered.shtml

2. Tax Clearance Certification from the Division of Taxation, in the Department of the Treasury which may be obtained at https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/busasst.shtml  

3. Invoices and receipts demonstrating purchases of 3,000 or more meals made by the entity from any New Jersey-based restaurant(s) totaling at least $50,000, purchased between March 9, 2020 and December 16, 2020.  

In addition, eligible applicants shall be in good standing with NJDOL, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the Commissioner of NJDOL.
 
As noted above, eligible applicants must have a demonstrated history of making bulk meal purchases from New Jersey-based restaurants during the current public health emergency totaling at least 3,000 meals valued at least $50,000 between March 9, 2020 and December 16, 2020.
 
As part of the grant application, applicants must list the restaurants that they will be making bulk meal purchases from as part of Sustain and Serve NJ. In order to receive reimbursement for meal purchases through Sustain and Serve NJ, grantees may only purchase meals from restaurants that meet the following requirements:
 

  • Classified as “Food Services and Drinking Places” under NAICS code 722;
  • 50 or less full-time equivalent employees at time of application, based on the company’s most recently filed WR-30 with DOL;
  • Physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey;
  • NJ Business Registration Certificate which may be obtained at  https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/gettingregistered.shtml
  • Be in good standing with the New Jersey Division of Taxation, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the Commissioner of the DOL
  • Be in good standing with the DOL, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the Commissioner of the DOL;
  • If regulated by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), in the Department of Law and Public Safety, be in good standing with ABC, with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the ABC;
  • Current and valid certification from municipal and/or county government inspection that the restaurant has received a rating of Satisfactory as per New Jersey Retail Food Establishment Rating system; and
  • Attestation that the restaurant was in operation on February 15, 2020, and has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared state of emergency on March 9, 2020 (e.g., was temporarily shut down, was forced to reduce hours, has had a 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).

 
To demonstrate eligibility, restaurants will be required to submit to NJEDA:

1. Form attesting that the restaurant was in operation on February 15, 2020, and has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared state of emergency on March 9, 2020. After the applicant submits their application, this form will be sent by NJEDA directly to listed restaurants.  

2. NJ Business Registration Certificate which may be obtained at  https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/gettingregistered.shtml; and  

3. Current and valid certification from municipal and/or county government inspection that the restaurant has received a rating of Satisfactory as per New Jersey Retail Food Establishment Rating system.  

Finally, businesses prohibited from eligibility include, but are not limited to: gambling or gaming activities; 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 sale; sales by transient merchants, Christmas tree sales or other outdoor storage; any activity constituting a nuisance; or, any illegal purposes.
 
Funding Disbursement
 
For each grant award, the total amount will be disbursed incrementally as eligible projected expenses are incurred and disbursement is requested from the NJEDA by the grantee. The disbursement requests must be evidenced by documentation supporting that the expenses were actually incurred and consistent with eligible uses of grant funding (i.e., quantity of meals purchased, cost per meal, and restaurant from which the meals were purchased).
 
During the term of the grant, the grantee may request a change or addition to participating restaurant(s), which must be submitted in writing, from which they may purchase meals and receive reimbursement through Sustain and Serve NJ. Requests for changes or additions to restaurants will be reviewed by NJEDA.
 
Application Process
 
Online applications will be accepted from December 16, 2020 through January 8, 2021, and all applications will be reviewed following the closure of the application period.
 
Applications for Sustain and Serve NJ are completed in three parts: 

1. Applicants are first required to submit an application that includes listing proposed restaurants for meal purchases;

2. Listed restaurants will then receive a short form directly from NJEDA they must complete if they wish to be eligible for meal purchases through Sustain and Serve NJ; and

3. Applicants are sent the restaurant submission to review and approve before it is sent to NJEDA. Approvals must be completed by the application deadline for consideration for meal purchase reimbursement through Sustain and Serve NJ.  
 
Applicants are responsible for ensuring restaurants have submitted materials by the application deadline. Applicants should allow sufficient time for submission of both their and listed restaurants’ materials. 
 
Fees
           
Due to financial hardship of the ultimate beneficiaries, NJEDA will collect no fees from the applicant for this program.
 
Additional Information
 
Additional information on the Sustain and Serve NJ Program may be found at the COVID-19 Business Information Hub: https://business.nj.gov/covid/is-my-business-eligible-for-the-sustain-and-serve-program?locale=en.
 

TRENTON, N.J. (December 9, 2020) – In response to significant demand for support through the program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that the deadline for companies to receive nearly 70 percent discounts on purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE) through the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program has been extended one week to Thursday, December 17th, 2020. To date, more than 7,500 businesses and organizations have been approved for more than $6.4 million in discounts through the program. More information is available at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov. 
 
The NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program allows New Jersey businesses to purchase discounted PPE through NJEDA identified and vetted “Designated Vendors.” Current Designated Vendors include Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples. These suppliers have created “microsites” where any New Jersey-based business or nonprofit can purchase PPE at a 10 percent discount.
 
In addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, the NJEDA has also made $20.4 million available to provide additional discounts of 65 percent to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees that make purchases from Staples or Office Depot. These discounts are available in addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses; meaning businesses with 100 or fewer employees can receive nearly 70 percent off PPE purchases, up to a program cap of $800 for all eligible businesses or $1,000 for businesses located in one of New Jersey’s 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones.
 
Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving these additional discounts on PPE purchases must apply at https://ppe.covid19.nj.gov. Once the NJEDA has confirmed their eligibility, they will receive vouchers for purchases from a Designated Vendor of their choice. Vouchers will expire on December 17th, 2020. Businesses and nonprofits will still be able to receive 10 percent discounts on PPE purchases after this date.
 
 
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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 

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Businesses and organizations with 100 or fewer employees can apply for nearly 70 percent discounts on PPE purchases 

TRENTON, N.J. (November 23, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that it will increase the discounts available on purchases of personal protective equipment made through the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program to nearly 70 percent, effective Tuesday, November 24, 2020. The Authority will also double the per-business cap on discount vouchers. These discounts will be available to New Jersey businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees until December 10, 2020. More information is available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.  
 
“As the weather gets colder and the holiday shopping season approaches, reliable access to affordable PPE is more important than ever for New Jersey small businesses,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program is a unique collaboration between government and industry that helps business owners identify their specific PPE needs and acquire the products they need to keep their employees and customers safe. At a time when all businesses are struggling and small businesses are facing particularly tough challenges, the discounts this program offers are crucial to ensuring a safe and successful holiday season for the New Jersey business community.” 
 
The NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program allows New Jersey businesses to purchase discounted PPE through NJEDA identified and vetted “Designated Vendors.” Current Designated Vendors include Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples. These suppliers have created “microsites” where any New Jersey-based business or nonprofit can purchase PPE at a 10 percent discount. Links to these microsites are available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.
 
In addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, the NJEDA has also made $20.4 million available to provide additional discounts to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees that make purchases from Staples or Office Depot. Initially set at an additional 25 percent, the NJEDA has now increased these additional discounts for small businesses and organizations to 65 percent. These discounts are available in addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses; meaning businesses with 100 or fewer employees can receive nearly 70 percent off PPE purchases. The NJEDA is also doubling the cap on total discounts a business or organization can receive from $400 for any business and $500 for businesses operating in one of New Jersey’s 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones to $800 for all businesses and $1,000 for businesses in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts. Businesses that have already made purchases through the program will be able to receive vouchers for additional purchases up to the new program caps, but the 65 percent discount will only apply to purchases made on or after November 24, 2020.
 
Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving these additional discounts on PPE purchases must apply at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess. Once the NJEDA has confirmed their eligibility, they will receive vouchers for purchases from a Designated Vendor of their choice. Vouchers will expire on December 10, 2020. Businesses and nonprofits will still be able to receive 10 percent discounts on PPE purchases after this date. To date, 1,950 businesses and organizations have received almost $850,000 in vouchers through the program.
 
In addition to offering discounted PPE, the NJEDA also collaborated with the New Jersey Department of Health to create an online PPE Planning Tool that helps businesses understand PPE product requirements and estimate their organizational PPE needs. The PPE Planning Tool is available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess
 
The NJEDA administers a variety of grant, low-cost financing, and technical assistance programs for small and mid-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19. Comprehensive information about these programs and other State support for businesses impacted by the pandemic is available at https://cv.business.nj.gov. 
 
                    
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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 

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Authority has distributed more than $165 million in economic relief since March
 
TRENTON, N.J. (November 23, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that it has provided more than $165 million in COVID-19 relief to more than 30,000 businesses since March 2020. The Authority’s announcement comes in advance of the kickoff of most businesses’ holiday seasons, which begins with Thanksgiving and the accompanying retail-oriented holidays Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my administration has focused on not only addressing the public health crisis the virus has caused but also providing economic support to the thousands of businesses and workers who have been impacted by the pandemic. The NJEDA has been central to these efforts, acting quickly to stand up new programs that have provided millions of dollars to more than 30,000 businesses in communities across our state,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “These efforts have been vital to getting us through the darkest days of the pandemic, and the NJEDA’s ongoing work will help many more businesses overcome the challenges they face today and make a strong recovery.”
 
“Since March, Governor Murphy has made it a top priority to support small businesses that are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact. NJEDA staff has worked tirelessly to provide relief to more than 30,000 businesses already, and we expect to support thousands more before the end of the year,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “COVID-19 has created an extraordinary and ongoing need for economic relief throughout New Jersey. The NJEDA is committed to doing all we can to meet this need now and to provide the ongoing support businesses and communities need to recover.”
 
The NJEDA’s suite of COVID-19 relief programs provides a variety of resources for businesses of all sizes, including grants for small businesses, low-interest loans, support for private-sector lenders and CDFIs, and funding for entrepreneurs. The NJEDA’s largest COVID-19 program is the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, which provides grants to small businesses impacted by the pandemic. To date, 22,390 small businesses have been approved for grants worth a total of more than $65 million through Phases 1 and 2 of the Program. To ensure equitable distribution of funds, during Phase 2 of the program, the NJEDA set aside one-third of the funding for qualified businesses located in one of the 715 Census tracts that were eligible to be selected as a New Jersey Opportunity Zone. This targeting helped to ensure minority- and women-owned businesses that were hardest hit by the pandemic’s economic impact were able to get the support they need.
 
In October, the NJEDA launched Phase 3 of the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program with $70 million in CARES Act funds. Phase 3 further expanded eligibility to any business or nonprofit located in New Jersey with 50 or fewer employees and further increased the amount of funding businesses could receive. To ensure funds flow to businesses that need them most, the NJEDA targeted Phase 3 grants to restaurants, micro-businesses, and businesses in census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones. More than 22,000 businesses applied for Phase 3 grants, and in early November, Governor Murphy committed an additional $60 million in CARES Act funds to the program to ensure all eligible applicants receive funding. To date, 9,081 businesses have been approved for grants totaling more than $80 million.
 
In addition to the targeted support for restaurants included in Phase 3 of the Emergency Assistance Grant Program, the NJEDA recently announced Sustain and Serve NJ, a $2 million grant program that will provide funding to organizations to purchase meals from restaurants that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and distribute the meals at no cost to New Jersey residents.
 
To help businesses purchase the PPE they need to keep employees and customers safe during the holiday season, the NJEDA launched the NJ Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program. The program offers a 10 percent discount on a curated selection of PPE products to all New Jersey businesses through NJEDA-approved “Designated Vendors,” including Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples. The program also allows businesses with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) to apply for vouchers that provide additional discounts on purchases made through certain Designated Vendors. To date, the NJEDA has awarded vouchers totaling nearly $850,000 to 1,950 businesses.
 
Another important component of the NJEDA’s COVID-19 relief efforts has been providing low-cost financing options. The Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program provides working capital loans of up to $100,000 to businesses with less than $5 million in revenues, and the Authority has also partnered with six New Jersey-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which target at least 60 percent of their financing activities to low- and moderate-income populations or underserved communities. To date, the NJEDA has approved 150 loans worth a combined total of more than $10.3 million through the Emergency Assistance Loan Program and the six partner CDFIs have provided 280 loans worth a total of more than $7 million.
 
The NJEDA has also supported early-stage innovation economy businesses, which are facing their own unique set of COVID-19-related challenges. The NJ Entrepreneur Support Program encourages continued capital flows to new companies by providing 80 percent loan guarantees for working capital loans to entrepreneurs. To date, this program has supported investments in 12 companies with more than $1.8 million in guarantees.
 
In addition to financial support, the NJEDA has also provided a variety of technical assistance programs for businesses struggling to adjust to new health and safety guidelines. The Authority partnered with the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ), the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and Rising Tide Capital to provide technical assistance for 447 businesses applying for federal Small Business Administration support. Since then, the Authority has rolled out a number of other initiatives to help businesses adjust to doing business safely during the pandemic, including free business consulting for micro-businesses in Opportunity Zones and training on ecommerce solutions for retail businesses and restaurants. 57 businesses have received support from these programs.
 
Looking to the future, the NJEDA plans to continue exploring new ways to address the challenges business owners and employees face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and will announce additional programs and funding opportunities as they become available. Comprehensive information about the NJEDA’s COVID-19 response is available at https://covid19.business.nj.gov.
 
 
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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 

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