The grants, in amounts up to $5,000, will be reimbursements for August rent or mortgage payments. It's a first step in advance of expected federal help.
Small businesses might need personal protective equipment for months or longer. The state wants to see if their collective buying power can be pooled to help.
Thousands of applicants for grants and loans won't be helped because not enough funds are available. Private, philanthropic and federal funds might help.
The state estimates 3,000 to 5,000 small businesses in New Jersey could benefit from the new initiatives, which may ramp up further with federal funds.
In testimony before the Legislature, the state comptroller offered a significantly different take than Gov. Phil Murphy on the study of tax incentive programs.