Montclair Launches Local Business Recovery Plan

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Township Provides Comprehensive Recovery Plan for Local Businesses

In an effort to assist township businesses, Montclair Township Council will put in place several measures as part of a comprehensive COVID-19 recovery and business re-opening plan. The plan, developed by Council with input from local business leaders, follows guidance on community safety from the State, the CDC, and local officials.

  • Make $150,000 in Township grant funding available to Township small-businesses, to the BID and to Business Associations to be used to cover costs for equipment or other necessaries that are related expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 (administrative requirements and regulations provided below).
    • offer FREE the first 15 minutes of parking at meters;
    • waive (or refund if already paid) the 2020 sidewalk café permit fee; and
    • work to close streets to create additional outdoor space for patrons. Township staff and business leaders will analyze streets to be temporarily closed while ensuring accessibility to sidewalks and compliance with Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders.

    “I know of no other New Jersey municipality that has offered grant funding to its businesses for recovery purposes,” said Mayor Robert Jackson. “It is hoped that the grants and other measures put in place will help our local businesses get back on their feet during the pandemic, while also helping them adopt best practices to keep their employees and customers, and our community safe.”

    “Our local businesses have been working nonstop to make it through this crisis – relying on curbside pickup, takeout orders, and gift certificate sales” said Jason Gleason, Executive Director of the Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID). “Now, with reopening, we will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Township to develop effective solutions to boost our business community, create opportunities for people to safely shop and dine, and preserve the vibrancy and energy of Montclair."

    "Given the devastating impact of Covid-19, including the dire economic impact on our local economy, we are committed as a governing body to doing all we can to help Montclair businesses' recovery efforts," said Mayor-elect Sean M. Spiller. "Small businesses make up the heart of our thriving shopping districts. These unique local government grants, and additional steps we are taking will provide local business owners and their employees a much-needed measure of assistance during this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, he said."

    Free first 15 minutes of parking at meters is effective immediately and the Township is already working on refunding businesses that paid the 2020 sidewalk café permit fee. Street closures for retailers and restaurants to conduct business will be announced and promoted in advance.

    “Local businesses came to us asking for assistance and it was incumbent upon us to help in whatever way we can,” said First Ward Councilor William Hurlock. “We are pleased to partner with our business communities so they may come back even stronger from these unprecedented times and, as the state returns to some semblance of normality, it is our responsibility to provide opportunities in ways that state, CDC and local regulations allow.”

    Emergency Assistance Grant Program

    Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be available at a later date.

    Requirements for business grant eligibility:

    • Applicants must be located in the Township of Montclair;
    • Applicants must have 25 or fewer employees;
    • The grant cap is $1,000.00 per business;
    • Small businesses, sole proprietors, home-based companies and non-profits are eligible;
    • Applicants must be registered to do business in the State of New Jersey;
    • Applicants must be and sign a Certification (to be provided this week) indicating:
      1. that they are in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor;
      2. attesting to the fact that any grant funding will be used exclusively for expenditures related to actions taken by the Applicant to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
      3. acknowledging that they must keep for 12 years receipts associated with the spending of grant funding;
      4. acknowledging that they must participate in any audit conducted by any regulatory body or agency in connection with the spending of grant funding;
      5. that they hold harmless the Township.