TO: Members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

FROM: Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs, CCSNJ

RE: Support of:

S3519 (Greenstein/Lagana)

S3520 (Ruiz/Lagana)

S3521 (Lagana/Addiego/Gopal)

S3523 (Addiego/Lagana)

S3524 (Gopal/Lagana)

S3527 / A5405 (Sweeney/Oroho/Coughlin/Speight/Armato)

DATE: March 22, 2021

The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) would like to voice our strong support for the package of legislation, which would provide relief to struggling small and micro businesses, restaurants, childcare centers, and arts & culture organization as they navigate their economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The package includes the following bills:

• S3519 (Greenstein/Lagana) - Appropriates $15 million in federal funds to EDA to support businesses and nonprofits in need.
•  S3520 (Ruiz/Lagana) - Appropriates $10 million in federal funds to EDA to support child care centers in need.
• S3521 (Lagana/Addiego/Gopal) - Appropriates $15 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations in need.
• S3523 (Addiego/Lagana) - Appropriates $25 million in federal funds to EDA to support microbusinesses in need.
• S3524 (Gopal/Lagana) - Appropriates $35 million in federal funds to EDA to support food and beverage establishments in need.
• S3527 / A5405 (Sweeney/Oroho/Coughlin/Speight/Armato) - Appropriates $10 million in federal funds to Department of Agriculture to support food bank organizations.

These bills provide the Economic Development Authority (EDA) with the resources it needs to assist the business community. Businesses in New Jersey are struggling and need assistance to return to their prepandemic levels and get the economy going again. Previous EDA programs to assist businesses were immediately oversubscribed, leaving many small businesses out of the process. These bills will provide the necessary funding to ensure that all businesses are part of New Jersey’s economic recovery.

Thank you for the ability to share our support on the above measures.