SPOTSWOOD–With social distance restrictions slowly being lifted, Mayor Edward Seely discussed how small business owners can potentially receive grant funds from Middlesex County.
“The governor recently announced a few more openings, starting with restaurants being allowed to offer outside, in-person dining on June 15, and non-essential retailers will be back in business,” Seely said. “Additionally, the long-awaited opening of barbershops and hair salons will, at last, begin on June 22,” Seely said in a prepared statement.
Seely said youth summer programs will also be allowed to start up on July 6.
Of course, all of these openings will come with guidelines and restrictions.
”The county has begun taking applications for its small business grants to those impacted by COVID-19. The information is on our borough website, was sent out as a Nixle alert, and was posted on the Office on Aging’s Facebook page,” Seely said in the statement. “I will also be going door to door to local businesses to hand-deliver the information …”
Seely said he has been told that even if a business owner is in doubt as to whether he or she thinks they qualify, apply. These are grants, not loans, and will not need to be repaid.
”There are times, perhaps more often than not, that government is difficult to figure out. We are told by executive order that no more than 25 people may gather at a time; however, it is a matter of great concern that the recent protests have garnered crowds as large as 4,000 people,” Seely said. “Where does the social distancing come into play? How will this affect the number of positive cases? How much of a negative impact will this have on the progress we have made?”
Seely said he is not making a statement as to the reason for the protests; however, the fact that we are living through a pandemic is significant and must be considered.
”Now for some positivity. You may have noticed that Mayor Christopher Slavicek has acknowledged the Helmetta students of the graduating Class of 2020 with portrait banners on select power poles in Helmetta,” Seely said in the statement. “I’m pleased to share with you that local resident and mother of a graduate of the Class of 2020, Diane Wells, approached the borough for assistance on a project to honor our own graduates.”
While the borough cannot pay for the banners, Seely said the borough was willing to do what it could to support Wells in her efforts. He said he approached JCP&L and applied for permission to hang banners in Spotswood, but there are simply not enough poles to accommodate the number of students the borough has.
“An alternate option was discussed, and the banners will be mounted on posts surrounding Borough Hall and towards the entrance of the high school. Wells spearheaded this project and, with [the] help of others, has raised the funds and will see this project through to completion. This once again proves that the people who volunteer and expend their energy for good can accomplish anything. … As always be safe, be smart, and stay healthy.”
