Perth Amboy BID Press Release June 23, 2020

The City of Perth Amboy and the Business Improvement District are launching a Small Business Grant Program to provide funding to local small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses are encouraged to apply for grants up to $3,500 online. The grant was developed to help local businesses get “Back to Business.” The funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The goal is to process the grant requests as rapidly as possible.

The City’s Office of Economic and Community Development and the Business Improvement District (BID) are providing $180,000 to fund the COVID-19 Small Business Grant program. The grant program is federally funded by the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. And $30,000 of the Small Business Grant Program was sponsored by the BID, with unused events funds from 2020.

Applicants are advised that documents listed below are needed to complete their grant request:

·         Completed and signed Small Business Grant application

·         Business owner’s statement about hardship caused by COVID-19 shutdown

·         Business Formation Documents

·         Tax returns filed for 2018 and 2019

·         W9 Form and New Jersey Business Registration Certificate

·         Employee Self-Certification Form.

In announcing the Perth Amboy’s Small Business Grant, Mayor Wilda Diaz said, “Our small businesses are the backbone of the City’s economy and many have struggled during the coronavirus. We’ve launched our own grassroots grant program to help local companies ‘Get Back to Business’ by supporting their rehiring of employees and serving their customers. I’m grateful to the inspired City Hall team and the BID for partnering to create one of the only locally-funded business grant programs of its kind in the Garden State.”

Here is a checklist for business owners to review to make certain they qualify for the grant program:

·         Business needs a physical location within the city

·         Demonstrate an economic hardship due to COVID-19 crisis

·         Business’ employees meet the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) guidelines (information available online)

·         Business must have 1-10 full-time employees (or equivalent)

·         Business is registered to do business in New Jersey

·         Business is a for-profit business.

Tashilee Vazquez, Assistant Director of the Perth Amboy’s Office of Economic and Community Development, said: “Our priority is to alleviate the financial hardships that COVID-19 shutdown and continued social distancing policies caused on our small business community.  Many businesses have depleted their cash reserves and need grant funding to pay expenses and meet their payroll.  Grant funds will be used to retain or rehire low to moderate income individuals, a CDBG national objective.” 

The BID’s Director, Noelia Colon added, “Our community, its residents and businesses were hit hard by the pandemic and damage continues. The BID serves our small businesses in many positive ways and the Small Business Grant program is an innovative effort to serve and help speed their recovery. Helping fund and administer the grant program validates the value of the BID in responding to and supporting our local businesses during times of difficulty and need.”

If questions about the City of Perth Amboy’s Small Business Grant Program, contact Ms. Vazquez by calling 732-826-0290, ext. 4863, or email her at  tvazquez@perthamboy.org.