Published on August 25, 2022
The grant program closes on September 30, so apply today!
Millie’s House, a popular Montville Township daycare, received a Check out the $15,000 Morris County Small Business Grant Program today via personal delivery from Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo AND Rep. of USA Mikie Sherrill.
“This is such a huge deal for us. For a small business, $15,000 can be the difference between making or not making payroll and keeping our doors open. We fought the pandemic. It’s been very challenging because we were just hitting the five-year mark in our location when it hit, and a lot of sacrifices had to be made. I am very happy, very grateful”, she said Millie Enriquez, owner and operator of the center.
Joining the visit yesterday were Montville Committee Member June Witty, Township Administrator June Hercek, Township Clerk Stacy Sullivan-Gruca and Don Dedio, an administrative assistant to the township. Millie and her husband, Hector, encouraged other businesses to apply for the grant programme, which will stop accepting applications on September 30.
“I am surprised that there is still money left and that other businesses have not applied. Understand. They might not want to go through the application process, but – hey – it’s $15,000. For a small business owner, it could also be $1 million. I’m very happy, really, and very grateful.” Millie added.
of Morris County Commissioners kicked off the program on Valentine’s Day with a launch in Dover, where Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Morris County Economic Development Corp., Rep. of USA Mikie Sherrill and many other state and local officials joined with small business owners to promote the grants. COMMISSIONERS costing 10 million dollarsand designed grants to help small businesses and nonprofits with pandemic-related expenses incurred after March 3, 2021, including rent and mortgage payments.
“So far, about 650 small businesses have been approved for grants. We have $1.1 million left, but this program will end on September 30, so people need to apply,” said Commissioner Mastrangelo. “As a small business owner, I think the program has been important and I think it has been a great success, both from the perspective of the government and from the perspective of businesses. We’ve seen a lot of companies and startups come to Morris County, and we want to keep them here.”
US Representative Sherrill joined the visit to Millie’s House.
“We know it is people on earth like our commissioners who understand better how to get the money out. So this is just one great example how broad federal programs combined with people on the ground who understand the direct needs of the district can be so powerful,” she said.
Morris County Small Business Grant Program has been is a unique use of federal funds released to the county through The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021which was created to provide pandemic relief. A provision in the act introduced by US Representative Sherrill provided that it included direct aid to New Jersey counties and municipalities, as Morris County and 11 other New Jersey counties failed to receive any portion of the $1.1 billion in federal CARES Act funds released to New Jersey in 2020.
Apply now for a Morris County Small Business Grant! morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com
There is no cost to apply.
Do you have questions?
Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Morris County Economic Development Corporation are hosting a free, virtual networking event to learn more about the Morris County Small Business Grant program and how to apply. will be held August 31, Wednesday, 10:00 am
Please Register.
If you have questions about the event, please send an email to:
[email protected]
Or call 973-539-8270.
More about the Grants Program
The federal guidelines covering the grant program will determine exactly which expenses qualify for coverage and which applications can be approved. Grants are limited to $15,000 per applicant. However, business owners and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to submit applications that include all costs they believe may qualify for the grant, even if the total amount of a single claim exceeds $15,000.
A final review may determine that some costs submitted for review are not covered by program guidelines. However, by submitting all eligible expenses, applicants increase their chance of receiving the maximum possible amount of grant dollars.
Photos at Millie’s House
Top right: Millie waves her grant check in front of her business. With him, from left to right, were Montville Committee Member Witty, USA. Rep. Sherrill, Commissioner Mastrangelo, husband Hector, Township Clerk Sullivan-Gruca and Township Administrator June Hercek
Center Left: Commissioner Mastrangelo and Rep. Sherrill talked about the challenges of small business with Millie.
Bottom right: Millie led visitors to the front of her business. From left to right, Commissioner Mastrangelo, Rep. USA Sherrill, township assistant Dedio, township administrator Hercek and committee member Witty. Behind Witty is the Sullivan-Gruca municipality clerk.