CONTACT:

Steven J. Neale, Director of Administration & Economic Development

Email: stneale@veronanj.org

Phone: 973-239-4921 Cell: 973-632-5801 - Text first preferred 

---

Verona Programs & Resources:

• www.StandWithVerona.org - A website dedicated to Verona businesses to post their contact info, offerings and the steps people can take to help them the most at this time. This site will be updated in real time as new entries are made. If you have not filled the form out yet, please visit the page and click the button in the top left to have your info automatically added.

• Verona, NJ Takeout & Delivery Service Facebook Group - For Verona restaurants and eateries to post menus, hours of operations and daily specials. 1,000+ members and growing. If you are a Verona restaurant you need to join!

• VeronaHUB Resource Page - Created to assist the amazing residents of Verona in becoming a part of some of the great charitable causes that are taking place right now in support of local businesses, organizations, and people of Verona.

• Stand With Verona Online Store Fundraiser - **STORE CURRENTLY CLOSED** This store has been developed by the VERONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to help our local businesses during the current crisis. 100% of the proceeds will go to support VERONA BUSINESSES and their employees. Please consider making a purchase and STANDING WITH VERONA

• Verona Park Puzzle Fundraiser - Verona native and photographer, Jeff Stiefbold Photography, has graciously donated his artwork to allow us to create a custom, 500-piece puzzle. To place an order please visit http://bit.ly/VeronaStrongPuzzleFundraiser. **CLOSED**.

---

Ways to Help Locally:

• RELEASE: Ways to Help Verona

---

Governor's Updates & Executive Orders: 

• Businesses Permitted to Operate under Current Executive Orders/Administrative Orders List
• The Road Back - Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health- Gov. Murphy's 6 Steps to Reopening the State
• Announcement on Clarifications to List of Essential Businesses Permitted to Operate - 4.27.20
• See all COVID related Executive Orders here

---

Reopening Resources & Guidelines:

• Governor Murphy Unveils Multi-Stage Approach to Execute a Responsible and Strategic Restart of New Jersey’s Economy
  • Strategic Restart Plan Infographic
• From the CDC:
  • Visual Road Map of “Re-Opening” Guidelines
  • Overall Business and Workplace CDC Guidance
  • Targeted Business CDC Guidance
• Covid-19 And Your Workplace Checklist - The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread rapidly throughout the United States. Keep your employees and their families safe by properly preparing your workplace. Consider the strategies outlined here to ensure that your workplace is prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• NJBIA Return to Work Best Practices

---

NJ State Program & Updates:

• PHASE 2 RELEASE: May 22, 2020: NJEDA Announces $50 Million Expansion of Grant Program for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

• WEBINAR: A Conversation with NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan - The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) recently announced $50 million in new funding and broader eligibility criteria for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. Under the newly-expanded program, which will provide grants up to $10,000 for COVID-impacted businesses, a wider variety of businesses will now be eligible, including home-based businesses and sole proprietorships. The program will also feature a special focus on businesses in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts. The New Jersey Business & Industry Association, the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, and the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey are partnering for a special webinar conversation with NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan, on Friday, June 5, 2020, 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Our goal is to provide valuable insight to the expanded grant program.

• Dept. of Labor Info for Self-Employed Workers:

  • RELEASE 4.29.20- NJ abor Department to Begin Making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Payments This Week
  • Self-Employed NJ Workers: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY
  • Guidance for Self-Employed Individuals FILING A PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE CLAIM

• What new State financial support programs is my business eligible for? How do I use the Eligibility Wizard?

  • Emergency Assistance Eligibility Wizard

• What grants are available for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) via the NJEDA Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant? (Applications open April 3 at 9 a.m.)

• Sample Grant Application Presentation

• Joint Statement on State Income Tax Filing & Corporation Business Tax Filing Deadline Extension - 4.1.20

• COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses- cv.business.nj.gov

• NJEDA Announces Agencies Selected to Offer Technical Assistance to COVID-19 Impacted Small Businesses Applying for SBA Funding

• COVID19 NJEDA Programs 1 Pager

• Social distancing guidelines for essential retail businesses

• State Overview/FAQ

• COVID-19 Scenarios and Benefits

---

Federal Programs & Updates:

• PPP Loan Forgiveness Application

• RECORDING: Navigating the SBA’s PPP Loan Forgiveness Application-  The Small Business Administration (SBA) just issued the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application and related instructions. PPP borrowers will be required to complete this application and submit it to their lender (or the lender servicing the PPP loan) in order to be considered for total or partial loan forgiveness. Understanding the application process, correctly performing the necessary calculations, and maintaining required supporting documentation is critical to maximizing loan forgiveness for you and your business.

• Main Street Lending Program:

  • More Money for Businesses is Coming - The Federal Reserve released guidelines for its soon-to-open Main Street Lending Program that will offer four-year loans starting at $500,000 for small- and medium-sized businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic. To qualify, a business must have had fewer than 15,000 employees or less than $5 billion in revenue in 2019. Lending institutions are administering the program, and a high percentage of each of the loans will be guaranteed by the Fed. Principal and interest payments will be deferred for one year. 
  • Act Now - Once the Federal Reserve opens the Main Street Lending Program, qualified businesses should apply quickly. To prepare, the New Jersey Chamber encourages members to review the information and reach out to lenders now.
  • For the Fed’s press release, click here.  
  • For frequently asked questions, click here.

• WATCH: N.J. Chamber of Commerce webinar with Neil Bradley, Executive Director and Chief Policy Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He discusses federal relief programs, outlines what the return to work will look like and answers questions submitted by participants. https://youtu.be/WkU6V2adwaM

  • Download the Presentation Slides Here

• Ready. Set. Go. Small Businesses And The Race For Round 2 PPP Funds (Forbes/April 22, 2020)
  The legislation provides an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, and an additional $60 billion for small business loans and grants.

• Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

• SBA Disaster Loan Application

• Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) FAQs

• Details on Extend Federal Tax Filing Deadline

• U.S. Small Business Administration Guidance

• Federal Reserve press release outlining support measures

---

Assistance, Resources, Webinars & Information:

• UPDATED 5/28- NJBIA Upcoming Webinars & Webcasts

• Virtual Town Hall: Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney - 6.9.20

• Essex County Office of Small Business & Affirmative Action: RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 Federal Resources

• The following organizations have been selected to provide application assistance to businesses:

• African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ)
• New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• Rising Tide Capital
• Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ)

• Downtown NJ COVID-19 Resources Page

• Coronavirus Small Business Survival Guide

• Garden State Relief Fund - New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) is offering working capital loans to small businesses and non-profits negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

• Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship - If you need help navigating the State and Federal programs: click the 'counseling' button on the top of the page and enter your information

• Rutgers Small Business Development Center 

• Facebook Small Business Grants Program

• Yelp Relief for Affected Businesses

• GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative

• Paycheck Protection Program FAQs for Small Businesses

• SBA Liquidity Assistance for Businesses – In the Form of Forgivable Loans and Non-Forgivable Disaster Loans

• NJDOL and the Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Employers & Businesses Should Know

• NJDOL Benefits and the Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Employees Should Know

---

State of NJ COVID-19 Jobs & Hiring Portal:

• Visit the page: https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/