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 specific definitions for terms such as "business expenses," "impacted construction zone," and "public highway project," and it requires applicants to provide documentation of their regular business expenses prior to the relief period, as well as the increased expenses incurred during it.

To facilitate the grant application process, the bill mandates that applicants submit evidence of their eligibility as retail business establishments, along with detailed documentation of their business expenses. The EDA is tasked with reviewing and approving applications on a rolling basis, contingent on available funding. Upon approval, grants will be issued to cover the difference between the increased expenses during the relief period and the regular expenses incurred prior to that period. Additionally, the bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support the administration of the grant program and requires the Commissioner of Transportation to notify the EDA about the status of public highway projects to assist in the application review process.