Important Notice:

Applications for the expanded Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program Phase 2 [PDF] opened June 9, 2020, in both English and Spanish. NJEDA staff will process the applications on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no application fee. The application period is now closed. Businesses can now check Phase 2 Grant Application Status online.

 

Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program

In response to the economic challenges being faced by New Jersey Small and Medium sized businesses and non-profits (collectively “SMEs”), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has created the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program.

Applications will open the morning of April 3, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. and close April 10, 2020, at 9 a.m. A link to the application will be available on this site. Businesses can now access the full Notice of Funding Availability.

To see whether you might qualify for this program, use the NJ COVID-19 Business Support Eligibility Wizard. Explore how how NJEDA determines grant size with the Grant Size Calculator. You may also access a copy of the grant application now, to assist you with preparing your submission. More information is available below on the grant scope, eligibility, and the materials that will be required for application submissions.

The grant program will provide funding as efficiently and quickly as possible to SMEs that are in need. The focus of this round of funding is on the smallest enterprises in industries that are among the most adversely impacted by the COVID-19 containment measures.

The goal of the grants is to try to preserve the ability for SMEs to support and maintain a workforce during this containment period that is as close to pre-outbreak levels as possible.

The Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 to NJ-based SMEs that have between 1–10 full time equivalent employees (“FTE”). The grant funding is targeted as unrestricted payroll and working capital support, and cannot be used for any capital expenses, including construction.

For more information about how this resource may be able to assist you in response to the COVID-19 crisis, please visit our website.