Main Street Acquisition Support Grant

Main Street Acquisition Support Grant

Funds New Jersey business property acquisition for storefront owners rebuilding operations after major transitions.

Eligibility · United States · US-NJ

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority's Main Street Acquisition Support Grant provides one-time awards of up to $50,000 to New Jersey small businesses and nonprofits that have purchased commercial property on a main street corridor. The program is administered by NJEDA and accepts applications on a rolling basis with no stated end date, making it continuously available to eligible buyers who meet the timing requirements. The grant is intended to reduce the capital burden of commercial property ownership and promote occupied storefronts across New Jersey communities.

Eligibility requires that the applicant meet the SBA small business definition or qualify as a nonprofit. The commercial property closing must have occurred after October 1, 2024, and the application must be submitted within twelve months of that closing date — the hard deadline is one year post-closing. The property must include at least 1,000 square feet of usable space, cannot be residential-only or vacant land, and must be used for active business operations. Cannabis license holders are explicitly excluded. Only one grant is available per EIN, and the award is capped at a single location.

Applicants must hold a current New Jersey Tax Clearance Certificate at the time of application. Upon approval, a $500 fee is due. Once the grant is received, grantees must occupy the property for a minimum of five-year compliance period or face clawback risk. Applications are submitted through the NJEDA online portal at programs.njeda.com, and questions may be directed to businessbanking@njeda.gov. The program rewards prompt action: applicants with recent closings should apply as soon as documentation is in order to secure the award before the rolling window closes on their individual twelve-month clock.