Freeholders release additional $5 million in CARES funding for businesses 

Date:               August 13, 2020

Time:              11 a.m.

Location:        www.camdencounty.com/live

Attendees:      Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr.

                        Congressman Donald Norcross

                        Nichelle Pace, VP of Camden Business Association

Details:           Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr., will be joined by Congressman Donald Norcross and Nichelle Pace, Vice President of the Camden Business Association, to discuss the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to announce the addition of $5 million dedicated to the Camden County CARES Small Business Grant Program.

The county launched the grant program to assist small businesses impacted by the pandemic on July 23, and originally dedicated $20 million of federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. With more than $4 million already distributed, and more than $20 million claimed in pending applications, the Board has added an additional $5 million to the program to assist struggling businesses.

“We can see that the need in our business community is real, its significant, and it could not be addressed in full by our first round of grant funding,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “This second round is intended to make sure that no eligible business is left behind. These businesses are the backbone of our economy and we are doing everything within our power to support them during this crisis.”

Applications are being accepted at camdencountycares.com. In order to qualify for a Camden County CARES Small Business Grant, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Business revenue has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• The business has been located in Camden County since January 1, 2019 or earlier
• The business employed 25 or fewer employees as of March 1, 2020
• The business earned $5 million or less in total revenue during 2019

The business must not operate in any of the following categories:

• Banks or other financial institutions
• E-Commerce
• Businesses where the primary products or services are oriented to specific ages (vaping, liquor stores, etc.)
• Franchises, except for those franchises which are completely locally-owned and operated

In addition, this update will provide residents with the county’s ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response. It will entail the most recent numbers, growth rates and any other information related to the public health crisis.

The address will be streamed live on the County’s Facebook page and at camdencounty.com/live. The event will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 13.