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NJ Department of Agriculture Urges Residents to Help Slow the Advancement of the Spotted Lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that can feed on about 70 different types of trees and plants. Indigenous to China, Taiwan and Vietnam, the planthopper pest arrived in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on a shipment from China in 2014. It has steadily advanced ever since, and 26 counties in Pennsylvania are currently under quarantine. And thanks to a shared border with the state, the pest is now in New Jersey. Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset are all under quarantine. 

For More Information

Eligible Union County Seniors Can Still Apply for Farmers Market Vouchers!

Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, Farmers Market vouchers for eligible Union County seniors are being distributed only by mail. Each eligible senior can obtain five $6 dollar vouchers for a total of $30 to purchase “Jersey Fresh” fruits, vegetables and herbs at Farmers Markets that display the black and yellow WIC posters.

To be eligible, seniors must be age 60 and older. A single person’s annual income cannot exceed $1,986 per month and a married couple’s combined income may not exceed $2,686 per month.

Eligible seniors who have not yet received vouchers can request a voucher application form by calling the Union County Division on Aging, 908-527-4870, 908-527-4877 or 888-280-8226, weekdays from 8am until 4pm.  Eligible seniors can receive a set of vouchers one time per year.

A limited number of vouchers are still available and applications will be evaluated on a “first-come first-served” basis. 

Face coverings and social distance may be required when visiting Farmers Market sites during this summer season.

Participating Farmers Market in Union County are located in:

  • Cranford (Dreyer Farms, 831 Springfield Avenue)
  • Elizabeth (Elizabeth Avenue Farmers’ Market, Union Square between Elizabeth Avenue and High Street)
  • Kenilworth ( 455 Boulevard)
  • Plainfield (Watchung Avenue and East 6th Street, across from City Hall)
  • Rahway (Rahway Farmer’s Market, at NJ Transit Train Station Plaza
  • Roselle Park (Roselle ark Farmers’ Market, at Chestnut Street and East Grant Avenue)
  • Scotch Plains (Scotch Plains Farmers’ Market, Municipal Parking Lot at 430 Park Avenue)
  • Springfield (66 Mountain Avenue)
  • Summit (Park & Shop #2, at Maple Street and DeForest Avenue)
  • Westfield (NJ Transit Railroad Station, North Avenue Parking Lot)

For more information about the Farmers’ Market nutrition program, or any services provided by the Division of Aging and Disability Resource in the Union County Department of Human Services, call 1-888-280-8226, or visit online here. Please note that in-person services may be limited or modified due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications For The 2021 Linden Hometown Heroes Banner Program Now Available!

Applications for the 2021 Linden Hometown Heroes Banner Program are now available! Click here to download the application.

Honor City of Linden servicemen and women and their families, who have served or given their lives for our country in the United States Armed Forces. The banners will hang on light stands in the Linden Uptown Business District beginning in November. This program is free for Linden Military Veterans and their families. Deadline for applications with required credentials is Monday, October 11th, 2021. Banner applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 908-718-5831 or email here or click here to download the informational flyer for additional information.

Hurricane Ida Resources

  • Senator Booker’s dedicated page with Hurricane Ida resources can be accessed here. The page will be regularly updated as more information and resources become available. 
  • Individual Assistance – Assistance to individuals and households. Individuals in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset, and Union Counties can apply with FEMA by applying online here or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
  • Homeowner/Tenant Expectations when applying for help from FEMA.
  • Public Assistance – Assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster damaged facilities.
  • Small Business Disaster Assistance: The SBA is offering low-interest disaster assistance loans to New Jersey businesses and residents. For more information and to apply, click here.

Journee to Greatness Event on September 11th, 2021 @ 6pm

Join us in empowering our community through entertainment at the Journee to greatness event tomorrow, September 11th, 2021 at the Raymond Bauer Promenade starting at 6pm.

Live cooked Haitian Cuisine, live art, live music, keynote speakers of financial literacy, therapist for mental health awareness & more! Click here to download the informational flyer for this event. #Journeetogreatness @onajourneeventures

Linden Residents Can Now Receive FEMA Major Disaster Assistance Following Hurricane Ida

The fastest and easiest way to apply is by clicking here or by downloading the FEMA App on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. If it is not possible to apply online, then call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). The toll-free telephone lines operate from 6am to 10pm CDT, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

For more information, please see factsheets below, which can also be accessed via these links:

NJEDA Board Approves $10.5 Million Grant Program for Small Businesses to Support Recovery from Tropical Storms Henri and Ida


Will provide grants up to $5,000 to storm-impacted businesses/non-profits with up to 50 full-time equivalent employees

TRENTON, N.J. (September 8, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced the approval of the Henri/Ida Business Assistance Grant Program at a special meeting of its Board held earlier today.  The $10.5 million program will provide grants of $1,000 to $5,000 for businesses and non-profits that suffered physical damage from the effects of recent tropical storms Henri and Ida.

The approval follows Governor Phil Murphy’s announcement of preliminary details of the program last week. The NJEDA has been tasked with creating and administering the program, which will provide short-term, immediate rent/mortgage reimbursement support to New Jersey businesses and non-profits with up to 50 full-time equivalent employees that suffered physical damage from Tropical Storm Henri on August 22nd and 23rd, or from Tropical Storm Ida on September 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2021.

More information about the Henri/Ida Business Assistance Grant Program is available here.

“Countless New Jersey businesses endured the wrath of Tropical Storms Henri and Ida in recent weeks, and today’s action by the NJEDA’s Board will allow us to move swiftly to help those businesses in need,” said Governor Murphy. “Time is clearly of the essence and we are determined to get funds out to businesses and non-profits as quickly as possible.”

The Henri/Ida Grant Program is designed to assist businesses and non-profits impacted by tropical storms Henri and Ida. The Program will provide grants from $1,000 up to $5,000 to New Jersey-based small businesses and non-profits that have up to 50 full-time equivalent employees as reported on their last WR-30 form (Q2 2021) with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) and have a commercial location in the State that suffered physical damage as a result of tropical storms Henri and Ida. Of the $10.5 million available for the program, $10 million will be available for grants for businesses and non-profits impacted by Ida and $500,000 will be set aside for businesses and non-profits impacted by Henri.

Landlords and home-based businesses are not eligible for grant funding through this program. To be eligible, the applying entity must:

  • Provide certification of an unmet need due to damage and/or business interruption.
  • This includes, but is not limited to, flooding, interior or exterior damage to the building structure, roof damage, and siding damage, all of which are directly related to tropical storm Henri and Ida. Loss of power alone will not be considered physical damage.
  • Provide documentation of physical damage to the applicant’s physical commercial location.
  • Have been in operation on August 1, 2021.
  • Present a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  • Submit recent wage reporting form (WR30), if applicable.
  • Submit evidence of an August rent/mortgage payment of at least $1,000 as well as have a need that is greater than $1,000.
  • Be registered to do business in the State of New Jersey, as evidenced by a valid Business Registration Certificate.
  • Be in good standing with the Department of Taxation and DOL, and if applicable, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Department of Children and Families, and/or the Department of Human Services.
  • Complete an affidavit identifying all funding sources related to recovery from tropical storms Henri and Ida, including prior grants, insurance, and Small Business Administration loans and grants.
  • Comply with any additional requirements that may apply.

Grants will be provided in the form of reimbursement of August rent or mortgage ($1,000 minimum rent eligibility). To ensure grants reach businesses in the hardest hit communities, including communities of color, one-third of the $10 million in funding available through the program will be targeted to businesses with a primary business location within the 715 census tracts designated as eligible to be selected as an Opportunity Zone.

“The NJEDA shares Governor Murphy’s sense of urgency as we work to provide support to small businesses and non-profits dealing with the impact of Henri and Ida,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “The need for assistance is particularly dire, as these storms occurred just as New Jersey was emerging from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s more critical than ever that we do our best to help impacted entities return to normal operations so they may continue their role as the economic drivers of New Jersey’s communities.”

The NJEDA has stressed to business owners and non-profit leaders the importance of thoroughly documenting all physical damage as they prepare to apply for assistance through this and any future programs, including taking clear photographs and saving receipts for repairs and associated materials.

Comprehensive information about the Henri/Ida Business Assistance Grant Program is available here. The NJEDA expects to launch an online application for the program at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 17th here. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or click here. Follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.