Frustrated Biz Owners Speak Out Before Gov. Christie's Belmar Town Hall

NJ Main Street Alliance & Frustrated Small Business Owners Speak Out Before Belmar Town Hall to Respond to Christie’s Dismissive Remarks on Stronger NJ Business Grant Program Failure

Belmar – Today, NJ Main Street Alliance (NJ-MSA) and small business owners spoke out before Governor Christie’s latest Town Hall to call on Christie to investigate the problems with the Stronger NJ Grant process. They called on the governor to do his job and distribute the program’s $85 million out to businesses.

Last Thursday, at his previous Town Hall in Flemington, when questioned about the low disbursal rate of Sandy grants, Christie defended the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) handling of the Stronger NJ Business Grant Program. Christie claimed there was little demand for the program. This is simply not true.

In fact, from May to December of 2013, more than 3,300 small businesses requested approximately $167 million in grants. As of March 24, 2014, New Jersey has awarded a mere $15.2 million to 314 businesses – leaving thousands of businesses in limbo and out of luck.

“Governor Christie's dismissive words were an outright insult to the thousands of small business owners who applied for the Stronger NJ Business Grants months ago. These constituents are still stuck in limbo as they try to get the money they need to restore their businesses,” said Corinne Horowitz, Business Representative at NJ-MSA.

Kristen Scalia, is the owner of Kanibal Home, a retail shop in Jersey City. She’s spent so much money and time on the application in the last nine months that she says she would’ve been better off getting a part-time job. "My jaw dropped when I heard that somebody claimed there was no demand for the Stronger NJ Business Grants,” said Scalia. “I was outraged when I heard it was the governor himself. He should know better.”

The experiences described by applicants to the Stronger NJ Business Grant program are remarkably similar. The NJEDA changed their point of contact and didn't respond to their inquiries for months on end. When applicants finally did get through, their paperwork was often lost, requiring them to resubmit it over and over again.

“I have spent every Saturday working on this for months, and my case has been transferred about five times. I am tired of calling and emailing with no response…I have just about given up” said Kenny Akerman owner of Ocean Towers and Welding in Point Pleasant Beach.

Many business owners reported misinformation from official sources, including Governor Christie’s office itself. Business owners in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park affected by the recent boardwalk fire were told they’d be eligible for Sandy money, even if they weren’t hurt by the SuperStorm. These business owners later found out this was not true, but only after countless wasted hours and frustrating phone calls.

“Governor Christie should have consulted HUD before speaking to us, as it gave many businesses false hope. He wasted a whole lot of people’s time and money,” said Joe Jerabek. “I literally emailed the Governor's office every other week for months, but have still never received a response.”

“This is just another example of how out-of-touch this administration is with every day people in New Jersey,” concluded the MSA’s Horowitz. “Governor Christie needs to hold his administrators and their private contractors accountable instead of blaming the victims.