Tax credit auction will support programs to alleviate food deserts and make nutritious foods more accessible & affordable

TRENTON, N.J. (July 29, 2024) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will auction up to $20 million in corporate and insurance premiums tax credits through the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction. Applications for the auction will open on August 28, 2024. The proceeds of the auction will fund programs aimed to improve and increase access to healthy and affordable food throughout New Jersey’s 50 Food Desert Communities (FDCs).

WHAT:            The 2024 tax credit auction was approved by the NJEDA Board in February, following the successful sale of $15 million in tax credits during the first tax credit auction in 2023.Proceeds from the 2023 and 2024 auctions will be used to fund programs that will advance the priorities established by the Food Desert Relief Act.

These future grants, loans, and/or technical assistance initiatives will complement the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Program, a tax credit program to support the development and operation of new supermarkets in FDCs, by supporting small and mid-sized food retailers and other entities involved in strengthening food security.

WHO:              Eligible bidders must be New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or Insurance Premiums Tax filers. Companies do not need to be in a food desert or in the food industry to buy tax credits through the auction. Companies can bid for tax credits at a discount of up to 15 percent.

WHEN:           Applications will open on August 28, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and close on September 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

                        A sample application and details about the auction process can be found here. Questions may be submitted to FDRTCAuction@NJEDA.gov until August 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Answers will be posted no later than August 22, 2024 at 5:00 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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (March 28, 2024) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program on Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m., with an application deadline of Wednesday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m. The $5.25 million pilot program is part of a broader initiative to expand food access in Atlantic City.

WHAT:          The Atlantic City Food Security Grants program will provide grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to fund projects to strengthen food security and food access in Atlantic City. Grants can be used for direct and indirect project costs and may cover 100 percent of the proposed project cost. The pilot program is meant to act as a more immediate response to the food access crisis in Atlantic City and to bring nutritious food options to the city as residents await the construction of a full-fledged supermarket.

Governor Phil Murphy announced the creation of the program last fall, as part of a broader initiative to bring fresh, healthy foods to Atlantic City residents. The Atlantic City/Ventnor Food Desert Community (FDC) is home to 41,000 residents and is the second-most acute in the state.

WHO:             Eligible applicants include for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities that have been in existence for at least two years at the time of applying. Applicants must currently be serving residents in the Atlantic City/Ventnor FDC and must be able to demonstrate existing programming or services related to food access and/or food security.

WHEN:          Applications for the Atlantic City Food Security Grants program will open on Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. with an application deadline of Wednesday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m. Grants will be made to the highest-scoring eligible applications, not in a first-come, first-served manner. Interested applicants can click here to learn more and apply.

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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Innovative programs will expand access to fresh groceries for residents in NJ’s second-most-acute food desert community

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will commit over $5.5 million in funding to support a multi-faceted approach to immediately expand access to fresh, healthy grocery shopping options for Atlantic City residents. Out of 50 Food Desert Communities (FDCs) in the state, Atlantic City is the second-highest-ranked, demonstrating a significant need for interventions designed to reduce rates of food insecurity. The suite of programs that will be launched by the NJEDA will increase affordable access to produce and healthy food options, ensuring more residents of Atlantic City can purchase groceries right in their community.

“Every New Jerseyan deserves equitable access to affordable groceries regardless of their zip code,” said Governor Murphy. “The funding announced today will support several innovative programs that will alleviate the pressure on countless Atlantic City residents who travel miles out of their community to buy the groceries they need for their families. My administration continues to be committed to expanding access to fresh and healthy foods in Atlantic City and across the state.”

In 2022, the NJEDA designated 50 FDCs across New Jersey. The Atlantic City/Ventnor FDC, comprised of 41,000 residents, is ranked second-highest in the state based on its food desert factor score, a measure of acuity of need. Atlantic City has been without a full-service supermarket for nearly two decades. The programs announced today will serve as pilot programs, which could be expanded to other FDCs throughout the state.

“Through my Nurture NJ initiative, New Jersey is working hard to strengthen underserved communities so that every child has a supportive and healthy environment to grow up in,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “I am excited that a portion of today’s funding will allow the Department of Health to expand their Healthy Corner Store Initiative in Atlantic City. The initiative has already brought healthy food and beverage choices to communities across the state and this additional funding will allow hardworking families struggling to make ends meet access the groceries they need to feed their households.”

“Every New Jerseyan deserves access to affordable groceries and nutritious foods regardless of where they live,” said Senator Vince Polistina. “This multimillion-dollar investment by the NJEDA will significantly improve food security in Atlantic City, help end food inequality, and expand access to disadvantaged communities across Atlantic County.”

“The residents of the Great City of Atlantic City deserve easy access to quality and nutritious foods right here in their hometown,” said City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. “As my administration continues our quest to combat food insecurity issues, we are extremely grateful Governor Murphy, the First Lady, and the NJEDA recognize this glaring need exists in our city and are committed to ensuring our families do not struggle to put fresh food on the table.”

“For far too long, Atlantic City families have had limited options to buy fresh groceries. Under Governor Murphy and First Lady Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is taking concrete steps to ensure every resident has access to convenient, affordable, and healthy grocery options,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The innovative programs the NJEDA is supporting will strengthen food security in Atlantic City, creating stronger, healthier families and a more prosperous community. I appreciate the commitment of our state and local partners and look forward to working with them as we bring these new, creative ideas to Atlantic City.”

The NJEDA will sponsor initiatives led by two major healthcare systems in South Jersey to expand mobile and community-based food retail options, bringing fresh and affordable foods directly into Atlantic City communities. AtlantiCare is a South Jersey-based healthcare system which has long been addressing food insecurity by operating the Pantry in the Plex in Midtown from which it serves hundreds of local families on a weekly basis. With this sponsorship, AtlantiCare is able to further expand its food programming to include a retail mobile grocery. AtlantiCare will implement a multi-pronged approach including a weekly market and educational event featuring health education, incentives for purchasing healthy items, cooking demonstrations and classes, and assistance with online ordering. Combined, these efforts will support access to healthy food as well as teach community members about meal planning, preparation, and more.

NJEDA’s sponsorship with Virtua Health will allow the South Jersey-based healthcare system to bring their “Eat Well” mobile grocery store to Atlantic City, in addition to Virtua’s core operations in Burlington and Camden counties. Virtua’s mobile grocery store, which is a 40-foot refurbished New Jersey Transit bus, will allow Atlantic City residents to shop twice a week for fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, dairy, eggs, and other basic grocery staples below-market prices.

The NJEDA will also launch the new $5.25 million Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program, which will provide grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to fund projects to strengthen food security and food access in Atlantic City. Grants can be used for direct and indirect project costs. The pilot program, which the NJEDA Board approved in October, is meant to act as a more immediate response to the food access crisis in Atlantic City and to bring nutritious food options to the city as residents await the construction of a full-fledged supermarket, which can take years. The NJEDA is using American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds and general state funds to support the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program.

The NJEDA Board also approved providing the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) up to $250,000 to expand their Healthy Corner Store Initiative for stores in Atlantic City. The Healthy Corner Store Initiative, which is part of First Lady Murphy’s Nurture NJ food security initiative, works to improve access to healthy food and beverages in underserved communities, which often experience higher rates of chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes.

In the coming months, the NJEDA plans to begin accepting applications for its Food Desert Supermarket Tax Credit program, which features a Supermarket Financing Gap Tax Credit for the development or rehabilitation of new supermarkets in FDCs and a Supermarket Initial Operating Costs Tax Credit to support the first three years of operations for these supermarkets. The tax credits are expected to create a feasible, sustainable path forward for a long-awaited supermarket in Atlantic City.

The NJEDA launched the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) program earlier this year, which helps food retailers to purchase and install temperature-controlled lockers to expand food delivery options for residents living in FDCs. Supermarket operators in the Atlantic City region are encouraged to apply for the FRIDG program, where recipients can receive up to $250,000 to purchase the lockers.

“We are proud to partner with the Administration in our shared commitment to eliminating health disparities for our residents who are dealing with food insecurity and living in food deserts,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston. “By increasing access and availability to nutritious, affordable food, we are empowering residents to improve their own health.”

“I commend Governor Murphy, the First Lady and the NJEDA for continuing to invest in innovative approaches to better serve New Jerseyans and solve persistent challenges. These initiatives will help achieve food and nutrition security by bringing affordable, healthy, and nutritious foods directly to Atlantic City communities that do not have access to local grocery stores or markets today,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “I also want to acknowledge the health care and community partners involved in these projects who recognize that regular access to healthy foods means healthier people and communities. Addressing barriers like transportation and affordability will make the difference for many families who right now have little to no access to healthy food options that are vital to their health.”

“Atlantic City cannot reach its full potential without grocery shopping options that offer fresh produce and high-quality food to the people who live and work in the community,” said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez. “We understand that access to nutritious food will make a huge and positive impact on the health of people who live in Atlantic City, particularly the city’s youth. It will also make the city more attractive to visitors and potential residents. We thank Governor Murphy, First Lady Murphy, and the NJEDA for their creative approach to addressing food insecurity in Atlantic City.”

“The CRDA supports efforts for Atlantic City residents to have access to fresh and healthy food options,” said Casino Reinvestment Development Authority Executive Director Sean Pattwell. “The Murphy administration is taking important steps that will ensure they have the options they need to achieve this goal.”

“I applaud Governor Murphy and the NJEDA for deploying these trailblazing strategies to address food insecurity in Atlantic City,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate. “The Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program is a holistic approach to supporting innovative strategies that can bring partners together to collectively address community needs in one of New Jersey’s key cities. My team and I stand ready to support the NJEDA in whatever capacity as this program rolls out.”

“The social determinants of health are barriers to the well-being of our entire community and AtlantiCare is excited to partner with Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to address these underlying factors. Together, we can make a significant difference to those that need it most,” said Michael Charlton, president and CEO of AtlantiCare. “This funding will not only enable us to expand our food security initiatives and education programs, but more importantly, it will help us to address the root causes of health disparities that are so prevalent in Atlantic City. The health of our community extends beyond our medical facility. I am committed to addressing these issues and am confident that with the support and involvement of our staff, patients, and local partners, we can create a healthier, more equitable community for everyone we serve.”

“At Virtua Health, we view food as fundamental to health and wellness. Our Eat Well programs help ensure that South Jersey residents not only have access to fresh, affordable foods, but that they also receive guidance and support for embracing good nutrition as a lifestyle,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health. “We are honored to collaborate with Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to bring Virtua’s Eat Well Mobile Grocery Store to Atlantic City and explore new opportunities for food access.”

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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Funding will help local and county governments improve food access in New Jersey’s Food Desert Communities

Trenton, N.J. (May 9, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has awarded nine grants totaling over $1 million to seven county and municipal governments to support the development of plans to improve food access and food security by leveraging and repurposing distressed assets in New Jersey’s Food Desert Communities (FDCs).

Established under the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 and signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, the Food Security Planning Grant Program provides grants of up to $125,000 to municipal governments, county governments, and/or redevelopment agencies to fund development of plans to decrease food insecurity in designated FDCs. All of the grants that have been awarded thus far have gone to entities servicing seven of the top 20 FDCs, including three of the highest-ranked FDCs (Camden, Atlantic City and Newark), which have the greatest acuity of need.

“Connecting every New Jerseyan with equitable access to nutritious food is a core component of Governor Murphy’s strategy for building a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “Through the Food Security Planning Grant Program, we are providing funding to help local government leaders design creative and sustainable reuses that transform their distressed assets into resources that will aid in the fight against hunger and support local economic development.”

The Food Security Planning Grant Program is one tool that the NJEDA is deploying in order to empower local governments to develop and submit plans to improve food access while transforming distressed assets that have historically hindered economic growth.

NJEDA Executive Vice President of Economic Security Tara Colton noted that the NJEDA will leverage the findings and outcomes from awardees’ plans to help develop and deploy future comprehensive food security initiatives and economic development across the state while equipping municipalities with the tools to think about how to repurpose distressed assets.

“Thanks to Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature, we have $300 million in resources that enable us to take a comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity,” Colton said. “This robust toolkit to combat hunger includes innovative community-driven initiatives like this planning grant and our Sustain & Serve NJ program, which gives grants to local organizations to buy meals from local restaurants and distribute them for free into the community. It also includes tax credits to build new supermarkets in food deserts and our innovative Food Retail Innovation in Delivery program to broaden access to a booming grocery e-commerce industry.”

The following planning grants have been awarded through the program:

Atlantic City (two grants in different parts of the city), #2 ranked FDC: A $125,000 grant will be used to pay costs associated with planning the development of Midtown Co-op Market. Additionally, an $89,000 grant will help plan the development of Mighty Uptown Food Pantry.

City of Camden, #1 ranked FDC: A $125,000 grant will support preliminary building plans and a market feasibility study to develop a state-of-the-art multi-purpose food market, eatery, and indoor farm facility.

Newark (two grants in different parts of the city), #3 and #8 ranked FDCs: A nearly $125,000 grant will pay for the development of a business plan for a new food co-op in the City of Newark. Additionally, Newark intends to use a grant of approximately $112,000 to complete a feasibility study and identify the best use of ground floor retail space in an existing parking deck to increase food security.

City of Passaic, #10 ranked FDC: A $125,000 grant will be used to develop the Passaic City Food Access and Security Action Plan, which will provide a framework for the successful transformation of the selected distressed property into a thriving supermarket center of the Eastside Neighborhood.

Passaic County, #15 ranked FDC: A $125,000 grant will be used to develop a feasibility study for a supermarket, food retailer, or farmers market to be located within a mixed-use development site in Paterson.

Penns Grove, #20 ranked FDC: A $100,000 grant for a feasibility study for a full-service grocery store.

City of Salem, #9 ranked FDC: A $125,000 grant will be used to conduct a feasibility study to bring food from local producers to Salem residents to boost the local supply chain for the region.

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.com and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Subsidies to Adopt New Grocery Delivery Models to Aid Food Desert Community Residents

TRENTON, N.J (January 6, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board announced at its December meeting the approval of a new grant program targeted at strengthening food security in the state’s 50 Food Desert Communities (FDC), which are home to 1.5 million New Jersey residents across a diverse range of communities in all 21 counties. This spring, food retailers will be able to apply for the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) to assist in the purchase and installation of temperature-controlled lockers to expand food delivery options and improve food access for Food Desert Community residents. FRIDG will provide last mile solutions that help FDC residents tap into the exponential growth in online grocery shopping with delivery to a convenient location in their community.

The $2.5 million allocation appropriated through the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget is aligned with Governor Phil Murphy’s commitment to combating food insecurity, including Sustain & Serve NJ, the Food Security Planning Grant and the Food Desert Relief Act, which will provide up to $40 million per year to support a variety of programs that increase access to affordable, nutritious food through funding for supermarkets, small- and mid-size retailers, and other entities that support food security initiatives. NJEDA is also currently seeking public feedback on the Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Program, which aims to support the development and initial operations of new supermarkets and grocery stores in FDCs.

“The FRIDG program will build upon Governor Murphy’s vision and the work being done to uplift those in the state’s targeted Food Desert Communities,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “People should be able to benefit from the advancements in grocery delivery and access nutritious food regardless of their zip code. With this new program, we will make New Jersey a leader in pioneering a new approach to food access in partnership with food retailers.”

“The creation of crucial resources and programs, such as the FRIDG program, plays an important role in our work to stem food insecurity in households across New Jersey,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “This program will help bridge the gap in access to balanced, nutritional meals for working families living in food desert communities in our state, building on our efforts to put food on the table of all New Jerseyans. Meeting the most basic needs of our residents must be our priority and the FRIDG program helps us accomplish this by building on our existing hunger-fighting initiatives.”

Food retailers with at least one physical location in New Jersey can apply for up to $250,000 in funding to purchase and install self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers in one of New Jersey’s 50 designated FDCs. These companies must be authorized to accept online orders paid with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As of September 2022, there were 789,276 New Jersey residents receiving SNAP benefits, including nearly 350,000 children. In 2020, the NJ Department of Human Services (NJDHS) launched a pilot program to allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits to purchase groceries online. This aligns with the broader growth in online grocery ordering, which now accounts for almost 10 percent of all grocery sales nationwide and is projected to surpass 20 percent by 2026. New Jersey SNAP recipients can now purchase groceries online from 16 retailers, but many FDC residents remain unable to receive groceries as they lack a reliable delivery location due to unpredictable work schedules, family obligations or housing insecurity. The FRIDG lockers are intended to provide FDC residents with a safe, convenient location where their grocery orders – including fresh produce and dairy – will stay fresh until they are retrieved at a convenient time. 

“Food assistance through SNAP puts food on the table for many New Jersey families. But for residents without ready access to fresh, nutritious food, this assistance is incomplete,” NJDHS Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “The FRIDG program bridges the gap by allowing retailers who participate in the states’ online ordering flexibility to better serve customers where they live and work. This program, with the strong leadership and partnership of NJEDA, truly demonstrates the Murphy Administration’s whole-of-government approach to addressing food insecurity.”

Retailers must submit an application detailing their plan to purchase these lockers before actually buying one. The FRIDG grants will cover at least 30 percent of the initial costs, including the installation, which is subject to the state’s prevailing wages and affirmative action laws for installation costs above $2,000. Applicants may increase their grant award through bonuses to cover up to 50 percent of the project costs for commitments such as waiving delivery fees (including for SNAP recipients) and partnering with community-based organizations to host the lockers. The lockers must be installed in public places with easy general access to the public to allow residents to easily access to groceries. such as community centers or libraries, not lobbies of apartment complexes with keycards or locks or other sites with restricted access. The Authority will disburse funds to the purchasing companies following the installation, which will be the lower amount between the determined percentage or $250,000.

“There is no single solution to alleviating food deserts, and FRIDG is a vital element of Governor Murphy’s growing portfolio of food security initiatives,” said NJEDA Executive Vice President for Economic Security Tara Colton. “This program is pioneering a new approach to food access in partnership with food retailers. By meeting people where they are – literally – we aim to eliminate some of the structural and logistical barriers to fresh and nutritious food that should be the standard for all New Jersey residents, regardless of where they live.”

“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, Director of the Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). “The FRIDG program is an innovative approach to food security that encourages public/private partnerships, decreases stigma, leverages technology, and fulfills a good portion of the definition of food security. OFSA is proud to support the NJEDA in this effort and looks forward to continued innovation and collaboration that we can bring to bear when we all work together and push each other to think outside the box.”

Retailers can apply for multiple grants, providing they offer one locker unit per FDC and do not try to install one in a FDC that has already received approval.  The application window will be open for 18 months from the start date or until the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. This is not a competitive application process, and all candidates will be evaluated separately as applications are received. Upon approval, grantees will have 12 months to install the lockers, with up to two six-month extensions available, pending Authority approval.

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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Now funded at $57.5M, Sustain & Serve NJ helps program grantees buy meals from local restaurants and feed families over the holidays

TRENTON, N.J. (December 20, 2022) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced plans to allocate an additional $5 million in state funding to Phase 3 of its Sustain & Serve NJ program. Sustain & Serve NJ provides nonprofit organizations with grants to support the purchase of meals from New Jersey restaurants that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and the distribution of those meals at no cost to recipients. The announcement comes at a time of year when nonprofits are facing peak demand for food assistance.  The funding announced today is expected to support the purchase of an additional 450,000 meals.

Sustain & Serve NJ launched during the pandemic as a $2 million pilot program to boost restaurants impacted by COVID-19 while combatting rising food insecurity and has grown into an over $57 million program that continues to bring much-needed food to people across New Jersey. Since February 2021, Sustain & Serve NJ has already supported the purchase of more than four million meals from over 400 restaurants in all 21 counties with grants totaling $57.5 million through three rounds of funding.

“Sustain & Serve NJ is a unique tool with a proven track record of enabling nonprofits to buy meals from local restaurants to combat food insecurity,” Governor Phil Murphy said. “Food banks and other nonprofits statewide are seeing a rising demand this holiday season and this added $5 million for Sustain & Serve NJ will significantly aid their efforts to connect New Jerseyans with nutritious meals.”

Earlier this year, 31 New Jersey nonprofits were approved to receive a total of $17.5 million through Phase 3 of Sustain & Serve NJ. Each of these awardees will now receive additional funding to support their efforts.

“Sustain & Serve NJ grantees are working extra hard this holiday season to feed their neighbors and support their communities,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Governor Murphy has championed Sustain & Serve NJ since the beginning, and we are grateful to him and the Legislature for continuing to provide the resources we need to combat hunger every day of the year while supporting local restaurants throughout the Garden State.”

“This additional $5 million committed to Sustain & Serve NJ partners will go extra lengths in making sure more families see hot and freshly prepared foods on their tables this holiday season, into the New Year, and beyond,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “And that’s incredibly critical as our food banks report sharp increases in food insecurity among our communities.”

Sullivan noted that Sustain & Serve NJ is a key part of the NJEDA’s efforts to strengthen the economic security of all New Jerseyans. The Authority is putting forth a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate food deserts within the state and to bolster the child care sector, an industry whose critical importance was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NJEDA is also working with partners statewide to create a Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton as part of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative to make New Jersey the safest and most equitable place to give birth in the country.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, we are taking a holistic approach to ensuring New Jerseyans’ basic needs are addressed and have placed a large focus on food security,” said NJEDA Executive Vice President of Economic Security Tara Colton. “Sustain & Serve NJ has the ability to transform lives – both by bolstering the restaurant industry and bringing nourishment to New Jerseyans in a respectful and dignified manner.”

Grantees and restaurant owners alike welcomed the news of additional funding and focused on the impact it will have statewide:

“As the cost of living has risen over the past year, many pantries at the Jersey shore are reporting that they are serving even more people than at the height of the pandemic,” Fulfill President and CEO Triada Stampas said. “Sustain & Serve NJ has been a critical tool to help address the food security needs of our neighbors. Over the past two and a half years, we were able to work with 35 restaurant and catering businesses to provide over 701,000 meals to our neighbors, while also helping those businesses survive during a really challenging time. Fulfill is grateful to Governor Murphy and our legislature, as well as Tim Sullivan and Tara Colton at the NJEDA, for their leadership in this expanded support.”

“Sustain & Serve NJ is just one of the programs Governor Murphy has initiated to help New Jersey make it during this period of time,” said Randy Glover, Chairman/Executive Director of All Access Community Development Corporation. “It is abundantly clear that the governor and his administration understand so well the pain and challenges of those at all income levels being faced in New Jersey. His mandates that have been articulated from the beginning of Covid-19 through this current economic crisis, putting food on the tables of all New Jerseyans illustrates his commitment to people, his compassion to all of New Jersey. New Jersey Pride, New Jersey Strong, that’s our Governor, that’s my Governor. Thank you, Governor Murphy, for your vision to see us throughout this time in history.”

“This program has really helped me keep our doors open and serve our community,” said Mohamed Elrawy, owner of Newark-based Pita Square. “Partnering with Coalition Equity has helped me serve my community by giving not only food but fresh and healthy food — something that everybody should be able to have, no questions asked. If you would have told me pre pandemic that I would be able to help people struggling everyday with hunger while keeping my doors open, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s put a whole new meaning to what my restaurant can do and is doing for Newark and the surrounding community. I can’t tell you how thankful I am to participate in this program and partner with programs like Coalition Equity, Newark Working Kitchen and University Hospital to serve the community.” 

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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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