HE'S REBUILDING JERSEY

Governor Christie is committed to rebuilding New Jersey and most importantly rebuilding the Jersey Shore in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. As a major tourism destination for people across the state and the country, it is essential to the economic vitality of New Jersey. Through Administration efforts, the Jersey Shore will be rebuilt and enjoyed by generations to come.

Rebuilding Our Boardwalks:

Many of New Jersey's iconic boardwalks were damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. These boardwalks are part of their community's character and essential to its economic vitality. Governor Christie is committed to rebuilding these boardwalks in a timely and efficient manner so there is a new Jersey Shore to enjoy after the Fourth of July.

• In Belmar, the reconstruction of the boardwalk is underway on the 1.2 mile project.
• Sea Girt has prioritized the rebuilding and restoration of its boardwalk. It will be rebuilt in the footprint of the old boardwalk, using similar construction techniques and materials, including sturdy tie-down strapping and synthetic planks.

Putting New Jerseyans Back To Work:

Administration efforts to put New Jersayns back to work to rebuild the Shore are helping Sandy-impacted businesses and workers, as well as investing in future economic growth:

• The Christie Administration has secured a $15.6 million National Emergency Grant (NEG) to hire workers to repair town beachfront areas:
• Bradley Beach is one of dozens of communities in 11 New Jersey counties that have put 428 unemployed people to work on storm clean-up using the funds;
• Another 650 people are slated to be brought in up to five other counties.
• The Administration has created two new Talent Networks: a Sandy Recovery Talent Network and a Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Talent Network:
• The Sandy Recovery Network will allow employers to report the hurdles, needs and demands they face in trying to rebuild and hire new workers;
• The Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Talent Network will represent a key industry cluster in New Jersey that, before the storm, accounted for about 24 percent of all private sector workers and paid more than $20 billion in annual wages.

Helping Small Businesses Get Back On Their Feet:

Governor Christie announced the implementation of a business impact assessment for small businesses affected by Superstorm Sandy. The survey, created in partnership with statewide business groups, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA), the State Chamber of Commerce, Commerce and Industry Association of NJ (CIANJ) and National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) will help inform the Administration and industry leaders about the most pressing needs of those small businesses affected by Superstorm Sandy.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Christie Administration has worked expeditiously to get programs and direct assistance to small businesses:

• Over $54 million in Small Business Association disaster loans have been approved and over 8,300 impacted residents and businesses are registered for this type of assistance.
• The U.S. Department of Labor has approved a $15.6 million National Emergency Grant to fund the administration's plan to hire unemployed New Jersey residents to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts.

Recovery Assistance Services For New Jersey Businesses:

To support the recovery of New Jersey's businesses and protect the overall economic interests of New Jersey in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Governor Christie announced a series of business assistance services for those affected by the storm. These services include:

• Up to $500,000 for commercial lines of credit to businesses that need access to cash to improve their damaged property while awaiting insurance proceeds, with all related EDA fees waived.
• Grant awards for businesses to assist with on-the-job training costs for new workers hired specifically to assist in disaster-related activities.
• Availability of the Business Resource Centers at any of the currently operational local One-Stop Career Centers across the state as temporary hubs for businesses and for job seekers and displaced workers.
• The availability of Disaster Unemployment Benefits for displaced workers.
• Dispatch of Rapid Response team members to identified Disaster Recovery Centers to assist displaced workers.
• Availability of services through New Jersey Youth Corps to assist non-profit, public and governmental entities in a variety of ways for disaster relief and clean-up.
• In addition, BAC's Business Call Center is also the one-stop resource for more information on how to get businesses back up and running.

Expediting Storm-Related Insurance Claims And Disputes:

Taking further action to help New Jersey residents rebuild and restore their properties after Superstorm Sandy, Governor Chris Christie has requested changes to provide for a swifter and fairer conclusion of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims process for residents:

• The Department of Banking and Insurance will issue an order requiring state regulated insurance companies to respond to the Department within five business days when a consumer files a request for assistance;
• Governor Christie is requesting assistance from New Jersey's Congressional delegation to break down barriers for residents who have not been promptly compensated by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):
• o Approximately 430,774 insurance claims, including those related to homeowners, commercial property, personal and commercial auto and business interruption have been filed in the State related to Superstorm Sandy;
• o Roughly 333,962 of those claims, 78 percent, have been closed, or settled;

Only 30 percent of the flood claims have been closed.