Perth Amboy’s Back to Business Program Helps

Local Merchants Safely Reopen and Serve Customers

City and BID Guide Small Businesses to Strike

Balance between Reopening and Meeting Public Health Rules

Press Release 6/29/20

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. – The City of Perth Amboy and its Business Improvement District (BID) have launched Back to Business, a multi-pronged effort to help local businesses get back on their feet while safely taking care of their customers and workers.    

The “Back to Business” program includes a grant assistance program, safe reopening with testing and providing and guidance and planning on how to meet public health rules when reopening.

In discussing the city’s initiative, Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz said, “Our essential and non-essential small businesses suffered greatly during the 12-plus week shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We are finding new ways to assist small businesses by offering financial incentives and guidelines for protecting employees and clients while reopening. Our goal is to energize business activity in the downtown area and keep everyone as safe as possible and we are doing this together with the BID.”

Local Partnerships

The Back to Business program brings together local organizations with a long tradition of serving city residents and the small business community. The Jewish Renaissance Medical Center has provided healthcare professionals to conduct the antibody and COVID testing at Raritan Bay Area YMCA for business owners and employees, in addition to their most recent donation of hundreds of face shields for local business owners. Internally, the City’s Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) and the BID are jointly funding the $180,000 Small Business Grant program for payroll support.

Outdoor Dining

The City and BID are encouraging downtown restaurants and cafes to reopen by offering outdoor dining. With work of Code Enforcement, Municipal Clerk’s Office and the Mayor’s Office, BID has created an online application for ease of use and submission for eateries to participate, the city has waived a total of $350 in application and permit fees normally assessed to set-up sidewalk cafes.

BID Presents New Guidelines for Personal Care Businesses

Also, the BID organized an information meeting for the owners of nail and hair salons, barber shops and personal-care businesses in the downtown district. The State of New Jersey has issued a detailed list of requirements that these types of businesses need to follow when they reopen with the guidance of the Perth Amboy Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management.

BID Chairman Barry Rosengarten stated, “The BID office is communicating with our local businesses so they can safely reopen and start generating revenue to meet their expenses including workers’ salaries.”

BID’s Back to Business Program

Here is a recap of the broad range of “Back of Business” programs that Perth Amboy and the BID has been working on for the past several weeks and launched in support of the safe reopening of local businesses:

• Supporting OECD with $30,000 of BID funding to launch the $180,000 Small Business Grant program that provides companies with up to $3,500 in wage funding for low-to moderate income employees. The application for the COVID-19 Small Business Grant is available online at: https://tinyurl.com/y9rts3fh,

• Partnered with the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center to provide antibody and COVID-19 testing for business owners and employees with no out-of-pocket expense,

• Partnered with City to coordinate and facilitate the meeting with owners of personal care businesses to present New Jersey’s guide list of reopening and operating requirements,

• Redirected annual Independence Day fireworks celebration planning and fundraising efforts to create and launch the not-for-profit Celebrate Perth Amboy COVID-19 Help committee that is raising $100,000 to purchase groceries and household supplies for local families. To learn more about this visit www.perthamboycovidhelp.org

• Created signage for all businesses city-wide alerting shoppers on the general reminders for safety,

• Continually providing assistance to business owners regarding federal grant information and availability, state guidelines for reopening and public health safety and information on local efforts.

About the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District (BID)

The Perth Amboy BID serves local businesses and property owners with support for economic revitalization, business promotion and educational resources. The BID also serves the community and its visitors by scheduling and coordinating a year-long schedule of special events. The programs include business seminars, skill building programs for employees. The BID has also made significant capital improvements, by offering façade grants to small businesses within the district and by helping maintain the City’s streetscapes by information kiosks, planters and directional signs, as well as seasonal decorations.