CAPE MAY COUNTY CREATES BUSINESS RECOVERY TASK FORCE

4/15/20 – Cape May County is focused on ensuring the safety of its residents today, while keeping an eye on helping the business community when the COVID-19 Pandemic subsides. Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton first proposed a Business Recovery Task Force to be created during a Cape May County Freeholder Meeting last week and then the Task Force was formally created at the Freeholder Meeting on Tuesday, April 14.

“There is a lot of information that businesses will have to work through in order to get Federal or State money including through the Small Business Administration,” said Thornton. “I thought having a Task Force that could guide our local businesses would be very important, along with potential future funding opportunities that might be made available.”

Thornton proposed having the committee headed up by Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard Desiderio and Freeholder Will Morey. Both Freeholders are business owners in the County and Morey is also the liaison to the County’s Economic Development efforts.

“It was an honor to have the Freeholder Director (Thornton) put my name forward to be apart of this Task Force,” said Desiderio. “I have been talking daily to business owners where I live in Sea Isle City and from across the County. We hear their concerns and we will find a way to help.”

“The County has devoted significant resource and attention over the past several years to creating well-paying jobs for its residents,” said Morey. “We will now devote special attention to assist with sustaining and reopening businesses as well as retaining the jobs that existed before this Pandemic.

The members of the committee have not yet been announced. It was discussed that the Task Force would be between seven and nine members. As more information on the Task Force becomes available it will be released to the public.