Wattle Cafe opens Jersey City location; West New York has business grants | Business Notes

BofA is NJCU Leadership Awards innovation honoree

New Jersey City University has announced that Bank of America will be recognized as the final honoree during the 2022 NJCU Leadership Awards, the institution’s annual celebration of those who have made a lasting impact on society in the Jersey City and the greater Hudson County area. Bank of America is the fourth individual or organization to be celebrated as part of the four-honoree gala and will be acknowledged in the Innovation category. Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey, will accept the honor on behalf of the bank.

Earlier this year, NJCU and Bank of America announced a partnership whereby the company will invest $560,000 in the NJCU School of Business and its Career Services Center. The grant is the largest single corporate gift in career development in NJCU’s history. The investment is in the form of a four-year grant that will address racial, ethnic, and income inequality and help students of color successfully complete the education and training necessary to enter the workforce and embark on a path to success.

The award honors Bank of America New Jersey for its commitment to providing opportunities, advancing economic mobility, and giving back to the people that live and work in the communities it serves, the advancement of racial equality, and economic opportunity.

In 2020, Bank of America announced a $1 billion, four-year initiative to help advance racial equality and drive economic opportunity, with a focus on helping create opportunity for people and communities of color. In March 2021, that commitment was increased to $1.25 billion over five years to accelerate the work already being done, as well as an immediate $1 million commitment and related actions in support of increased advocacy, dialogue, and engagement with the Asian American community. The bank continues to serve individuals and small businesses in underserved communities and has a long history of supporting the Hispanic-Latino community.

The 2022 NJCU Leadership Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at the Liberty House, 76 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City.

WNY launches small business grant program

The Town of West New York will be accepting applications through June 3 for their Small Business Grant Program of up to $5,000 per business; aimed at alleviating the financial hardships placed on many local small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to qualify, businesses must be owned by an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company that is up-to-date with all federal and state payroll, sales, and income taxes; must be located in West New York and registered with NJ Department of Treasury; and have no more than 25 full time employees.

Applicants must also be able to certify that their business was negatively impacted by COVID-19 because of partial closure, full closure, or major disruption to business operations. The business must also be open at the time of application and make a “good faith effort” to remain so for at least 12 months after grant receipt.

Applicants must also disclose whether they have previously received COVID-19 relief funds from any other county, state, federal, or private sector program. Non-profit organizations, real estate holding companies, home-based businesses and businesses behind on their federal tax payments are not eligible for this grant. For more information or to apply, call 201-295-5100.

Wattle Cafe opens Jersey City location

New York City’s Wattle Cafe, an Australian-inspired wellness health brand, has opened its third location at 351 Marin Blvd., in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District.

Their menu is tailored to meet customers’ preferences, ranging from keto to vegan. Wattle offers coffee roasted by a NY-based Australian roaster. The beans used are roasted in an organic facility and sourced directly from the farmer who has grown them. Wattle is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.wattlecafe.com.

Wattle Café occupies 1,000 square feet of space at 351 Marin, the 38-story rental property developed by Kushner Real Estate Group (KRE) and Northwestern Mutual steps from the Grove Street PATH station. The new eatery is adjacent and connected to the building’s lobby which leads to a new outdoor public plaza with seating, creating a new destination along Marin Boulevard. The Jersey City location follows in the footsteps of Wattle Café’s outposts in Murray Hill and The Financial District in Manhattan.

For additional information on 351 Marin or to arrange an appointment to tour the building’s model homes and amenities, visit www.351MarinJC.com or call 201-588-3510. The Marketing Directors is the building’s exclusive marketing and leasing agent.

Big Snow American Dream to reopen

Big SNOW American Dream, the indoor real-snow ski and snowboard center, announced it will reopen on Friday, May 27, from 1 to 9 p.m. where the venue will host a snow-studded Beach Party for Memorial Day and include DJ entertainment, live ice-sculpting, complimentary photo shoot sessions, and an opportunity to meet and ride with athletes from Burton. There will be prize giveaways throughout the day, including 50 percent off return visit vouchers.

As a thank you for combatting last September’s fire, Big SNOW’s ceremonial “first chair” will honor representatives from various responding fire departments. The venue will also offer discounted tickets to responding firefighters and their families interested in hitting the slopes this summer.

For more information, guests can visit BigSNOWAmericanDream.com, or keep up with Big SNOW on Facebook and Instagram @bigsnowad.

FedEx announces winners of Small Business Grant

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) has announced the winners of the tenth annual FedEx Small Business Grant Contest. Ten businesses were chosen this year in celebration of the contest’s tenth anniversary.

Among the First Place winners, which includes $20,000, plus $1,500 in FedEx office print and business services, was Muvez in Jersey City.

New this year, an extra $10,000 grant as well as a $500 FedEx Office credit was awarded among the ten winners in five categories, which once again included Jersey City’s Muvez, a fashion designer.

All winners also received a $500 voucher from My FedEx Rewards, a digital consult from the FedEx Digital Sales Solutions team, an international trade dictionary, an invitation to attend a FedEx Grant Winner Forum, free access to Klaviyo’s automation platform, a sustainable packaging consultation from EcoEnclose, and a website audit from HigherVisibility.

The grant winners aren’t the only small business owners that will benefit. All 100 finalists will receive mentoring and consultations from select organizations.

The 2022 contest set a record with nearly 18,000 entries from small businesses across the United States. Over the past decade, nearly 70,000 businesses have entered the contest in the United States alone. FedEx has awarded more than $1.67 million total in grant money and printing credits combined since the contest’s inception.

RIVET 26 nears full residential, retail occupancy

The Hampshire Companies, Claremont Development, and Circle Squared Alternative Investments announce that RIVET 26, Jersey City’s newest west side luxury apartment development located at 26 University Place Blvd., is approaching 100 percent occupancy of its 199 residences and 10,000 sq. ft. of ground-level retail.

Completed last year, RIVET 26′s blend of 84 studio apartments, 102 one-bedroom, and 13 two-bedroom units and adaptable ground-level retail spaces are the latest additions to the University Place neighborhood. Developed in conjunction with New Jersey City University and Jersey City, University Place includes the construction of eight buildings, 1,000 new luxury rental residences and access to more than 120,000 sq. ft. of retail, a performing arts center, cafes, theaters, and green space.

RIVET 26 joins RIVET, a 163-unit luxury apartment building completed by The Hampshire Companies, Claremont Development and Circle Squared Alternative Investments in 2019, at the gateway of the neighborhood. In addition to RIVET 26 and RIVET’s residences, the 19,500 sq. ft. of ground-level retail spread across both buildings has become home to a wide range of businesses. RIVET 26 has recently welcomed BK Lobster and Qua Creative Arts Center to its 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space. In addition, RIVET’s 9,500 sq. ft. of retail space is currently fully leased to a variety of tenants including Five Guys, Carvel, University Place Pharmacy, Cuteicles, a luxury nail salon and spa, and Metro Markets, a convenience store.

There’s also 75,000 sq. ft. of shared lifestyle amenities across the two communities, including RIVET’s landscaped sun terrace featuring an outdoor bar, firepits, turf lawn and lounge seating, and private BBQ and dining areas.

Property management services for RIVET 26 are exclusively provided by RHO Residential. For more information about the RIVET 26 community, call 201-204-0500 or visit www.Rivet26.com. For more information about available retail leasing opportunities, contact Bobby Antonicello Jr of Grid Real Estate at 551-795-2836.