OB OLDBRIDGE ALL AROUND
OLD BRIDGE
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Pursuing Progress
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Mayor's office of Economic Development
VOL 6, NO 1
A Publication for the community of Old Bridge
OBHS HOLDS OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP CDBG-CV SMALL IN-PERSON BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COMMENCEMENT had been severely impacted by the the US Dept. of Housing and Urban COVID-19 pandemic and have not Development were not eligible. EXERCISES AT received assistance from the SBA. The businesses used funds for Old Bridge retail, restaurants, working capital expenses (emLOMBARDI FIELD entertainment, and nonprofes- ployee salaries, general operating
Old Bridge High School held four, in-person commencements on July 8 and 9 at Lombardi Field to honor the 729 graduates of the Class of 2020. Each day there were two ceremonies -- one at 8 a.m. followed by another at 10:30 a.m. During the 45-minute ceremony, the school also honored the Class of 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian -- Jordan Totten and Rayaan Chowdhury respectively. Totten, who finished her four years with a 5.731 grade point average, is headed in the fall to Georgia Tech, where she will study chemical engineering. She plans a career in alternative energy or environmental products. Chowdhury, who earned a 5.706 grade point average, plans to attend in the fall Rutgers University, where he will study biology with the hopes of becoming a doctor. While this year’s commenceContinued on page 6
The Township of Old Bridge appropriated $110,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant CARES Funds (CDBG-CV) for the Small Business Assistance Program. At the conclusion of July, over 20 Old Bridge Township businesses secured assistance. The program was established to provide working capital funds to the community’s small businesses that
sional service businesses with no more than 25 employees including full and part-time that were in business as of December 31, 2019, were the focus of the fund. To be eligible, the business must have had one employee, which could have been the business owner, who retained and met the low/moderate income requirement, or the business located in an eligible program area. To receive the grant funding, the business was required to commit to remaining open or reopening. Businesses deemed ineligible by
expenses, inventory, and advertising/marketing expenses). The program makes funds available for 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $5,000. With the assistance, expectations are a boost in the local economy to sustain and support business owners and help to those who have no been able to reopen, work towards that in the near future. Applications closed on July 31st, 2020
The OBSSA Chamber of Commerce conveined at an in-person meeting on Wednesday, July 22nd, at the Cheesequake Fire House in Old Bridge. The meeting, led by Chamber 1st Vice President, Richard Bruno of Rich Bruno
Consulting titled “A Tested and Proven Method for Small Business Owners to Apply During a Crisis,” marks the first time the Chamber met face-to-face since February, just before the quarantine began. The attendees were seated in chairs, maintaining social distance around the room as Chamber President, David Hernandez of Old Bridge Funeral Home delivered the first remarks. David began with, “It feels good to see faces in front of me as we return to the new normal. While incredibly convenient, I was getting tired of the word Zoom!” Chamber trustee, Anthony
Cosentino of All Around Old Bridge also recorded live footage of the meeting for those who wanted to view the meeting remotely. The Chamber is planning its next members’ meeting on August 18th at Hauser Hill Farms in Old Bridge. It will be an outdoor picnic event hosted by Chamber 2 n d Vi c e P r e s i d e nt M i d g e Hauser and Trustee John Hauser. If you are interested in joining the OBSSA Chamber, please call the office at (732) 607-6340 or visit our website at chamberofcommerceobssa.org/
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GIVES ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESS
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL A PRIVATE PRE-K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL IN OLD BRIDGE IS HOSTING A LIVE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE SEE PAGE 13 FOR MORE DETAILS
AUGUST 2020
SAINT AMBROSE SCHOOL IS OPENING IN SEPTEMBER WITH NEW SAFETY GUIDELINES AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. Saint Ambrose S chool is opening in September for in classroom instruction. CDC guidelines and social distancing practices will be adhered to. Seats in grades Pre-K3 through 8th grade are extremely limited. See page 33 for full page ad.