Economic Development

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Anthony P. Carabelli Jr., Director

Phone:	609-989-6555
Mail:	640 S. Broad St. Trenton, NJ 08650-0068
	P.O. Box 8068
Email:	acarabellijr@mercercounty.org

The Mercer County Office of Economic Development provides a variety of business development programs and workshops to help small and large businesses in the County build growing, successful companies.

Specifically, these programs include:

Business Workshops such as Business Fundamentals, Financing, and Procurement
Individual Business Mentoring
Financial Assistance for Mercer County Businesses
Foreign Trade Zone Program
Site Selection Services
Employee Recruitment and Training Assistance

UCEDC 0% Interest Loan Program - Limited Number of Loans Remain

The Mercer County Office of Economic Development is delighted to offer the UCEDC 0% Interest Loan Program. The loans will be offered at 0% interest, with a five-year repayment term. The loans will range from $10,000 to $20,000 and the funds can be used for working capital, inventory, or purchases of furniture and equipment. There are No collateral requirements, pre-payment penalties, processing, closing or application fees.

Over 65 business will receive funding on a first-come first-served basis.

Visit this link for more information and to start your application. For more information about the services and programs, please contact us at: 609-989-6555 or businessadvocate@mercercounty.org.

SMBX Small Business Investment Program - Closed on 9/30/24

The Mercer County Department of Economic Development is excited to announce the SMBX Small Business Investment Program starting on August 1, 2023.

Businesses can raise money by issuing Small Business Bonds on the SMBX marketplace. Instead of borrowing from a bank, businesses borrow from investors in their community and across the country, paying them back monthly at fixed interest rates through SMBX.

Small businesses are not required to provide a personal loan guarantee and the SMBX team completes the underwriting at no cost, the business reviews it, and SMBX files it with federal regulators. The SMBX marketing team works with the business owners to offer and promote their raise and once the raise is completed, the business makes monthly fixed payments to its investors so it knows exactly what to expect for its cash flow.

By purchasing Small Business Bonds in $10 increments through the Mercer County Small Business Investment Program, investors can earn a meaningful monthly return by lending money to their favorite local small businesses while gaining more control over their money.

Visit this link for more information and to start

Click video recording to hear of all of the specifics of this program.

Mercer County Business Grant Program - COMPLETED

The County of Mercer launched the Mercer County Small Business Grant program, which dedicated $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This provided direct aid to Mercer County small businesses that have likely experienced hardship from the COVID-19 disaster. To aid those most in need and provide for easier application, the County prioritized the review of applications from businesses located within Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) or Opportunity Zones within Mercer County.

Small businesses located in a QCT/Opportunity Zone were not required to document economic losses and were eligible to receive a flat grant of $10,000. Those eligible businesses not located in a QCT/Opportunity Zone documented economic losses and were awarded funds based on the documented amount - up to a $10,000 maximum. Due to the number of businesses in the portal, the County decided to close the application process to the program.

For Answers to Frequently Asked Questions please select the FAQs English and Spanish FAQ for any questions or issues regarding the Grant Program.

Doing Business: Mercer County

Opportunities await you in Mercer County! As a fledgling or growing business, you should know that bidding opportunities are right around the corner. Through our Mercer County Purchasing Department, we offer a streamlined process to navigate some of the complexities of the procurement process. You will find that County purchases are made through a comprehensive system of specifications and competitive solicitations. For more information on current opportunities and how to receive notifications when these opportunities become available, please visit our Mercer County Purchasing Department.

For businesses seeking information on our Mercer County Economic Development incentives and programs, please visit the appropriate links through this website or contact us directly at 609-989-6555. We look forward to serving you and your growing business in New Jersey’s Capital County.

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