The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber and Convention & Visitors Bureau are actively monitoring developments surrounding the coronavirus as the health and safety of our members and visitors is paramount. We encourage all members, visitors and employers to abide by the social distancing guidelines the State and Nation have set forth. By following these guidelines, we can get through this together as a stronger Region. This website will serve to provide resources and continue facilitating connections for both large and small businesses.
The links below offer information will keep you apprised of any significant new developments.
We are keenly aware that our business community will be faced with unexpected challenges. Now, more than ever, it is important to support our local businesses- order take-out, buy a gift certificate, shop local! Visit the #MerryinMercer page for local gift ideas. These actions will ensure our downtown and small businesses survive. We are encouraging patrons to order just one additional item or meal extra a week to support a local business.
As businesses reopen offices, take a look at this article from Safety.com to help navigate a safe return to the workplace.
COVID-2019 is a respiratory infection caused by a novel (new) virus that arose in China first in December, 2019 and quickly spread across the Globe. Symptoms include, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It is transferred person to person, but can also live on surfaces. The CDC states to “always avoid contact with sick people and clean hands often by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%–95% alcohol.” Both the Nation and the State have clear guidelines for “social distancing,” wearing masks, and crowd size limits to manage the spread of the disease. View Coronavirus Factsheet
The state of NJ has a 24 Hour Public Hotline 1-800-222-1222 trained healthcare professionals are standing by to answer questions about coronavirus. The call is free.
Resources by County:
To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO.
COVID-19 vaccinations are underway across New Jersey. New Jersey will roll out COVID-19 vaccines in a phased approach to all adults who live, work, or are being educated in the State. Within six months, New Jersey aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population. Learn more here.
We aim to help your business prepare and seek the assistance you need to get through this pandemic.
- Resources for Employees- Paid Sick Leave
- Rally for Restaurants
- SBA Disaster Relief Program
- SBDC Preparedness
- SBA Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
- CDC – Guidance for businesses and employers
- Questions about employee sick time laws?
- Princeton Mercer Chamber Event Response
We are all here to help each other, especially in times like these. Visit some member resources below and stay updated on our latest virtual events and Facebook LIVEs.
- Promote your business, check for updates, or submit an announcement on our Member News pages.
- Keep Your Business Doors Moving with a Virtual Store Visit
- Video is by far the #1 promotional vehicle to use to remain and promote ‘face to face’ when face to face is difficult.
GRANTS & LOANS
12.22.20
Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loan
NEW JERSEY: SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
The State of NJ and the Federal Government announced that applications for funding will open on Friday, April 3, 2020.
The NJ Economic Development Authority shared more information Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. The program size is $5 million. Applications will close on Friday, April 10 at 9 a.m. The application will be available online at https://cv.business.nj.gov/grant.
It is very important that you review the NJEDA’s slide presentation, which contains a screenshot of each application page (beginning on slide 4) and have all of your required information ready when applying. It is expected that this program may close prior to the April 10 deadline based on anticipated enrollment.
Attention nonprofits – If in the eligibility wizard tells you are not eligible for the grant program, please know that you are still eligible for the loan program.
FEDERAL: PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM APPLICATION
- Participating NJ Banks approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Application Form: This form is to be completed by the Applicant and submitted to your SBA Participating Lender (see above link of Participating Banks). Submission of the requested information is required to make a determination regarding eligibility for financial assistance. Failure to submit the information would affect that determination. NOTE: This is an online writeable PDF and not an online application. If you complete the fields in the PDF, you should save it to your desktop, print it and bring it to your financial institute.
SBA – Please note that there are still many guidelines to be worked out and our NJ banks are still awaiting SBA guidance in order to process these loans. If your bank is not ready to receive or process your loan as the program opens, please be patient.
*Download the Paycheck Protection – Loan Amount Calculator.
FEDERAL: COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION
The U.S. Small Business Administration is collecting the requested information in order to make a loan under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to the qualified entities listed in this application that are impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The information will be used in determining whether the applicant is eligible for an economic injury loan. If you do not submit all the information requested, your loan cannot be fully processed. Apply Here.
FEDERAL: FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT UPDATE, APRIL 1
The U.S. Department of Labor issued temporary regulations for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (click here). Employees must give notice to their employers of the need to take leave and provide documentation to support paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave. The IRS also provided documentation needed relating to tax credits for required paid leave provided by small and midsize businesses. (click here).
Other federal relief programs to help small businesses include SBA Debt Relief and SBA Express Bridge Loans.
UTILIZING YOUR CHAMBER ONLINE RESOURCES
What do we do when face to face networking is difficult? Join a Chamber virtual networking event! Stay in touch with your fellow Chamber Members and promote your businesses virtually! Below are some helpful tips on how to best utilize the Chamber website and online resources.
- Join a Chamber virtual networking event. We have been running interactive virtual networking events that are not only great fun, but great resources to meet new people, network and develop new business in today’s virtual environment. Click here for our calendar of events.
- Visit the Member Directory– Start a new relationship! Are there Members in our directory that could be a good connection for you? Now is a great time to make an introduction.
- Utilize Member News– This is a great way to gain visibility for your organization, get your message out and learn more about your fellow Members!
- To upload Member News, click here. The Chamber randomly selects Member News articles to be featured on our weekly e-newsletter.
- New Facebook Group Page– We launched our Facebook Business Group this Spring to stay in touch and network virtually. Click here to join the group!
- Video Meet & Greets- Using video is a great way to create visibility for you and your business in today’s socially driven network. Members of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber have the ability to upload videos to the Chamber’s YourTownTube page. Click here and scroll down to the YourTownTube section to learn the easy steps to getting your video produced! You may also reach out directly to Michael and Gabby Johnson of YourTownTube for assistance, 609-815-1850 mike@yourtowntube.com.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP & WE’LL GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER
“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO.”
-Robert H. Schuller
The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber and Convention & Visitors Bureau are actively monitoring developments surrounding the coronavirus as the health and safety of our members and visitors is paramount. We encourage all members, visitors and employers to abide by the social distancing guidelines the State and Nation have set forth. By following these guidelines, we can get through this together as a stronger Region. This website will serve to provide resources and continue facilitating connections for both large and small businesses.
The links below offer information will keep you apprised of any significant new developments.
We are keenly aware that our business community will be faced with unexpected challenges. Now, more than ever, it is important to support our local businesses- order take-out, buy a gift certificate, shop local! Visit the #MerryinMercer page for local gift ideas. These actions will ensure our downtown and small businesses survive. We are encouraging patrons to order just one additional item or meal extra a week to support a local business.
As businesses reopen offices, take a look at this article from Safety.com to help navigate a safe return to the workplace.
COVID-2019 is a respiratory infection caused by a novel (new) virus that arose in China first in December, 2019 and quickly spread across the Globe. Symptoms include, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It is transferred person to person, but can also live on surfaces. The CDC states to “always avoid contact with sick people and clean hands often by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%–95% alcohol.” Both the Nation and the State have clear guidelines for “social distancing,” wearing masks, and crowd size limits to manage the spread of the disease. View Coronavirus Factsheet
The state of NJ has a 24 Hour Public Hotline 1-800-222-1222 trained healthcare professionals are standing by to answer questions about coronavirus. The call is free.
Resources by County:
To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO.
COVID-19 vaccinations are underway across New Jersey. New Jersey will roll out COVID-19 vaccines in a phased approach to all adults who live, work, or are being educated in the State. Within six months, New Jersey aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population. Learn more here.
We aim to help your business prepare and seek the assistance you need to get through this pandemic.
- Mayor Lempert’s Daily Updates
- Mercer County COVID-19 Updates
- Resources for Employees- Paid Sick Leave
- Rally for Restaurants
- SBA Disaster Relief Program
- SBDC Preparedness
- SBA Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
- CDC – Guidance for businesses and employers
- Questions about employee sick time laws?
- Princeton Mercer Chamber Event Response
We are all here to help each other, especially in times like these. Visit some member resources below and stay updated on our latest virtual events and Facebook LIVEs.
- Promote your business, check for updates, or submit an announcement on our Member News pages.
- Keep Your Business Doors Moving with a Virtual Store Visit
- Video is by far the #1 promotional vehicle to use to remain and promote ‘face to face’ when face to face is difficult.
GRANTS & LOANS
12.22.20
Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loan
NEW JERSEY: SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
The State of NJ and the Federal Government announced that applications for funding will open on Friday, April 3, 2020.
The NJ Economic Development Authority shared more information Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. The program size is $5 million. Applications will close on Friday, April 10 at 9 a.m. The application will be available online at https://cv.business.nj.gov/grant.
It is very important that you review the NJEDA’s slide presentation, which contains a screenshot of each application page (beginning on slide 4) and have all of your required information ready when applying. It is expected that this program may close prior to the April 10 deadline based on anticipated enrollment.
Attention nonprofits – If in the eligibility wizard tells you are not eligible for the grant program, please know that you are still eligible for the loan program.
FEDERAL: PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM APPLICATION
- Participating NJ Banks approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Application Form: This form is to be completed by the Applicant and submitted to your SBA Participating Lender (see above link of Participating Banks). Submission of the requested information is required to make a determination regarding eligibility for financial assistance. Failure to submit the information would affect that determination. NOTE: This is an online writeable PDF and not an online application. If you complete the fields in the PDF, you should save it to your desktop, print it and bring it to your financial institute.
SBA – Please note that there are still many guidelines to be worked out and our NJ banks are still awaiting SBA guidance in order to process these loans. If your bank is not ready to receive or process your loan as the program opens, please be patient.
*Download the Paycheck Protection – Loan Amount Calculator.
FEDERAL: COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION
The U.S. Small Business Administration is collecting the requested information in order to make a loan under SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to the qualified entities listed in this application that are impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The information will be used in determining whether the applicant is eligible for an economic injury loan. If you do not submit all the information requested, your loan cannot be fully processed. Apply Here.
FEDERAL: FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT UPDATE, APRIL 1
The U.S. Department of Labor issued temporary regulations for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (click here). Employees must give notice to their employers of the need to take leave and provide documentation to support paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave. The IRS also provided documentation needed relating to tax credits for required paid leave provided by small and midsize businesses. (click here).
Other federal relief programs to help small businesses include SBA Debt Relief and SBA Express Bridge Loans.
UTILIZING YOUR CHAMBER ONLINE RESOURCES
What do we do when face to face networking is difficult? Join a Chamber virtual networking event! Stay in touch with your fellow Chamber Members and promote your businesses virtually! Below are some helpful tips on how to best utilize the Chamber website and online resources.
- Join a Chamber virtual networking event. We have been running interactive virtual networking events that are not only great fun, but great resources to meet new people, network and develop new business in today’s virtual environment. Click here for our calendar of events.
- Visit the Member Directory– Start a new relationship! Are there Members in our directory that could be a good connection for you? Now is a great time to make an introduction.
- Utilize Member News– This is a great way to gain visibility for your organization, get your message out and learn more about your fellow Members!
- To upload Member News, click here. The Chamber randomly selects Member News articles to be featured on our weekly e-newsletter.
- New Facebook Group Page– We launched our Facebook Business Group this Spring to stay in touch and network virtually. Click here to join the group!
- Video Meet & Greets- Using video is a great way to create visibility for you and your business in today’s socially driven network. Members of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber have the ability to upload videos to the Chamber’s YourTownTube page. Click here and scroll down to the YourTownTube section to learn the easy steps to getting your video produced! You may also reach out directly to Michael and Gabby Johnson of YourTownTube for assistance, 609-815-1850 mike@yourtowntube.com.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP & WE’LL GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER
“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO.”
-Robert H. Schuller
