Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires EDA to include social media development services in services offered through Small Business E-commerce Support Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the Main Street Recovery Finance Program and supplementing P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As part of the Small Business E-commerce Support Program, established as a pilot product under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall include the provision of social media development services among the services offered to eligible small businesses through the pilot product.
b. Upon the termination of the Small Business E-commerce Support Program, nothing in this section shall be construed to require the provision of social media development services through any other pilot product established under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) include the provision of social media development services among the services offered to eligible small businesses through its Small Business E-commerce Support Program.
The authority created the Small Business E-commerce Support Program as a pilot product under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, established pursuant to the “New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020.” Under this pilot product, the authority offers e-commerce and digital marketing consulting services to eligible small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses that are situated in a commercial location within the State. Currently, the consultancy services offered through the pilot product generally include assistance related to the development of Internet websites, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing plans. The bill requires that these services also include assistance related to the development of social media platforms.