NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION COVID-19 RELIEF PROGRAM
The Neighborhood Preservation COVID-19 Relief Program is a $2.6 million special program that provides municipalities with neighborhood preservation plans funding for eligible COVID-19 response activities, including limited funding for local program administrative costs. The program aims to promote the continued recovery and revitalization of Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) communities in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, with a special emphasis on supporting vulnerable small businesses. The program is funded by an allocation from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund and grantees must comply with all applicable federal rules around use of these funds.
- Who May Apply
Funds will only be allocated to municipalities with current approved Neighborhood Preservation Program Implementation Plans through the local government or the NPP partner non-profit that propose eligible COVID-19 response activities.
- Eligible Uses of Funds
At least 60% of funds must be allocated for business uses and must be distributed by grantees to small businesses (run by for-profit or non-profit entities) with a physical location in their NPP neighborhood district boundaries.Funds may only be used for expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020 that are necessary due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Funds may not be used to reimburse expenditures covered by the municipal budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020. Examples include the following:
Business Uses (businesses within the NPP neighborhood boundary):
- Commercial mortgage, rent and other bills (utilities, accounts payable)
- Wages for employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 emergency (excluding bonuses other than hazard pay and overtime)
- Resources to get business established online (for example, a business needed to revamp website to make delivery available to customers)
- Perishable inventory that was lost due to an interruption of business
- Procurement of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment for business owners, staff and customers
- Shield guards for businesses
- Procurement of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes
- Social distancing signage and decals
- Procurement of tables, chairs, and other furniture for outdoor dining
- COVID-19 educational materials, activities, and events aimed at businesses
Other Uses:
- All other COVID-19 educational materials, activities, and events
- Community access to internet services for food shopping
- Personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes for community member
- Expenses for community social and health benefit activities by non-business non-profits that are only necessary due to COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Local gift card programs that promote patronage of NPP neighborhood businesses.
- Program administration expenses, up to $10,000 or 10% of the total request, whichever is greater, provided they are for activities substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Additional uses beyond these examples require prior approval from DCA.
Businesses receiving funds from grantees must complete a written certification that:
- they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 Social Distancing Measures or the Stay-at-Home order (i.e. closed business temporarily, had to lay people off, realized at least a 25% drop in sales).
- they have not received any COVID-19 relief funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, or any other state business recovery program (excluding unemployment compensation from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development) including DCA’s Neighborhood Preservation Program and Main Street New Jersey Program. Businesses that received benefits (such as lease assistance and technical assistance) from the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and other state recovery programs, but did not receive direct COVID-19 relief funding from these programs, are eligible to receive funds.
- they will not use the funds to support wages, activities, or purchases that have already received reimbursement from any state, federal, or foundation programs (including distributions from the unemployment insurance fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, SBA loans, and any form of federal CARES Act funding).
- they have less than $5 million in gross receipts as of the most recent tax reporting year
- they have at least two employees (including owner) and no more than 100 employees
- they were in business as of March 17, 2020
- they have an operational physical location within the NPP neighborhood boundary.
Funds may not be used for indirect costs, administration, or to support the salaries of applicant staff unless it is for activities substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. All funds received must be fully expended by grantees and their subrecipients by December 30, 2020. Any funds not expended by that date or expected to be expended by that date must be returned to DCA by December 15, 2020 for distribution back to the US Treasury.
- Scoring
Funding awards will be determined based on three equally weighted factors:- Number of commercial parcels in the neighborhood boundary (33.3%)
- Population in the neighborhood boundary (33.3%)
- Capacity Score- existing COVID response activities, past grantmaking to businesses (33.3%)
- Application Process
Funding Announcement released October 1, 2020 Applications due October 7, 2020 Applications reviewed October 12, 2020 Notify applicants of award decisions October 13, 2020 Anticipated award start date October 15, 2020 Applications are due by October 7, 2020, with awards expected to be made by October 15, 2020. Applications must be submitted electronically to jef.buehler@dca.nj.gov.
- Submission Requirements
- Track Record
- Describe the organization’s COVID-19 response activities in its neighborhood (if any).
- Indicate whether your organization has ever administered grant or loan funds to local businesses.
- Assessment of Need
- Describe the current need for the project/activities.
- Explain why award would not constitute a duplication of benefits.
- Project Description
- Provide a detailed description of the proposed project(s) and how it aids in the recovery and transition from COVID-19
- Budget and Financial Information
- Prepare a budget including all project costs.
- List the amount(s) and source(s) of any matching funds and in-kind sources.
- List the amount(s) of any paid staff time that is dedicated to the project. (if any)
- Certification Sheets
- Certify that this agency is not delinquent on any Federal or State debt.
- Certify that the applicant understands that payments from NJDCA will depend on our submission of all required grant reports.
- Certify that neither members of our organization's governing body nor members of their families will receive any direct or indirect personal or monetary gain from the funding of this grant.
- Certify that the organization’s Certification of System for Award Management (SAM) is valid and current.
- Certify that neither members of the organization's governing body nor members of their families serve on any board, council, commission, committee, or task force that has regulatory authority or advising influence on the funding program.
- The information contained in the Board of Directors list in the Agency Information section is adequate and up-to-date at the time of this application.
- Attachments
- Certification Regarding Debarment and Suspension
- Certification Regarding Lobbying
- Resolution of Board/Governing Body (Sample below.)
- Organizational Chart
- Other attachments as relevant
- Sample NPP COVID-19 Relief Program Resolution
Click the link below for a printable pdf of the sample resolution:
Sample NPP COVID-19 Relief Program Resolution - Neighborhood Preservation COVID-19 Relief Program Application
Click the link below for a printable pdf copy of the application:
Neighborhood Preservation COVID-19 Relief Program ApplicationIf you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer, you will need to DOWNLOAD the form before filling it out.
