Need some help paying the rent? Ocean County Commissioners providing a boost to small businesses

Need some help paying the rent at your small business or non-profit?

The Ocean County Commissioners have announced they're launching Phase 2 of the Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Program to help you with commercial rent payments.

“We are again working in conjunction with the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority which will be administering the grant program on our behalf," Commissioner Director Gary Quinn said in a statement.

Quinn said the grant program provides up to $30,000 and there's a webinar to review the application process tomorrow at 10 am, just head to http://bit.ly/ocncnty

Grant applications for Ocean County businesses and non-profit 501C3s, 4s and 7s will be available starting at 9 am on Monday, March 15.

You can apply at www.NJRA.us and follow the links for the Ocean County Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Grant Program at https://bit.ly/NJRAOceanGrant.

Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis.

“Many of our businesses continue to struggle as the days of the coronavirus pandemic have turned into months and now over a year,” Quinn said. “We are providing financial help in order to keep these hard working men and women business owners open and to reduce some of their concerns about keeping up with the rent and lease payments during this time.”

Small businesses that may have received a grant earlier in the program but not the full $30,000, can now apply for the additional funds.

“It’s vital to our small businesses that this help be made available to them,” Quinn said. “Many non-profits have also gone above and beyond to help our citizens.”

Quinn said that the applicant must provide verification from the landlord that the respective business was in good standing with monthly lease obligations prior to March 1, 2020.

The landlord and small business will also need to sign certifications acknowledging the amount of outstanding lease obligations, not to exceed $30,000.

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