Bergen County has opened a new round of grants for small businesses.

For quick release:

September 6, 2022

Contact:

Derek Sands

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Bergen County has opened a new round of grants for small businesses.

Hackensack, NJ – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that Bergen County will launch a new small business grant program using funds from the federal America’s Savings Plan. The application portal will go live tomorrow. Wednesday, September 7^Th at 8 o’clock At www.BergenCountyARP.org.

This new program provides up to $2,500 to small businesses that have incurred costs or expenses due to business closures, partial closures or business interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Preference is given to Bergen County businesses registered with the State of New Jersey as a Women’s Business Organization, Minority Business Enterprise, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. – Served basis.

“In Bergen County, small business is the heart of our economy and community.” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “That’s why my administration is committed to supporting small businesses, and this new funding builds on the significant steps taken by the county’s economic development team to address the financial impact of the pandemic and increase opportunities for economic growth in Bergen County as a whole. He said.

“Bergen County is fully committed to making sure our small businesses thrive.” Commissioner Chair Tracy Silna Zur said. “Investing in their success and helping them heal our small business community is the best investment Bergen County can make.”

To be eligible for the Bergen County ARP Small Business Grant Program, businesses must fall under the following criteria.

• The business must be located in Bergen County.
• The business must be owned by an individual, partnership, corporation or limited liability company.
• From the first quarter of 2022, the business cannot have more than 5 full-time equivalent employees.
• The business must have experienced a loss on gross income between 2019 and 2020, as evidenced by federal tax returns.
• Non-profit organizations, real estate companies, and tax-exempt businesses are not eligible

Priority for the first three weeks of the program is for applicants who have not received funding from the 2020 Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program. If funds remain after the initial three-week period, applicants who have previously received funds from the program will be eligible.

This new small business funding builds on several efforts already underway in Bergen County to address the financial impact of the pandemic and stimulate new economic growth. In the year In 2020, the county expanded several Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant programs, ultimately awarding $55.6 million to nearly 4,000 Bergen County businesses with 30 employees or fewer. Then, in early 2022, the county launched the Bergen Business Resource Network (BBRN), a unique partnership with Bergen Community College and several local workforce resource agencies. The network offers free consulting services to small businesses and provides metrics on how a business compares to the competition in a specific industry, thanks to its “SizeUp” data tool. Finally, earlier this summer, the county launched the Bergen County Economic Resiliency Advisory Committee, which brings together local industry leaders to discuss options, options and recommendations to maintain our county’s economic strength and build for sustainable growth.

The Bergen County ARP Small Business Grant Program is supported through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) federal grant funds. For more information, please visit www.BergenCountyARP.org. Administrative inquiries regarding the grant program may also be sent. This email address is being protected from spam bots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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