Opportunity Zone Grants
Dear New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
This is a request for public records made underthe common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
1. The agency has made public statements via press releases that it had 6 million dollars in Grant funding for SBIG Grant applications submitted by businesses lying within an opportunity zone. However, the agency has committed already to giving out more than that amount. Requester seeks records to understand how explaining the discordnance much money is actually available for SBIG grants coming from applicants lying within and conducting business within an opportunity zone.
2. In response to a previous record request made by this requestor, the agency showed that it had reviewed approximately 5 days worth of grant submissions, over 100 applications, from program initiation through approximately February 17th 2022. Requester seeks any records that show the anticipated time for completion of grant review for applications submitted through close of Business on February 25, 2022.
The public has a right to understand the timeliness of grant reviews and the voluminous number of applications received. The public also has a right to understand how much funding is set aside for OZ grants.
Yours faithfully,
Finn Gurlycher
Dear New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
Please take note that as the requestor, I am revising this request to include the requested records under OPRA and Common Law.
Please provide an update on turn around on the request. I note it is due on 7/6/2022.
Yours faithfully,
Finn Gurlycher
Hello Finn. This request remains in process and requires a one-week
extension.
Regards,
Marcus
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Marcus J. Saldutti, Esq.
Senior Legal Affairs Officer
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
1 Gateway Center | Suite 1410 | Newark, New Jersey | 07102
[mobile number]-414-1423
For information about NJEDA’s products and services, please visit us on
the web: [2]www.njeda.com
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Hello Finn:
With respect to part 1 of your request, please be advised that we are
unable to identify records that would allow you to“…understand how
explaining the discordnance [sp] much money is actually available for SBIG
grants coming from applicants lying within and conducting business within
an opportunity zone.”
With respect to part 2 of your request, please be advised that we are
unable to identify records “…that show the anticipated time for completion
of grant review for applications submitted through close of Business on
February 25, 2022.”
With that being said, and to assist with your inquiry, below is a summary
explanation of how matters stand at this point:
1) $15 million has been approved for the Small Business Improvement Grant
(public information-which has the 40% OZ set aside identified and hasn’t
changed.) See information here:
[1]https://www.njeda.com/small-business-imp... with the ability
to double to $30 million. The qualified OZ census tract designation is
run on the primary address selected by the applicant. The $5.5 million
was actually between 2 programs not one. See information here:
[2]https://www.njeda.com/njeda-has-provided...
2) As of 6/29 there are 2716 applications submitted. 2000 applications
are assigned out to reviewers so far. That 2000 extends to application
dates of March 15th, 2022. Majority of applications received were just
the first few weeks. Here is a grid and graph below to demonstrate, which
puts us to application to the week of June 3^rd.
The awards for both grant programs have been posted on the EDA website for
the public to see – this is updated monthly. The set aside is 40% for the
OZ eligible census tracts and that set aside is on each product. There is
sufficient funding to support all the applicants so far. If anyone needs
a status update on their application they can email
[3][email address] for an update. It is difficult to
provide a specific timeline on an individual application review since the
review process depends on the level of completeness of the application.
Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
729 551 298 201 161 106 126 110 69 47 40 54 39 58 34
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Marcus
[4][IMG]
Marcus J. Saldutti, Esq.
Senior Legal Affairs Officer
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
1 Gateway Center | Suite 1410 | Newark, New Jersey | 07102
[mobile number]-414-1423
For information about NJEDA’s products and services, please visit us on
the web: [5]www.njeda.com
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