The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced $50 million in new funding and broader eligibility criteria for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. Under the newly-expanded program, which will provide grants up to $10,000 for COVID-impacted businesses, a wider variety of businesses will now be eligible, including home-based businesses and sole proprietorships. The program also features a special focus on businesses in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts.
Applications for the expanded Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program will be available at 9:00 a.m. on June 9, 2020 in both English and Spanish. NJEDA staff will process the applications on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no application fee.
Phase 2 Grant Award Amounts
Businesses will receive $1,000 per full-time employee, (based on WR-30 filing). Sole proprietorships or other companies with no full-time employees will receive the minimum grant amount ($1,000).
- Minimum grant amount (per application): $1,000
- Maximum grant amount (per application): $10,000 (for entities with more than 10 FTEs)
Your organization is eligible for a Phase 2 Emergency Relief Grant if…
- You have 25 or fewer full-time employees, as reported on most recent WR-30 filing with the New Jersey Department of Labor
- You have a physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey
- Home-based businesses must be based at a home located in New Jersey
- You are a for-profit business or a non-profit organized as a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(7) organization
- Your CEO certifies that your business: 1) Was in operation on February 15, 2020; 2) Will make a best effort not to furlough or lay off any individuals from the time of application through six months after the end of the declared state of emergency; 3) Has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared state of emergency on March 9, 2020; 4) Has a material financial need that cannot be overcome without the grant of emergency relief funds
- Your Business: 1) Is registered to do business in the State of New Jersey; 2) Does not have any outstanding tax liabilities; 3) Is in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor