Half million in grant money aids struggling New Jersey small businesses

(The Middle Sq.) – Each time small companies get the chance to obtain a grant it’s an excellent factor, the pinnacle of the Nationwide Federation of Unbiased Enterprise – New Jersey stated relating to $500,000 in grant funds to assist them increase to world markets.

The New Jersey Division of State’s Enterprise Motion Middle introduced on the finish of final month that it acquired $500,000 in federal funds for the State Commerce Enlargement Program to help new-to-exporting meals and beverage producers in underserved enterprise communities.

“Promoting into world markets will not be just for massive or established companies. We’re encouraging meals and beverage producers from underserved enterprise communities to start exporting by making use of for a NJSTEP grant,” New Jersey Enterprise Motion Middle Government Director Melanie Willoughby stated within the launch.

As we stay in a world world with the web and social media, any “chunk of change” may help a enterprise attain world objectives, NFIB – New Jersey Government Director Eileen Kean stated.

“What issues NFIB is that these grants are solely supplied to underserved communities,” she stated. “And I might identical to to reiterate that not simply underserved communities are struggling proper now. Small companies all through New Jersey are struggling.”

The funds are solely obtainable to the meals and beverage producers in New Jersey, she stated.

“Once more, there are clothes designers, there are china designers, there are artwork designers, there’s all types of small companies,” Kean stated. “So, that is restricted to simply the meals and beverage producers. So good for them.”

Potential candidates can contact the New Jersey Enterprise Motion Middle to learn to apply, she stated.

“I do have to present a shout-out to the New Jersey Enterprise Motion Middle as a result of they do an exceptional job in answering questions and their availability,” Kean stated.

Whereas these grant funds are optimistic, Kean stated the NFIB’s largest concern stays that the governor has refused to replenish the Unemployment Belief Fund. That’s a precedence of the group and its members as a result of she stated it will assist all small companies in New Jersey.

The NJBAC’s Workplace of Export Promotion administers NJSTEP, and each are housed inside the New Jersey Division of State. The applying portal for the NJSTEP program opened Oct. 1. To study extra, go to the group’s web site at nj.gov/state/bac or name 800-JERSEY-7.