State extends deadline for businesses to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) at a substantial discount

Businesses and organizations with 100 or fewer employees can apply for discounts of almost 70 percent on PPE purchases

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has extended the deadline for small businesses to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) at a discount of almost 70 percent. The new deadline is Thursday, Dec. 17.

Discounts are available to New Jersey businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees.

The New Jersey Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program allows New Jersey businesses to purchase discounted PPE through NJEDA identified and vetted designated vendors. Current vendors include Boxed, Office Depot, and Staples. Te suppliers have created “microsites” where any New Jersey-based business or nonprofit can purchase PPE at a 10 percent discount. Links to these microsites are available at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.

In addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, the NJEDA has also made $20.4 million available to provide additional discounts to businesses and nonprofits with 100 or fewer employees that make purchases from Staples or Office Depot. Initially set at an additional 25 percent, the NJEDA recently increased additional discounts for small businesses and organizations to 65 percent. The discounts are available in addition to the 10 percent discounts available to all businesses, meaning businesses with 100 or fewer employees can receive nearly 70 percent off on PPE purchases. The NJEDA also doubled the cap on discounts a business or organization can receive from $400 for any business and $500 for businesses operating in one of New Jersey’s 715 census tracts that were eligible to be designated as Opportunity Zones to $800 for all businesses and $1,000 for businesses in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts.

Businesses that have already made purchases through the program will be able to receive vouchers for additional purchases up to the new program caps, but the additional 65 percent discount will only apply to purchases made on or after Nov. 24.

Small businesses and organizations interested in receiving the additional discounts on PPE purchases can receive more information and apply at https://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess. Once the NJEDA has confirmed eligibility, the business will receive vouchers for purchases from a designated vendor of choice. Businesses must use the vouchers by Dec. 17.