This bill establishes a grant program administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide financial assistance to retail business establishments that incur increased business expenses due to public highway projects. The program is designed to reimburse businesses located within impacted construction zones for additional costs incurred during a defined "relief period," which spans from the commencement to the conclusion of a public highway project. The bill outlines the criteria for eligible applicants, defines key terms such as "business expenses" and "impacted construction zone," and specifies the documentation required for grant applications, including evidence of regular business expenses and the increased expenses directly resulting from the highway project.

The EDA is tasked with reviewing and approving grant applications on a rolling basis, contingent on available funding, and grants will be awarded based on the difference between increased expenses during the relief period and regular expenses prior to that period. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner of Transportation provide the EDA with timely notifications regarding the status of public highway projects to facilitate the application review process. To support the implementation of this grant program, the bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the EDA.