Source: business.nj.gov

Updated: July 7, 2021

Sustain and Serve NJ provides grants of $100,000 to $2 million to eligible organizations to support bulk meal purchases from New Jersey-based restaurants that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 2 of the program makes an additional $10 million available to entities to support bulk meal purchases.

Applications are now openand close at 11:59 p.m. on July 18th, 2021. View a sample application. Questions about the program and applications should be submitted to ssnj@njeda.com.

The NJEDA hosted an informational webinar on June 30th, 2021. The webinar included a walk-through of the application. Watch the webinar recording.

Eligibility

Sustain and Serve NJ (Phase 2) is open to public or private entities, including 501(c) non-profit organizations that are in good standing with New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL), with all decisions of good standing at the discretion of the Commissioner of NJDOL. Entities must have previously made bulk purchases of 3,000 or more meals totaling at least $50,000 from a New Jersey-based restaurant or restaurants between March 9th, 2020 and June 28th, 2021.

Current grantees of the Sustain and Serve NJ program are eligible to apply for additional funds. View the  list of current Sustain and Serve NJ grantees.

Restaurants may not directly apply for Sustain and Serve NJ (Phase 2) grants. Restaurants interested in the program can contact an entity with an established bulk meal purchasing and distribution program to discuss potential participation. View a list of current Sustain and Serve NJ grantees. Restaurants can also complete a form to be listed publicly on the Sustain and Serve NJ page. Potential grant applicants may choose to refer to this registry and contact restaurants about participating in the Sustain and Serve NJ program.

View the list of interested restaurants. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as to eligibility for Sustain and Serve NJ. All parties are strongly advised to exercise due diligence when selecting participating restaurants.

Businesses prohibited from eligibility include, but are not limited to: gambling or gaming activities; conduct or purveyance of “adult” (i.e., pornographic, lewd, prurient, obscene or otherwise similarly disreputable) activities, services, products or materials (including nude or semi-nude performances or the sale of sexual aids or devices); any auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost our-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sale; sales by transient merchants, Christmas tree sales or other outdoor storage; any activity constituting a nuisance; or, any illegal purposes.

Business Registration

All applicants and restaurants must provide a current Business Registration Certificate. See a sample physical Business Registration Certificate and a sample digital Business Registration Certificate, which may be accessed online through the New Jersey Division of Revenue.  

You can check your Business Registration Certificate status online. If your business is properly registered, you will receive immediate confirmation after entering your information. If your business is not properly registered, email njdorescustomerservice@treas.nj.gov (allow up to 2 days for follow-up) or call 609-292-9292.

For more information on the business registration process, watch one of the webinars on the topic the NJEDA hosted with the NJ Department of Treasury. Recordings are available here: Session 1 and Session 2.

Participating Restaurants

As part of the grant application, applicants must list the restaurants that they will be making bulk meal purchases from. Grantees may only purchase meals from restaurants that meet the following requirements:

• Classified as “Food Services and Drinking Places” under NAICS code 722;
• Employ 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees at time of application, based on the company’s most recently filed WR-30 with the NJDOL;
• Maintain a physical commercial location in the State of New Jersey;
• Have a current NJ Business Registration Certificate (Get your Business Registration Certificate);
• Are in good standing with the New Jersey Division of Taxation (Check your standing with the New Jersey Division of Taxation);
• Are in good standing with the NJDOL;
• Are in good standing with the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, if applicable;
• Have current and valid certification from municipal and/or county government inspection that the restaurant has received a rating of Satisfactory as per New Jersey Retail Food Establishment Rating system (See a sample certificationand a sample sanitary inspection report); and
• Were in operation on February 15th, 2020, and have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared State of Emergency on March 9th, 2020 (e.g., was temporarily shut down, was forced to reduce hours, has had a drop in revenue, has been materially impacted by employees who cannot work due to the outbreak, or has a supply chain that has materially been disrupted and therefore slowed firm-level production).

Eligible Uses of Grant Funding

Sustain and Serve NJ (Phase 2) grant funding may only be used for direct costs associated with bulk purchasing of meals that are projected to be incurred between date of grant execution and January 31st, 2022. Examples of these costs include: The restaurant’s costs of food and ingredients; labor, packaging, and facilities; and, any profit margin for the restaurant.

No other expenses incurred by the applicant are eligible. Examples of ineligible costs include: indirect/overhead costs incurred by the applicant (e.g., rent, insurance), transportation, distribution, marketing, communications, sales tax, and gratuity.

Application Process

Applications for Sustain and Serve NJ (Phase 2) are now open. Applications will close at 11:59 p.m. on July 18th, 2021. All applications will be reviewed following the closure of the application period.

Applications for Sustain and Serve NJ are completed in three parts:  

1. Applicants submit an application that includes a list of proposed participating restaurants for meal purchases.
2. Listed restaurants receive a short restaurant submission form directly from the NJEDA. View a sample restaurant form.
3. ‍Upon completion of the restaurant form, applicant receives a copy to review and confirm the validity of the submission. Upon applicant confirmation, the restaurant form is added to the applicant’s full application submission.

The entity applying for Sustain and Serve NJ (Phase 2) funding must provide the following documentation:

1. NJ Business Registration Certificate. See a sample physical Business Registration Certificate and a sample digital Business Registration Certificate. Get your Business Registration Certificate.
2. ‍Tax Clearance Certification from the Department of the Treasury’s Division of Taxation. Get your Tax Clearance Certificate.
3. Invoices and receipts demonstrating purchases of 3,000 or more meals totaling at least $50,000 from any New Jersey-based restaurant(s) purchased between March 9th, 2020 and June 28th, 2021. Invoices must include, at minimum: restaurant name, date(s) of purchase, description of purchase(s), quantity purchased, and total cost. See sample invoices here: Sample Invoice 1 and Sample Invoice 2.

Restaurants must provide the following information:

1. Form attesting that the restaurant was in operation on February 15th, 2020, and has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 declared State of Emergency on March 9th, 2020.
2. NJ Business Registration Certificate. See a sample physical Business Registration Certificate and a sample digital Business Registration Certificate. Get your Business Registration Certificate.
3. ‍Current and valid certification from municipal and/or county government inspection that the restaurant received a rating of Satisfactory as per New Jersey Retail Food Establishment Rating system. See a sample certification and a sample sanitary inspection report.

The NJEDA must receive the complete application and at least one completed restaurant form submission by 11:59 PM on July 18th, 2021. Applicants are responsible for ensuring restaurants have submitted materials by the application deadline. Applicants should allow sufficient time for submission of both their own and their listed restaurants’ materials.

Funding Disbursement

Sustain and Serve NJ is a reimbursement-based grant. For each grant award, the total amount will be disbursed in monthly increments as eligible projected expenses are incurred and disbursement is requested from the NJEDA.

Disbursement requests must be evidenced by documentation showing the quantity of meals purchased, cost per meal, total cost, description of purchased item(s), and restaurant from which the meals were purchased.

Grantees may request a change or addition to participating restaurants from which they may purchase meals and receive reimbursement through Sustain and Serve NJ. This request must be submitted in writing and will be subject to review by the NJEDA.

Read more: https://business.nj.gov/covid/eligibility-for-sustain-and-serve