As the City enters Phase 2 of its Reopening, Mayor Ras J. Baraka is reminding Newark’s non-essential retail business owners that they must submit their applications in order to receive a color-coded certificate to permit their reopening after closure due to COVID-19. Applications to reopen are available on the City’s COVID-19 website and can be submitted immediately, either in printed form in person at the Department of Economic and Housing Development in City Hall, Room 218, via email, or online.
The reopening requirements were developed by theNewark Reopening and Recovery Strikeforce as part of the Mayor’s multi-phased reopening and recovery strategy to ensure the public’s safety as the city reopens. To date, 751 applications have been received and 555 approved for inspection.
“If residents see a non-essential business open without a posted red, yellow or green certificate, they should walk away and report it. We should spend our money only at businesses that care about protecting our lives and that are not just about making money,” said Mayor Baraka. “Our Reopening and Recovery Strikeforce created data-driven requirements and best practices that amplify State guidelines. The purpose of our guidelines is to inform, protect, and make sure the necessary precautions are being taken during these challenging times so that people can make the right decisions for themselves and their families.”
Curbside and In-Store Pickup Guidelines include mandatory physical distancing, protective equipment, hygiene and cleaning, communications, and employee screening, plus recommended best practices that follow recommendations of the CDC. Restaurants and fast food businesses are not yet allowed dine-in.
Applications are available and can be submitted in multiple ways:
o Visit https://newarkcovid19.com/home. Applications are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, along with video tutorials in the three languages with instructions on how to fill out the form and submit it online. This option is recommended as it will greatly expedite the processing of an application.
o Download the application from the website athttps://newarkcovid19.com/stayingin/reopen-application-requirements, complete and submit by e-mail at reopeningplans@newarknj.gov
o Download the application from https://newarkcovid19.com/stayingin/reopen-application-requirements, complete and drop off or mail it to the Department of Economic Housing and Development, 920 Broad Street, Room 218, Newark, NJ 07102
Pick up a hard copy of the application from:
o Invest Newark, 111 Mulberry Street
o Newark Downtown District, 60 Park Place
o Ironbound BID, 56 Congress Street
o Mount Prospect Partnership, 643 Mt. Prospect Avenue
o Bergen-Lyons-Clinton South Ward SID, 101 International Way
o Partnership West BID, 1044 South Orange Avenue
o Mount Prospect Partnership, 643-645 Mt. Prospect Avenue
Every non-essential retail business must complete an application prior to reopening. City of Newark health, taxation and economic development officials will review applications for compliance and within 72 hours notify the applicant that it has been approved or disapproved. When an application is approved, a City representative will arrange an inspection of the business within 24 hours.
When a business passes the inspection, it is granted a RED, YELLOW, or GREEN certificate to post prominently at the business entrance and be granted approval to reopen on the date authorized for the specific category of business. If the application is disapproved or if the business fails the inspection, the applicant may modify the plan or businesses protocols and resubmit the application.
All timelines for business reopening will follow the schedule found at https://newarkcovid19.com/stayingin/strikeforce-reopening-plan.
