52:27D-446 "New Jersey Women's Micro-Business Credit Program."

4. a. There is created, in the department, a "New Jersey Women's Micro-Business Credit Program." The program shall be established by the department. The program shall consist of grants to certified corporations or a Statewide organization for the following purposes:

(1) issuing loans, loan guarantees, or both, to qualified recipients;

(2) providing training and technical assistance to qualified recipients; and

(3) payment of reasonable administrative expenses as approved by the commissioner, except that such expenses shall not amount to greater than 20 percent of the grant.

b. To implement the program, the department shall provide grants to certified corporations or a Statewide organization from such moneys that the department determines are necessary to effectively implement the program, in response to the demand for the program, and from other assistance programs administered by the department or by other State agencies or authorities, or from such other moneys as may be made available for the program pursuant to P.L.1999, c.239 (C.52:27D-443 et seq.).

c. The commissioner shall designate areas for the location of up to four certified corporations or a Statewide organization as part of the program. In selecting the areas for the certified corporations, the commissioner shall strive to allocate the areas in an equitable manner to achieve representation from the northern, central, southern and shore regions of the State. In selecting the areas in each region for the location of the certified corporations, the department shall consider the following factors: comparative unemployment or underemployment; an economic environment conducive to the establishment of businesses built around qualified businesses; the need for assistance in creating qualified businesses where such activity will protect or enhance a small business economy; the level of anticipated financial and other participation of county economic development agencies, municipal economic development agencies or business organizations, and county or municipal educational and nonprofit organizations; and their ability to provide the necessary services in each region. In selecting a Statewide organization, the department shall consider the following factors: comparative unemployment or underemployment in area served; an economic environment conducive to the establishment of businesses built around qualified businesses; the need for assistance in creating qualified businesses where such activity will protect or enhance a small business economy; the level of anticipated financial and other participation of county economic development agencies, municipal economic development agencies or business organizations, and county or municipal educational and nonprofit organizations; and their ability to provide the necessary services Statewide.

d. The department shall, to the greatest extent feasible, coordinate its efforts to implement the program with other State or federal agencies or authorities including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Development Authority for Small Businesses, Minorities' and Women's Enterprises established pursuant to P.L.1985, c.386 (C.34:1B-47 et seq.), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established pursuant to P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), and the Department of Human Services and shall enter into agreements to leverage the moneys in the program with moneys that may be available from other sources of financing including, but not limited to, the Fund for Community Economic Development and the Statewide Loan Pool for Business as established by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

e. The department shall, to the greatest extent feasible, advertise the program to community development organizations in the northern, central, southern and shore regions of the State or Statewide. In order to advertise and promote the program, the department is authorized to organize or participate in the organization of a nonprofit corporation, which is exempt from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Such nonprofit corporation must directly further the statutory mission of the department and the intent of P.L.1999, c.239 (C.52:27D-443 et seq.). Expenses incurred by such nonprofit corporations shall be payable from funds raised by the nonprofit corporation, and no liability or obligation, in tort or contract, shall be incurred by the department for the operation of the nonprofit corporation. The nonprofit corporation shall obtain private counsel and shall not be represented by the department or indemnified by the department.

L.1999,c.239,s.4; amended 2004, c.176, s.4.