In its first round of distribution, Middlesex County will award grants to 123 local businesses with a collective total of $3,039,716 from its CARES Act Small Business Relief Grant (MC-SBRG) program, which uses federal CARES Act funding.
The grants serve to reimburse costs and loss of revenue associated with adapting business operations in a COVID-19 environment. Payments ranging from $410.97 to the maximum $30,000, with an average grant payment of $24,714, will be distributed to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 starting Oct. 14, according to a statement provided by the Middlesex County Office of Communication.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had many unintended consequences, including for our small business communities. Not only have they been asked to limit or halt operations, but as we begin to reopen our economy, these cash-strapped businesses have been asked to adapt their businesses accordingly, making it even more difficult to make ends meet,” Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said in the statement. “These grants will certainly make a positive impact in our business community.”
“The county’s commitment to its small business owners is fierce, and this first round of funding being distributed to 123 small businesses will make a huge difference in the lives of these businesses, the people they employ, and the communities they serve,” Freeholder Leslie Koppel, chair of the Finance Committee, said in the statement.
Recipients of this first round of federal funding include restaurants, hair and nail salons, retail facilities, health care offices, manufacturing, construction, educational services, transportation companies and fitness studios.
SBRG-CV grants will be awarded to the following number of businesses, by municipality: Carteret, four; Cranbury, one; Dunellen, four; East Brunswick, seven; Edison, 20; Highland Park, five; Jamesburg, one; Metuchen, 11; Middlesex Borough, four; Milltown, one;
Monroe, five; New Brunswick, 13; North Brunswick, 11; Old Bridge, four; Perth Amboy, five; Piscataway, five; Sayreville, two; South Amboy, one; South Brunswick, three; South Plainfield, four; South River, one; and Woodbridge, 14.
Among other qualifications, to be eligible for the grants these businesses must employ less than 50 employees, have a net annual business income of less than $1 million based on their 2019 federal tax return, and must document business interruption as well as loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the statement.
With millions still available in the SBRG grant, those eligible to apply for grants are encouraged to do so at the new CARES Act Small Business Relief Grants Portal. In total, the county intends to award $30 million to small businesses, with grants up to $30,000 available for each business.
For more information, visit: www.middlesexcountynj.gov/mcsbrg.
This program will be administered by the Middlesex County Department of Finance.
For more information on helping your business during COVID-19, visit https://discovermiddlesex.com/covid19/ under the “Resources” section.