Business Question? Speak to an Expert! Visit Business.NJ.gov and chat with a live business expert, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more business updates and live support

Visit Business.NJ.Gov

Prepare for the Increase in Unemployment Insurance Tax 

Employers should expect an increase in their unemployment insurance tax contributions this year due to the large number of unemployment claims filed in the last year. The first increased tax payment will be due October 2021 and covers the July-September 2021 quarter. Rate notices for FY2022 have been sent directly to employers. Employers who are registered with NJDOL’s Employer Access portal received the notices online.

Read About the Tax

New Funding Matches Available to Support New Jersey Startups

The New Jersey Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Direct Financial Assistance Program provides a $25,000 to $50,000 funding match to New Jersey startups that have received federal SBIR or STTR grants. The application deadline is Friday, October 8th, 2021.

Application Portal

Comprehensive information for businesses on reopening from COVID, including rules and guidance that must be followed, economic assistance programs, and other resources.

Enter you business category (e.g. restaurant, yoga studio, office) into the field at the link above to read more on State specific restrictions and reopening guidelines.

DOH High Touch Guidance 

DOH Health Club Guidance 

DOH Outdoor Dining Guidance 

DOH Indoor Dining Guidance 

Town specific guidance will be posted.  Please use the links to the State of NJ reopening guidance for general information and requirements.   

Sidewalk Cafe Expansions

Updated 9.21.20

The Town of Morristown has waived the $250 Sidewalk Cafe Fee for 2020

• A café may extend in front of adjacent business(es) with the permission of the property owner and the affected business(es). This is especially effective when hours are complementary.
• A café may be placed in front of your establishment from your storefront to the curb
• A café may be placed in front of your establishment into the parking stall(s) immediately in front that are not otherwise occupied or dedicated for loading, curbside pick-up or handicapped parking. Should this be approved, the Town will provide safety barriers to be placed on the street side of the parking space. Barriers are available on a first come first served basis while supplies last. We will do our best to accommodate requests.
• A café may be placed on adjacent private vacant property (like a parking lot or lawn) with the permission of the property owner.
• Capacity of an expansion area will be limited to the number of seats approved as part of a socially distanced layout
• No standing patrons will be permitted; everyone must be seated to be served
• No patrons are permitted self-service of alcohol unless served to go in compliance with the State’s guidelines; all on-premise alcohol service must be done by wait staff to seated patrons
• Capacity for any outside dining area or expansion will be limited to no more than the indoor capacity of the associated business

Each business who wants to have a sidewalk café in the public right-of-way and/or is seeking a COVID 19 Expansion of Premises Permit from the State ABC must submit an application (forms linked) for a permit through the Clerk’s Office that includes:

• Completed Application
• Certificate of Liability Insurance
• Diagram of proposed café including dimensions and placement of furnishings
• Signed affidavit(s) from each property owner and affected business for any café that expands to another property giving permission for the café placement.

Please review before you apply:

Morristown Outdoor Dining Guidance and Regulations UPDATED 9-21-2020

Morristown Outdoor Dining Guidance and Regulations UPDATED 8-18-2020

Morristown Outdoor Dining Guidance and Regulations UPDATED 6-22-2020

Morristown Outdoor Dining Guidance 6-5-2020

Morristown Sidewalk Café Permit Application

EO 150

NJ Department of Health Executive Directive No. 20-014 – Covid-19 Protocols for Food or Beverage Establishments Offering Service In Outdoor Areas Pursuant To Executive Order No. 150

SR 2020-10 (re: Temporary COVID-19 Permit to Expand Liquor License)

COVID 19 Expansion of Premises Permit: ABC has created a new permit to allow licensees to expand their licensed premises onto nearby property to accommodate reasonable seating capacity while observing social distancing guidelines. This permit will be available to all licensees with retail consumption privileges and will allow expansion privileges subject to local approval.

Office of the Town Clerk
Morristown Town Hall
200 South Street,1st Floor
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Office Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
(973) 292-6636

townclerk@townofmorristown.org

• CDC Guidance: Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
• CDC Guidance: Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Places, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools and Homes
• CDC Poster: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
• CDC Poster: How to Wear and Remove Face Masks
• CDC Poster: Hand Washing (woman) Eng.
• CDC Poster: Hand Washing (woman) Esp.
• CDC Poster: Hand Washing (man) Eng.
• CDC Poster: Hand Washing (man) Esp.
• CDC Poster: Stop the Spread of Germs
• CDC Poster: How to Protect Yourself and Others
• CDC Poster: Employees: Do Not Enter when Sick!
• CDC Poster: Stay Home when You are Sick! Eng.
• CDC Poster: Stay Home when You are Sick! Esp.

SafeServ Coronavirus Tips for Restaurants

FDA Best Practices for Re-Opening Retail Food Establishments During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Food Safety Checklist

FDA Use of Respirators, Facemasks, and Cloth Face Coverings in the Food and Agriculture Sector During COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Infographic: Summary of Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Infographic: Best Practices for Re-Opening Retail Food Establishments During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Fact Sheet: Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Infographic: Summary of Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Infographic: Best Practices for Re-Opening Retail Food Establishments During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Fact Sheet: Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Various updates for small businesses related to economic stimulus and other information on federal programs 

Full Text: Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program as Amended
by Economic Aid Act – Treasury.gov (Table of Contents pg. 10)

Funding Programs from the SBA – SBA.gov

Coronavirus Tax Relief for Businesses and Tax-Exempt Entities – IRS.gov

COVID-19 relief bill addresses key PPP issues – Journal of Accountancy

(view link above for full article)

PPP2 loans will be available to first-time qualified borrowers and, for the first time, to businesses that previously received a PPP loan. Specifically, previous PPP recipients may apply for another loan of up to $2 million, provided they:

• Have 300 or fewer employees.
• Have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP loan.
• Can show a 25% gross revenue decline in any 2020 quarter compared with the same quarter in 2019.

Paycheck Protection Program Round 2: The Highlights – The National Law Review

(view link above for full article)

• Limited Eligibility for Second Round PPP Loans
• Maximum Loan Amount: $2 million.
  • Maximum Loan Amounts for the Hospitality IndustryBorrowers that have NAICS Code 72 (typically restaurants and hotels) are permitted to use a 3.5x multiplier of their average monthly payroll costs to calculate their maximum loan amount, subject to the $2 million cap.
• Choose Your Own Covered Period
  • Borrowers are able to choose the length of their covered period so long as it is at least eight weeks and is not longer than 24 weeks
• Use of PPP Funds
  • Use of Covered Operations Expenditures: payments for business software or cloud computing service that facilitates business operations, product or service delivery, the processing, payment or tracking of payroll expenses, HR and billing functions, or account or tracking of supplies, inventory, records and expenses
  • Covered Property Damage Costs: costs related to property damaged and vandalism or looting due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that was not covered by insurance or other compensation
  • Covered Supplier Costs: expenditures to a supplier of goods that are essential to the operations of the entity at the time at which the expenditure was made and is made pursuant to a contract or order in effect at any time before the covered period or, with respect to perishable goods, in effect at any time during the covered period
  • Covered Worker Protection Expenditures: operating or capital expenditures that allow a business to comply with requirements or guidance issued by the CDC, HHS, OSHA or any state or local government during the period beginning March 1, 2020 and ending on the date which the national emergency declared by the president expires related to the maintenance of standards for sanitation, social distancing or any other worker or customer safety requirement related to COVID-19. These expenses appear to include PPE, physical barriers that were put in place, expansion of indoor/outdoor space, ventilation or filtration systems and drive-through windows.
• Tax Treatment
  • PPP loans will not be included as taxable income. Expenses paid with the proceeds of a PPP loan that is forgiven are now tax-deductible.
• EIDL Advances Do Not Reduce Forgiveness
  • Further guidance is expected to be issued.
• Forgiveness Applications for Loans Under $150,000

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, New Jersey businesses, organizations, employees, and customers can participate in the One Jersey Pledge, committing to follow health and safety guidelines during New Jersey’s economic and social restart and recovery.

Note that this pledge provides no liability protection.

Businesses and organizations can download posters with their commitment to customers and to employees.

As part of the One Jersey Pledge:

Businesses and organizations pledge to:

• Wear face coverings and gloves for contact with their customers and goods
• Ensure social distancing to the greatest extent possible
• Follow hygiene guidelines, including regular hand-washing
• Clean high-touch surfaces frequently
• Train their employees on all health and sanitization protocols
• Conduct employee health screenings
• Support contact tracing initiatives in the interest of public health
• Require employees with symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home

Customers pledge to:

• Stay home if they’re not feeling well
• Keep their distance (6 feet)
• Mask up

Employers pledge to:

• Provide appropriate PPE for employees’ jobs
• Provide sanitization materials, training, and time to practice safe hygiene as recommended by CDC
• Support contact tracing efforts, while respecting employees’ privacy
• Require that employees with COVID-19 symptoms stay home

Employees pledge to:

• Follow hygiene guidelines, including regular hand-washing
• Wear face coverings at all times and gloves for certain activities
• Participate in staff health screening on arrival
• Clean high-touch areas frequently