Princeton Small Business Resiliency Fund Reopens Grant Program

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Chamber of Commerce has reopened the Small Business Resiliency Fund grant program, to provide additional funds to businesses in town.

This grant, made up to $5,000, will complement state and federal aid to small business who have been hit by the pandemic shutdown. In February this year, the US economy officially went into recession. On March 21, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy directed all non-essential businesses in the state to shutdown.

The grants will assist with costs associated with reopening and adjusting to the current guidelines required to conduct business, and can be applied to expenses like cleaning and sanitation supplies, technology and connectivity needs, retrofitting spaces for social distancing, marketing, communications and more.

The application will go live on Nov. 1.

The criteria for eligibility have also been changed to invite more Princeton businesses to apply. Applicants will no longer be assessed based on credit score, and new businesses are also invited to apply. Business awarded funds in the first round will not be considered at this time. All applicants will be reviewed on a first come first served basis.

The application portal will shut down once the available funds are depleted. For the complete list of eligibility requirements and information on how to apply please visit https://www.princetonresiliencyfund.org/grant-criteria.

The Princeton Resiliency Fund is a collaborative effort between The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Princeton University, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Municipality of Princeton, and community members through the grant committee and advisory board.

“This second round is the result of the collective concerns and partnerships in one of our region’s core areas. It represents the collaboration of public and private initiatives to support and maintain the business community,” said John B. Goedecke, President of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Goedecke thanked Princeton University, Mayor Liz Lempert and Councilwoman Pirone Lambros for working together with members of the Grant Committee, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and residents in finding solutions for small businesses.

The founding donor, Princeton University had pledged $250,000 and an additional dollar for dollar match to the first $100,000 received from donors. Community members and businesses, including the Sands Foundation, Stark and Stark, Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s and FirstBank, collectively raised more than $100,000 to meet the match challenge.

In the initial round of funding that was distributed in September, 70 businesses were granted $5,000.

“We are so grateful for the support from the Resiliency Fund and the Princeton community. Their efforts to support our small businesses in these challenging times speaks to how it truly takes a village to keep us all strong,” said Kathy Klockenbrink, owner of Jammin Crepes and a recipient of a first-round grant.

“Thank you all for your belief in our mission and special community. We will get through this together and only be stronger,” she said.

Andrew Mangone, Hinkson’s The Office Store owner and first round grant recipient, said the grant helped his business stay afloat during the coronavirus shutdown.

"Without the Fund and other aid such as PPP and grants we would not have had the ability to keep our store open for this period (that is going on nine months). We are forever grateful and thankful to be a part of the Princeton Community,” he said.

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