The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has announced that it will begin accepting applications this Friday, April 3, for its Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. The grant program is part of the state’s efforts to help businesses and workers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Small- and mid-sized businesses wishing to apply for a grant can apply online beginning at 9 a.m. by following a link that will be posted on the state’s COVID-19 Business Information Hub. The grants are not available to home-based businesses or prohibited businesses.

Mayor Ted Brennan delivered a message to the Merchantville community on Sunday, March 29th, thanking them for continuing to adhere to Governor Murphy's executive "stay at home" order, social distancing and traveling from home only for essential needs. He also provided an update on the current number of positive cases in the Borough, the need for blood donations and some volunteer opportunities to assist seniors through the County. In closing he stressed the importance of residents supporting our small businesses and their owners who have been so dramatically impacted by this pandemic. Mayor Brennan also reminded everyone to complete their Census 2020 this week.

Food trucks from Marys Mobile Diner, Red's Rolling Restaurant and Not Your Mama's Tacos have been helping to keep the EMTs and hospital staff at Cooper Hospital nourished with comfort food as they care for patients during the pandemic. They have received generous donations from local residents to meet their goal of free 1000 meals. A donation of a $15 gift provides a meal or snack for Cooper Hospital staff members. Please keep supporting the cause to take care of our frontline hero’s! Donations may be made through Venmo, credit card or check. Please IM them through Facebook or text them by phone listed on their business pages.

When PATCO closed four stations at midnight on Sunday they cited the health and safety of its workers and passengers as well the steep decline in ridership since state curfews measures were put in place in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The following stations will close at 12:01 a.m. Saturday because of the expanding COVID-19 pandemic: Ashland, Westmont, Camden City Hall and 12/13th & Locust St. In addition, the West Headhouse Entrance to the Broadway Station will close, but riders will be directed to use the Walter Rand Transportation Center entrance to the station.

The Camden County Department of Health is announcing 33 additional positive case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) identified in Camden County. including two (2) in Merchantville. Trace investigations are being facilitated with the patients and remain ongoing.  “This is the largest single day increase in cases we have seen in Camden County to date, and it underscores the reality that we are only at the beginning of this crisis and we need everyone to keep social distancing and keep staying at home as much as possible,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. This brings the aggregate number of confirmed positive cases to 117 in Camden County and another 1,928 statewide bringing NJ's total to 8,825. 

We know you have questions about coronavirus (COVID-19), how your government is responding to the needs of the community, and what is being done to mitigate the spread of the disease in Camden County. On Thursday, March 26th, at 3:00 p.m. Freeholder Lou Cappelli, Congressman Donald Norcross and Health & Human Services Director Anne E. Walters hosted a virtual town hall on Facebook Live. Residents were invited and encouraged to join in and have their questions answered via live chat and email. The video stream is available here.

Last week, Matt Skoufalos of NJ Pen spoke with a handful of mayors about the early effects of novel coronavirus on their communities and the time that will lapse before those dollars trickle down to the individual families, self-employed workers, and small businesses that need them the most. Mayor Ted Brennan said he’s hopeful that some community block development grants (CBDGs) will again be available to help small businesses in his community recover from COVID-19-related losses. Brennan supports the statewide shutdowns as “fully justified” to “flatten the curve”, he also knows those closures will have an “ancillary impact” on Merchantville's small businesses. Here’s what local mayors had to say. 

Members of Merchantville's Green Team, Garden Club and Incredible Edible met by virtual conference call on Tuesday, March 24th. The main agenda item was the need to revise plans and postpone the Earth Fair on May 9th. The attendees decided that postponement until the Fall rather than cancelation made the most sense then, assigned outreach tasks to inform accepted vendors and media outlets. Members also reviewed updates on existing projects, including the effort towards Bronze certification with Sustainable Jersey and, will keep the public updated on any future changes to Earth Fair.

the Senate passed a massive stimulus package last night and the House is expected to follow suit). A key feature of the stimulus is individual checks. Checks are supposed to be produced asap, but that could take up to two months. If you use direct deposit, it will be faster. Checks will be $1,200 per adult/$2,400 for married couples filing jointly and an additional $500 per child - income limit $75,000 with a phaseout for higher incomes. Treasury will advance your check based on your most recently filed tax return (2018 or 2019 tax return) so if you need to get your return in today. Your 2019 will not be affected by the stimulus check.