Middlesex County awards first wave of funding to small businesses via Small Business Relief Grants (SBRG) totaling over $3 million

123 businesses across 22 municipalities to receive CARES Act Funding

County encourages more small businesses to apply now

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – In its first round of distribution, Middlesex County will award grants to 123 local businesses with a collective total of $3,039,716 from its CARES Act Small Business Relief Grant (MC-SBRG) program, which utilizes federal CARES Act funding. The grants serve to reimburse costs and loss of revenue associated with adapting business operations in a COVID-19 environment. Payments ranging from $410.97 to the maximum $30,000, with an average grant payment of $24,714, will be distributed to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 starting today.

Recipients of this first round of federal funding include restaurants, hair and nail salons; retail facilities; healthcare offices; manufacturing; construction; educational services; transportation companies; and fitness studios. Among other qualifications, to be eligible for the grants these businesses must employ less than 50 employees, have a net annual business income of less than $1,000,000 based on their 2019 federal tax return, and must document business interruption as well as loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With millions still available in the SBRG grant, those eligible to apply for grants are encouraged to do so at the new CARES Act Small Business Relief Grants Portal. In total, the County intends to award $30 million to small businesses, with grants up to $30,000 available for each business. For more information, please visit: http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/mcsbrg. This program will be administered by the Middlesex County Department of Finance.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had many unintended consequences, including for our small business communities. Not only have they been asked to limit or halt operations, but as we begin to reopen our economy, these cash-strapped businesses have been asked to adapt their businesses accordingly, making it even more difficult to make ends meet,” said Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios. “These grants will certainly make a positive impact in our business community.”

“The County’s commitment to its small business owners is fierce, and this first round of funding being distributed to 123 small businesses will make a huge difference in the lives of these businesses, the people they employ, and the communities they serve,” said Freeholder Leslie Koppel, chair of the Finance Committee.

SBRG-CV grants will be awarded to the following number of businesses, by municipality:

1. Carteret: 4 businesses
2. Cranbury: 1 business
3. Dunellen: 4 business
4. East Brunswick: 7 businesses
5. Edison: 20 businesses
6. Highland Park: 5 businesses
7. Jamesburg: 1 business
8. Metuchen: 11 businesses
9. Middlesex: 4 businesses
10. Milltown: 1 business
11. Monroe: 5 businesses
12. New Brunswick: 13 businesses
13. North Brunswick: 11 businesses
14. Old Bridge: 4 businesses
15. Perth Amboy: 5 businesses
16. Piscataway: 2 businesses
17. Sayreville: 2 businesses
18. South Amboy: 1 business
19. South Brunswick: 3 businesses
20. South Plainfield: 4 businesses
21. South River: 1 business
22. Woodbridge: 14 businesses

For more information on helping your business during COVID-19, please visit https://discovermiddlesex.com/covid19/ and visit our list of business assistance resources under the “resources” section.

###