The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has approved a series of aid packages for small/mid-size businesses in the amount of $75 million. The NJEDA programs focus on businesses that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19.
One of the NJEDA programs, the Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program is a $10 million program that will provide up to $100,000 towards working capital loans to businesses and eligible non-profits with less than $5 million in revenues.
The Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan applications will open April 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Completed applications will be considered on a first come, first serve rolling basis. Applications will be available through this link: https://cv.business.nj.gov
- Loan Terms
- Up to $100,000 towards working capital loans to businesses and eligible non-profits;
- 10 year term and amortization;
- 0% interest rate for the first 5 years, then resetting to the NJEDA’s prevailing floor rate (capped at 3%) for the remaining five years;
- Deferred repayments for 12 months;
- No fees associated with the Small Business Emergency Loan Program for the first five years of the loan, including application fees, and then standard modification fees will apply.
- Eligible businesses:
- Have a physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey (home-based businesses are not eligible);
- Have been in existence for at least one full year;
- Have $5 million or less in annual revenue;
- Can show a global debt service coverage ratio of 1.00 (as of December 31st, 2019);
- Can demonstrate a negative impact on business due to the COVID-19 outbreak on or after March 9th, 2020 (including, but not limited to: reduction of business hours, complete closure of business, at least a 20% decline in revenue, employees unable to work, required to close by government, or disruption of supply chain);
- Can provide CEO certification that you are making a best-effort to not lay off employees or will re-hire employees as soon as possible;
- Are registered to do business in New Jersey and must certify that the company is in good tax standing with the State;
- Are in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development;
- Non-profit organizations are eligible for this program; eligible non-profits must have status of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7).
- The following businesses are not qualified (“Non-Eligible Businesses”):
- Related to gambling or gaming activities;
- Related to the purveyance of “adult” (i.e., pornographic, lewd, prurient, obscene) activities, services, products or materials (including nude or semi-nude performances or the sale of sexual aids or devices);
- Auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-our-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sale;
- Traveling merchants;
- Christmas tree sales or other outdoor storage;
- Any other activity constituting a nuisance;
- Illegal under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
