As Legislative District One residents and businesses work hard to do their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in South Jersey, Senator Michael Testa and his team are planning for the reopening of our economy and the future health of our small businesses.

Testa, along with Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan, announced the formation of an Economic Recovery Task Force to lay the groundwork for businesses in South Jersey to be ready to reopen in as healthy a condition as possible.

“As a small business owner myself, I’m fully aware of the sacrifices our local companies are making to rightly adhere to the restrictions of Governor Murphy’s COVID State of Emergency,” said Senator Testa. “This Task Force is being established to help businesses navigate the myriad loan and grant programs being made available at both the state and federal level.”

The Task Force will be composed of local business owners, elected officials, leaders of area Chambers of Commerce and economic development agencies. Their mission will be to bring together all resources available to businesses on a single digital platform and to fashion a road map that leads business owners to the programs that best match their needs.

“The clock is ticking and our businesses, large and small, need help now,” said Assemblyman Simonsen. “We have heard a lot of frustration from employers as they seek answers and information. This Task Force will be designed to meet that need and cut through the red tape to find real solutions quickly.”

The final makeup of the Task Force is expected to be announced by the end of the week. The group will meet online to clarify the mission and the roles involved. An online platform will be established to share information. Online ‘Question and Answer’ sessions will be scheduled so business owners can speak directly with representatives of state and federal agencies administering the various aid programs.

“When the time is right, we want to see all of our businesses reopen quickly and in good health,” said Assemblyman McClellan. “To get there, we need to provide the tools, information, and expertise required for business owners to take full advantage of all the programs being made available. We have quickly found that this is easier said than done. Working together, through this Economic Recovery Task Force, we hope to help ensure the health and viability of our businesses as we emerge from this unprecedented State of Emergency.”