Small Business Liquor License Grant

The Small Business Liquor License Support Grant is a pilot program introduced by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) as part of the Main Street Recovery Finance Program. This initiative aims to assist eligible small businesses and nonprofits in New Jersey by reimbursing up to 50 percent of the purchase cost of a previously inactive Class C Plenary Retail Consumption Liquor License, with a reimbursement cap of $100,000. This program is designed to support the growth and sustainability of small service-oriented businesses that have recently invested in obtaining such liquor licenses. The grant only applies to inactive licenses that were purchased within 12 months prior to the application date, and eligibility is verified by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The business must be operating in a New Jersey-based commercial facility and must have been open for at least 12 months prior to applying. Applicants must meet several administrative and regulatory requirements. These include compliance with ABC regulations, submission of a valid NJ Business Tax Clearance Certificate, and proof of employment via a WR-30 form for the quarter prior to application. Additionally, businesses must provide their most recent federal tax filing, which must demonstrate gross receipts. Nonprofit and for-profit applicants must meet the U.S. Small Business Administration's definition of a small business based on their NAICS code. Businesses with common ownership that transferred licenses between entities are ineligible, as are landlords, real estate holding companies, and entities not occupying the commercial facility. Each applicant is limited to one grant per Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the life of the program. The program allows concurrent eligibility for other NJEDA grants such as the Small Business Lease Grant or Improvement Grant. However, only the cost of the liquor license is eligible for reimbursement—no additional costs such as legal fees or related expenditures are covered. Applications open at 10:00 AM EDT on October 29, 2025. A $500 approval fee is required upon acceptance and before execution of the grant agreement. Interested applicants must apply directly through NJEDA and are encouraged to review full eligibility guidelines before submitting.

Ensure the license is classified as inactive by NJ ABC; maintain regulatory compliance with NJ agencies; only one application per EIN; confirm facility and business activity meet NJEDA criteria.