growing

businesses in high tech fields and urban areas.

programs.

creation in the state.

"The NJEDA is a mainstay source of capital for urban-based

businesses,

small and mid-sized businesses, minority and woman owned businesses,

and high technology businesses — especially emerging high

technology

companies — as well as a lending resource for business projects

located on brownfield sites reclaimed from environmental damage,"

says Anthony Coscia, chairman of the NJEDA. The NJEDA works

with banks to guarantee up to 30 percent of the loan or participate

up to 25 percent.

"Each of those categories of business are important to the New

Jersey economy," says Coscia, "and the NJEDA is important

to them as a means to obtain financing so that they can expand, create

jobs, bring new products to market, and maintain working capital

levels

that keep them moving forward. We want to be sure they can find

affordable

financing, and make that financing attractive to them during the

current

period."

Emerging high tech companies can apply for the New Jersey Seed Capital

program, which provides from $25,000 to $500,000 for working capital

or fixed assets. Later stage companies can apply to the New Jersey

Technology Funding program, in which the NJEDA guarantees a percentage

of the bank loans of from $100,000 to $5 million. Various loans for

urban districts — amounts up to $100,000 — also fall in the

three percent category.

"As the chief economic development agency in New Jersey, our rate

reductions go hand in hand with the moves by the Federal Reserve and

by banks that have lowered rates," says Franzini. "Effective

October 11, we will accept applications for financing at the new,

lower rates, subject to adoption of the regulations." Previous

loans will not be renegotiated.

Nevertheless, until the changes become effective, borrowers are at

risk that current NJEDA rates will apply to the transactions. Also

each loan will continue to be subjected to analysis of factors such

as municipal location, type of industry, investment in new facilities,

facility expansion and improvements, employment and job creation,

and reclamation of brownfield sites.

The NJEDA has issued $312 million in financing assistance to 248

projects

so far this year.

Top Of Page
Disaster Loans

Middlesex County businesses that have been affected

by the World Trade Center disaster may be eligible for federal

Economic

Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To qualify, your business must have used all reasonably available

funds and be unable to obtain credit to pay for ordinary and necessary

operating expenses.

Call 800-659-2955 or E-mail: njhelps@commerce.state.nj.us or go to

www.newjerseycommerce.org/njhelps.

So far, Mercer County businesses do not qualify, but are urged instead

to call the New Jersey Business Assistance Hotline, 800-643-6090.

At some point in the future, Mercer County might be put in the

qualifying

category. The qualification depends on a county having at least five

businesses that experienced at least a 40 percent gross revenue loss

as a direct result of the September 11 attack. Qualifying counties

as of last week are Hudson, Bergen, Union, Passaic, and Middlesex.

"These loans were designed to fully compensate eligible business

operations during the post-disaster recovery," says Linda

Greenstein,

the Democratic assemblywoman from Plainsboro. "They will help

to stabilize the business community as the country economically

rebuilds

from this crisis." Travel-related businesses are particularly

at risk.

Top Of Page
Family Assistance

If you wondered how Central Jersey’s social agencies

were able to coordinate their efforts to help all the area victims

of the September 11 tragedy, here’s how it’s working. The United Way

of Greater Mercer County has set up a September 11th Coordinating

Committee that involves an impressive array of 21 agencies dealing

with crisis response, mental health issues, and other human care

needs.

Surely these agencies, which range from the AAMH to Womanspace, and

which regularly compete for donor funds, have never before worked

so closely together.

Craig Lafferty, president and CEO of UWGMC, told the agencies

not to worry about money when they are serving families impacted by

the disaster, that the United Way will help them obtain the financial

resources. "We wanted the agencies to be able to focus all their

energies on addressing the needs emerging from the disaster and

continue

to meet the on-going needs of their current clients."

In Mercer and Middlesex counties, an estimated 115 families have been

affected by the disaster. Some have received services, others are

not ready to discuss their needs. For 22 families, where jobs were

lost, financial assistance has been provided.

"One of the biggest challenges facing all agencies today,"

says Lafferty, "is finding out just who needs help as a result

of the recent devastation. There’s no complete listing of all the

victims in our area. We’re encouraging everyone who’s seeking

assistance

— or who knows someone who needs help — to call United Way

at 609-896-1912 or the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey at

609-951-8550.

"The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey is acting as an

advocate for each victim in our area through their Good Neighbor

program,"

says Lafferty, "and they’re doing an incredible job. As other

agencies learn of affected families, they make certain that the

families

have been in contact with the American Red Cross; if not, the agency

makes sure the Red Cross reaches out to that family. The Red Cross

also refers people to other agencies as specific needs are

discovered."

Under the Good Neighbor Program, Red Cross staff members and

volunteers

visit or contact families to help families identify their needs. Red

Cross mental health workers are part of the team. The agency can

provide

immediate direct free financial assistance for mortgage payments,

rents, additional living expenses, funeral expenses, or travel costs

for bringing in family members for support.

Volunteers can also help families qualify for the National Red Cross

Cash Grant program, which provides a direct, tax-free financial gift

to families who lost a loved one or had a family member injured at

the WTC; this program provides a financial base for several months

while the family deals with the emotions of the event and can access

other financial assistance programs.

Over the next three to six months, more needs may emerge —

behavior

problems with children, increased incidents of domestic violence,

and emotional issues for those who were not directly impacted but

were directly affected, and the Coordinating Committee will monitor

these. "There’s a concern," Lafferty explains, "that those

people who work in lower Manhattan or have a friend or colleague

directly

impacted will be in need of help as well. It’s not uncommon during

times of disaster for trauma symptoms to appear months later."

The Salvation Army took a mobile kitchen to Ground Zero on September

13, and the UWGMC helped to recruit volunteers for this effort. UWGMC

staff and board members — along with members of the Trenton Rotary

— worked shifts to keep the kitchen operating. With Nexus

Properties

donating the use of a North Olden Avenue warehouse, the UMGMC and

the Salvation Army arranged a drop-off center for donated goods.

Among the other Coordinating Committee members are Cancer Care,

Catholic

Charities, Contact, Family & Children’s Services, Family Guidance,

Greater Trenton Community Mental Health Center, Hands on Helpers,

Interfaith Care Givers, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Mercer

County Hispanic Association, Mercer County Mental Health, Prevention

Education, Princeton Area Community Foundation, Rescue Mission,

Samaritan

Hospice, St. Francis Medical Center, Trinity Counseling Service, and

Womanspace.

"We are incredibly impressed by the hard work, determination,

and spirit of cooperation demonstrated by agencies providing direct

services to those in need of assistance," says Lafferty.

Corrections or additions?

— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.