Breaking News for the Business Community – Pompton Lakes Business Improvement District

BREAKING NEWS FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

February 8, 2021
Passaic County, New Jersey

Paying rent and utilities
Meeting payroll
Paying outstanding debt to vendors
Upgrading technology infrastructure
Other immediate operational costs

NJ Labor Department Announces $3.5 Million Grant for Employers to Train Incumbent Frontline Workers TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has announced $3.5 million in available funding through the UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker Training Grant to help employers further train existing workers. The funds will be competitively awarded to employers within the Garden State to reimburse up to 50 percent of the cost of training incumbent, frontline employees to meet current and future occupational skill requirements of available high-wage, middle- and high-skill jobs. “During this unprecedented time, our top priority is to continue investing in our workforce,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This critical funding will lay the foundation – through intensive training and support for employers – to ensure New Jersey workers have the skills needed to meet the demands of 21st century jobs and for employers to fill their talent needs.” Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo noted: “It is crucial to provide ongoing training to our existing workers to keep their skills relevant, which enhances their career success while giving our employers a competitive edge. I am pleased we are able to offer this vital funding to help our workforce thrive, especially during these difficult times.” Applications are being accepted from individual employers, employer organizations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and industry-specific consortiums. Individual employers may apply for a maximum $100,000, while industry-specific consortiums may apply for a maximum of $150,000. Grant funds are intended to achieve measurable outcomes for employers and employees trained, to “seed” occupational skills training, and to support businesses in retaining workers and maintaining a presence in New Jersey. Funding may be used for remote training as necessary, with acceptable documentation. The grants are not intended to supplement any training that would otherwise occur without grant assistance, such as annual or onboarding training. For more information, including application submission deadlines, please read the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here: https://www.nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/NGO/FY21upskill.pdf To learn more about all NJDOL grant opportunities, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/programs/grants/ngo_index.html

SBA Shares Resources for Black-Owned Businesses During National Black History MonthBy Victor Parker, Deputy Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Field Operations This National Black History Month, we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the destruction of Black Wall Street where hundreds of small business dreams were deferred in the town of Greenwood, Oklahoma. Today, Greenwood’s 1921 Commission and other small business leaders join forces to help this community rebuild and regain economic equity. SBA also celebrates the immeasurable contributions black business owners have made to entrepreneurship in this country. From key historical figures like Madame CJ Walker to well-known innovators like Oprah Winfrey, black business owners throughout history have shaped U.S. entrepreneurship and paved the way for today’s small business owners. Learn more

Looking for more information about the Targeted EIDL Advance? Earlier this week, the SBA added a new frequently asked questions which includes information about the application process, eligibility and program criteria. Learn more

Earlier this week, the SBA put together a matrix that compares the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) eligibility. This matrix is designed to help you decide what is best for your small business. Learn more

As small businesses continue the hard work of economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to capital is paramount. For some companies and non-profits, they have exhausted their existing funding sources to sustain their operations. There are many unique funding resources available through Federal, state, and local governments in addition to philanthropy and non-profit organizations. The SBA has a free, curated list of thousands of funding sources at the national, state, regional and local levels designed to support small businesses in accessing capital to recover from COVID-19. Learn more

Bad actors are using government logos in phishing emails in an attempt to steal account information. Email image links lead to websites impersonating federal agencies. Any email from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will come from accounts ending in sba.gov.Learn more

Are you nearing the anniversary date of your firm’s HUBZone certification date? If so, it may be time for you to recertify. Recertification is a necessary program requirement, but after recertifying, you won’t need to demonstrate your eligibility for another year. Log into your General Login System (GLS) account to recertify, or email hubzone@sba.gov if you need assistance.

COVID-19 Survey for Small Businesses Small business owners: Take this 15-minute survey from our friends at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and share how the pandemic has impacted operations. Take the survey

Federal Coronavirus Resources State, local, and federal agencies are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Check out coronavirus.gov for updates from the White House’s COVID-19 Task Force. Go to cdc.gov for detailed information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit covid-sb.org, the official federal resource website for U.S. small businesses affected by COVID-19. Learn more about the federal government’s response

Virtual Mentoring and Training Offices around the country may be closed due to the pandemic, but SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers and other resource partners are providing free business mentoring and training by phone, email, and video. Find an SBA resource partner near you

The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. The company must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020. Venue or promoter must not have received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020. Eligible entities include:

Live venue operators or promoters
Theatrical producers
Live performing arts organization operators
Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria
Motion picture theater operators
Talent representatives

Information on how to apply:https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Brownfields Loan Program open on January 14th, 2021

Applications for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Brownfields Loan Program open on January 14th, 2021. This competitive loan program provides low-interest loans of up to $5 million to brownfield redevelopment projects for all aspects of brownfield revitalization, including assessment, investigation, and demolition.

Learn more and prepare to apply at https://www.njeda.com/bfloans

The new Brownfields Loan Program provides financing to potential brownfield site purchasers and current brownfield site owners who intend to develop commercial, retail, or mixed-use developments, expansions, or reuses. Unlike many funding sources for brownfields projects, the Brownfields Loan Program will finance pre-construction planning, demolition, asbestos, PCB removal, and lead-based paint remediation.

Loans made through the program will have ten-year terms with no interest for the first two years and only interest payments required for the subsequent two years. Interest rates on loans made through the program will be between two and three percent, with reductions available for projects that promote environmental resiliency, public health, and community well-being.

More information and complete eligibility criteria are available at https://www.njeda.com/bfloans

Applications for the Brownfields Loan Program will be open from January 14th to April 13th, 2021. Loans will be awarded through a competitive application process, with projects receiving scores based on various details about the brownfield site and the proposed redevelopment project. Projects that provide beneficial end uses will receive higher scores.

If you have questions about the Brownfields Loan Program or the application process, please reach out to the NJEDA Brownfields Team at brownfieldsloan@njeda.com.

This week, SBA announced that the deadline to apply for a COVID-19 pandemic Economic Injury Disaster Loan has been extended to December 31, 2021.

To date, SBA has approved $197 billion in low-interest loans, which provide U.S. small businesses, non-profits, and agricultural businesses working capital funds. Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021, pending the availability of funds.

Loans are offered at affordable terms, including a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. All eligible small businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan

SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. “The historically successful Paycheck Protection Program served as an economic lifeline to millions of small businesses and their employees when they needed it most,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Today’s guidance builds on the success of the program and adapts to the changing needs of small business owners by providing targeted relief and a simpler forgiveness process to ensure their path to recovery.” “The Paycheck Protection Program has successfully provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to America’s small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This updated guidance enhances the PPP’s targeted relief to small businesses most impacted by COVID-19. We are committed to implementing this round of PPP quickly to continue supporting American small businesses and their workers.” Key PPP updates include:

PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs;
PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures;
The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations;
The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees;
Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and
Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.

A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:

Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
Has no more than 300 employees; and
Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.

The new guidance released includes:

For more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses, visit sba.gov/ppp or treasury.gov/cares. Disclaimer: The SBA does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer. All programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 adopted – Approves and Extends Tax Credit Programs

The State of New Jersey has adopted legislation, named the “New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020,” The legislation provides for the administration of programs and policies related to jobs, property development, food deserts, community partnerships, small and early stage businesses, State procurement, wind energy, and film production, and makes an appropriation. Sections 2-8 of the bill address the Historic Property Reinvestment program providing tax credits for part of the cost of rehabilitating historic properties in this State. Tax credits under this program are capped at $50 million annually for six years. Sections 9-19 of the legislation fund the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive program providing tax credits to compensate developers of redevelopment projects located on brownfield sites for remediation costs. Tax credits under this program are capped at $50 million annually for six years. Section 20-34 of the legislation fund the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen program auctioning tax credits for cash, which will be used to invest in innovation as a catalyst for economic growth and to advance the competitiveness of the State’s businesses in the global economy. Tax credits under this program are capped at $60 million annually for six years. Sections 35-42 of the legislation addresses the Food Desert Relief program providing tax credits in order to incentivize businesses to establish and retain new supermarkets and grocery stores in food desert communities. Tax credits under this program are capped at $40 million annually for six years. Sections 43-53 are the New Jersey Community-Anchored Development program providing tax credits to anchor institutions to incentivize the expansion of targeted industries in the State and the continued development of certain areas of the State. Tax credits under this program are capped at $200 million annually for six years, but the $200 million annual cap will be split so that up to $130 million of tax credits will be for areas in the 13 northern counties of the State and $70 million for areas in the eight southern counties. Sections 54-67 create the New Jersey Aspire program providing tax credits to encourage redevelopment projects by covering certain project financing gap costs. Sections 68-81 create the Emerge program providing tax credits to encourage economic development, job creation, and the retention of significant numbers of jobs in imminent danger of leaving the State. Tax credits under the Aspire program combined with tax credits under the Emerge program are capped at $1.1 billion annually for six years, but the $1.1 billion annual cap will be split so that up to $715 million of tax credits will be for projects located in the northern counties of the State and $385 million for projects located in the southern counties. The $1.1 billion cap does not apply to transformative projects. For transformative projects under the Aspire program and the Emerge program the combined credits over six years is capped at $2.5 billion. Sections 82-88 create the Main Street Recovery Finance program providing grants, loans, and loan guarantees to small businesses. The bill appropriates $50 million for this program. Section 89 allows the Director of Taxation to purchase unused tax credits. Section 90 establishes a working group for the purpose of making recommendations for the establishment of entrepreneur zones throughout the State. Section 91 grants preferences to businesses within the State with respect to bidders for a State contract to supply personal protective equipment. Sections 92-97 creates the New Jersey Ignite program, a public-private partnership providing start-up rent grants to collaborative workspaces to support the early months of an early stage innovation economy business’s rent at the collaborative workspace. The bill appropriates $250,000 for this program. Section 98 sets the caps on tax credits for the programs in sections 2-81 of the bill, including an overall cap of $11.5 billion for those programs, and allows a seventh year of tax credits under those programs for uncommitted credits. Sections 99-105 creates an Office of Economic Development Inspector General, and requires employment of a Chief Compliance Officer to manage the Division of Portfolio Management and Compliance. The bill appropriates $250,000 to implement these sections. Sections 106-107 allows tax credits for hiring employees for the manufacture of personal protective equipment. Tax credits under these sections are capped at $10 million annually for three years. Section 108 allows deferrals, adjustments, and termination of incentive agreements for businesses affected by COVID-19. Section 109 amends the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, including to change eligibility requirements, disbursement of credits, and deadlines. Sections 110-111 amends the existing film tax credit provisions to include provisions for “New Jersey film partners” and “New Jersey film-lease partners,” and to allow an additional $200 million of tax credits annually over 13 years. Section 112 requires the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to adopt rules requiring that not less than the prevailing wage rate be paid to workers employed in connection with certain incentive programs. Sections 113-114 makes adjustments to the New Jersey Emerging Technology and Biotechnology Financial Assistance Program, including to increase the annual amount of tax benefits that the EDA may approve for transfer between corporations. Section 115 allows the EDA to purchase and lease real property. Section 116 modifies and expands what the EDA’s Economic Recovery Fund’s money may be used for. Sections 117-119 makes adjustments to the New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act, including to increase the annual tax credit cap from $25 million to $35 million and to add provisions for venture funds. Sections 120-121 makes adjustments to the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program, including to amend the definition of “incentive effective date.” Section 122-124 amends the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program, including to extend deadlines and allow an additional $220 million of tax credits to be awarded. Sections 125-126 amends existing law to allow the Division of Taxation to share relevant taxpayer data with the EDA. Section 127 appropriates $55.5 million, which includes the appropriations mentioned above for implementing sections 82-88, 92-97, and 99-105, as well as $5 million to award grants for zoning and economic planning services or economic redevelopment plans. FISCAL IMPACT: The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that this legislation authorizes: up to $11.5 billion of tax credits over seven years for new incentive programs in sections 2-81; up to $2.6 billion of film tax credits over 13 years in sections 110-111; up to $220 million of tax credits under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program for certain project applications submitted prior to December 1, 2021 in sections 122-124; up to $30 million over three years for hiring employees for the manufacture of personal protective equipment in sections 106-107. The bill also increases the angel investor tax credit cap from $25 to $35 million annually in sections 117-119. Finally, the OLS notes that the legislation appropriates $55.5 million to support various programs and administrative functions established by the legislation.

FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE SUMMARY
Source: Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director, NJBAC

Small Business – $325 Billion

Democrats secured critical funding and policy changes to help small businesses, including minority-owned businesses, and nonprofits recover from the pandemic. This bill includes $284 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and extends PPP through March 31, 2021. Changes to PPP include:

Provides a second PPP forgivable loan for the hardest-hit small businesses and non- profits with 300 or fewer employees and that can demonstrate a loss of 25% of gross receipts in any quarter during 2020 when compared to the same quarter in 2019;
Creates a dedicated $15 billion set-aside for lending through community financial institutions, including Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions to increase access for minority-owned and other underserved small businesses and nonprofits;
Creates a set-aside for very small businesses with 10 or fewer employees and for small businesses located in distressed areas;
Expands PPP eligibility for more critical access hospitals, local newspapers and TV and radio broadcasters, housing cooperatives, and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, including tourism promotion organizations and local chambers of commerce;
Allows for small businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industries to receive larger awards of 3.5 times average total monthly payroll, rather than 2.5 times;
Adds PPE expenses, costs associated with outdoor dining, and supplier costs as eligible and forgivable expenses;
Simplifies the forgiveness process for loans of $150,000 and less;
Repeals the requirement of deducting an EIDL Advance from the PPP forgiveness amount.

EIDL Grant Program – $20 Billion

This bill includes $20 billion for EIDL Advance grants. Small businesses and nonprofits in low- income communities are eligible to receive $10,000 grants. Any small businesses and nonprofits in low-income communities that received an EIDL Advance previously are also eligible to receive the full $10,000 if their award was less in the first round of grants.

Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators – $15 Billion

The bill provides $15 billion for SBA grants up to $10 million to live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions to address the economic effects of the pandemic. Grants can be used to cover expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment. Two priority periods are established to ensure the hardest hit entities have dedicated access to assistance for the first 28 days of the program, while a reserve fund is made available ensure entities that are ineligible for the priority periods are able to receive assistance following the two 14-day priority periods. A set-aside of $2 billion is also reserved for entities with 50 or fewer employees. The program is authorized to make supplemental grants equal to 50 percent of the initial grant.

Extended SBA Debt Relief Payments – $3.5 Billion

This bill provides $3.5 billion to resume debt relief payments of principal and interest (P&I) on small business loans guaranteed by the SBA under the 7(a), 504 and microloan programs. All borrowers with qualifying loans approved by the SBA prior to the CARES Act will receive an additional three months of P&I, starting in February 2021. Going forward, those payments will be capped at $9,000 per borrower per month. After the three-month period described above, borrowers considered to be underserved—namely the smallest or hardest-hit by the pandemic— will receive an additional five months of P&I payments, also capped at $9,000 per borrower per month. SBA payments of P&I on the first 6 months of newly approved loans will resume for all loans approved between February 1 and September 30, 2021, also capped at $9,000 per month.

Enhancements of SBA Lending Programs – $2 Billion

This bill provides $2 billion to enhance SBA’s core programs, including 7(a), Community Advantage, 504, and the Microloan program, by making them more affordable and useful to small businesses. It also provides $57 million for the SBA Microloan Program to provide technical assistance and leverage about $64 million in microloans for minority-owned and other underserved small businesses.

Melanie Willoughby
Executive Director
NJ Business Action Center
33 West State Street
P.O. Box 820
Trenton, NJ 08625-0820
P: 609-633-8301
C: 609-462-6917
Melanie.Willoughby@sos.nj.gov

We have an updated link for the NJ Business Action Center and the launch of the state’s new business portal at business.nj.gov.

The following links provide updates to policies and guidelines, safety recommendations, and business resources.

Quick Resources

New Jersey Business Portal – NEW
New Jersey Executive Orders
Reopening Timelines & Guidance
NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Administrative Orders
NJ State Business Resources for COVID-19
NJ State General Resources for COVID-19
NJ Department of Labor Return to Work Resources
NJ Economic Development Authority Assistance Programs
Additional Local & County Financial Assistance Programs
Unemployment Claim Updates
NJ State Jobs & Hiring Portal
NJ Department of Labor Employer & Employee Leave Benefits
NJ PPE Supplier Registry
NJ Business Action Center Services for Business Reopening. Businesses can also call 800-JERSEY-7.
NJ 24-Hour COVID-19 Health Hotline: 800-222-1222

Federal Resources

Additional Resources

Source: Melanie Willoughby
Executive Director, NJBAC

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