NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy receives her first COVID-19 vaccination at the Atlantic City Megasite, Friday, April 9.Murphy signs Mazzeo’s bill supporting local restaurants
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
ATLANTIC CITY – Gov. Phil Murphy was in Atlantic City today to sign legislation providing $35 million to support small businesses. While he was here, he and is wife First Lady Tammy Murphy, received their first COVID-19 vaccines at the Atlantic City Megasite.
Murphy signed A-5444, which provides $35 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid for restaurants throughout New Jersey. The bill was co-sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo, along with Assemblymen Pedro Mejia, Christopher Tully and Louis Greenwal, and Senators Vin Gopal and Joseph Lagana. The signing was held at Bourré a Cajun themed restaurant on New York Avenue. The bill is part of a five-bill, $100 million relief effort aimed at helping New Jersey’s small businesses recover from the year-long pandemic.
“For the past year, our restaurants have fought the good fight, and we know that fight has not been easy,” Murphy said. “This legislation will provide a much-needed lifeline to small business owners, who, through no fault of their own, have been devastated by this pandemic.”
The funds will provide vital support for businesses to bridge the gap and reopen safely, NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said.
The bill’s sponsors said that before the pandemic, 19,000 restaurants employed nearly 8% of the state’s workers.
“The public health emergency has taken a significant toll on this industry, which so many of us benefit from and enjoy. We must provide support to these establishments to help them get through this crisis and allow them to employ New Jerseyans while continuing to serve residents and visitors alike for years to come,” they said.
Restaurants have struggled with capacity limits and some have closed, jobs were lost and local economies suffered.
“This funding will help ensure that these establishments can keep their doors open and help restore the jobs that have been lost due to the pandemic,” Gopal said.
Gov. Phil Murphy gets vaccinated at the Atlantic City Megasite, Friday, April 9.
The relief aid will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. To date, the NJEDA has distributed more than $250 million in aid to some 55,000 businesses across the state.
Tammy Murphy said getting vaccinated filled her with “hope and gratitude.”
“Hope for brighter days ahead,” and “Gratitude for the scientists, researchers, health care heroes, New Jersey National Guard members, and so many others who made this moment possible,” she said in a Facebook post.
The governor commended AtlantiCare, UNITE Here Local 54 and Casino Association of New Jersey for quickly vaccinating casino workers to keep the city’s economy going.
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