Help is Here to Apply for Morris County Small Business Grants

Town Hall Scheduled Feb. 28 to Help Small Businesses Get Funding

Small business owners and nonprofits are invited to a free “town hall” in Wharton, N.J. on Monday, Feb. 28, to learn about the Morris County Small Business Grant Program and find assistance in applying for grant money being given to cover specific pandemic recovery costs.

The town hall is being held 10 a.m. at the La Casa Del Sabor restaurant at 19 North Main Street, Wharton and there is no cost to attend or participate.  There will be a demonstration of the online grant application portal, and assistance will be provided to those who want to submit applications during the event.

Small business owners will be greeted by Morris County Commissioners and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives of Solix Consulting Solutions, which is operating the online grant portal under a contract with Morris County.

Several computers are being provided and staffed by members of Valley National Bank to assist in processing applications.

Any business owner or nonprofit may apply NOW by gong to:

morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com.

If you plan to file at Monday’s event, you should still go to the website to learn what you should bring with you.

Program supporters are working to establish additional outreach efforts for businesses and nonprofits in the coming weeks, emphasizing there is NO COST associated with applying for the grants beyond an investment of time.

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has committed $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward the program.

The program will provide grants of up to $15,000 to reimburse small businesses and nonprofit organizations for specific pandemic recovery expenses incurred on or after March 3, 2021 – a timeline established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is the source of the funding.

The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Available to businesses with 25 or fewer full time employees (or equivalent)
• In operation since Jan. 1, 2019
• Located within Morris County
• Less than $5 million in sales/revenue
• Proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Federal guidelines covering the grant program will determine exactly which expenses are covered by the grant program and which applications may be approved. The grants are capped at $15,000 per applicant. However, business owners and nonprofits are encouraged to submit applications that include all costs that may qualify for the grant, even if the total amount claimed exceeds $15,000, because a review of the applications may find some costs submitted for consideration do not meet the program guidelines.