Gov. Christie Highlights Hurricane Sandy Business Grants in Belmar Visit

Knee high water and the torn-up boardwalk came crashing through many homes and businesses along Ocean Avenue in Belmar due to Hurricane Sandy.

Eastern Lines Surf Shop was no different, as the popular shop for beach wear, surf boards and other gear used a temporary pop-up shop after the storm as owners rebuilt from more than a foot of water damage.

Signs posted at the surf shop throughout the winter vowed the shop would be back, complete with full shelves and maintaining its popular beach cam and surf reports.

But for owner Don Tarrant, 59, of Eastern Lines Surf Shop, that didn’t just mean the physical work of repairing the shop and replacing inventory, but also the financial accounting that comes after a disaster. Today, the Governor’s Office announced Eastern Lines Surf Shop was among the 22 local businesses approved for a Stronger NJ Business Grant, one of two programs out of the Economic Development Authority to help rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

The surf shop was one of three area businesses visited today by Gov. Chris Christie, showcasing the Stronger NJ Business Grant Program. Eastern Lines was awarded a more than $30,000 grant.

Christie’s visit advocated how small businesses could still apply for the business grants. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s program aims to help small businesses and non-profit organizations with grants of up to $50,000. So far, 200 applications have been submitted and 22 have been approved, officials said.

Christie highlighted the grant program in visits to three area businesses: an Ortley Beach bike and rental shop, Belmar’s Eastern Lines Surf Shop and the Casa Comida restaurant in Long Branch.

“The small business community was the hardest hit of anybody,” Christie said. In many cases, the businesses are seasonal, though many operate year round, they depend on an influx during summer months. Opening in time for the summer was essential to businesses such as Eastern Lines, he said. “Many are still working to get open. Small business owners have been making efforts on their own…but the EDA has these programs to make sure they have the capital to maintain or resume their operations.”

In today’s visits, Christie explained the many specific efforts businesses have faced in the rebuilding. Rossi’s Rental in Ortley faced a giant sink hole, and Eastern Surf Lines used 10th Avenue Burrito as a temporary in-store location to accommodate customers during its rebuild.

Tarrant described setting up a “pop-up shop” in December, selling wet suits and more both for the holiday shopping and winter surfing season. Eastern Lines sold limited edition Sandy tee shirts and held 40 percent off sales during the winter months with limited hours to accommodate customers.

In addition to the grant program, the NJEDA also administers the “Stronger NJ Business Loan” Program, where affected businesses can apply for an up to $5 million loan.

Christie said the programs will “get small businesses back on their feet again.”

It’s not the first the business community of Belmar has been highlighted by a visit from the Governor’s Office, as La Dolce Vita on Ocean Avenue and Federico’s Pizza on Main Street were visited in the spring, and the governor as well as the lieutenant governor also highlighted Belmar’s rebuilding with visits for the first boardwalk piling ceremony and grand reopening ceremony.

While those visits focused on tourism and that the Jersey Shore was “Open for Business,” today’s was to encourage businesses to use the EDA programs.

To be eligible for the grant program, a business must have sustained a minimum of $5,000 in physical damage from Sandy, according to the governor’s office.

Business owners interested in applying for grant money can call 1-855-SANDY-BZ for assistance, or visit the NJEDA online.