Business Resources
- All
- Downtown
- Employers
- Film/Digital Media
- Financing
- Food & Restaurants
- North Trenton
- Office Space
- Start-Ups & Relocations
- Tech/Life Sciences
- Urban Enterprise Zone
City-Wide Business Improvement Incentive
This is for prospective and existing businesses, grants of up to 50% of total project cost, grant amount not to exceed $20,000, to retail businesses that are planning to make building improvements, with a minimum project cost of $5,000. For more information, email the division.
City of Trenton Tax Abatements
If you plan to make substantial improvements to a property, you can apply for tax abatement. This abatement would freeze taxes as there are and taxes on the improvements made to the property can be deferred. For more information, email Economic Development for a tax abatement application.
Trenton YouTube Channel
The Division of Economic Development maintains a YouTube channel for videos about Trenton businesses. If you have video content you want showcased, reach out to Economic Development via email.
Shop Trenton
City Hall maintains a Shop Trenton Facebook group for you to post things about your business to a group of Trenton-centric customers.
Black Wall Street Trenton
The largest declared affinity group from the Economic Development Retail Survey was in support of Black Owned Businesses. In recognition of that, the City maintains a Black Wall Street Trenton Facebook group for black-owned businesses to post things about their businesses.
Trenton Downtown Association Facade Grant
Trenton Downtown Association has a facade grant for property owners/business tenants in the Trenton Downtown Association district for up to $2,500. View more information.
Signature Retail Cluster Signing Bonus
For select retail businesses, the City has a $5,000 signing bonus. You will need a business plan to apply. For more information, reach out to Economic Development via email.
Workforce 55 Plus
This program fully pays salaries of economically disadvantaged seniors for up to 48 months. View more information.
On-the-Job Training
This training provides reimbursement of 50% to 90% of a new-hire’s salary for up to 6 months to defray the cost of training. For more information, email Economic Development.
Customized Training Grants
These grants of $75,000 or more per year are available for training for your current employees. For more information, email Economic Development.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Federal tax credit of $2,400 to $9,000 to hire employees with employment barriers including workers with disabilities, certain veterans and general assistance recipients. For more information, email the division.
Trenton Jobs & Properties
If you are looking for employees, feel free to post job openings at Trenton Jobs and Properties.
Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program
Tax credits are available for the cost of services and other purchases made for filming a movie or television series, or producing a digital media production in Trenton. Qualifying movies and television shows can receive tax credit of up to 35 percent, and digital media productions can receive tax credits of up to 25 percent of eligible costs.
For more information, visit the program website. For questions, please contact the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission at 973-648-6279 or the New Jersey Economic Development Authority at 609-858-6767.
There are several resources for low interest loans in the area:
- The New Jersey Economic Development Association has financing options.To pursue, call Ken Hart at 609-858-6661.
- The Regional Business Assistance Corporation has business financing for small businesses, including the purchase of a building as long as the building is to be occupied by the owner.
- New Jersey Community Capital has programs for getting capital into low-income communities. Email Marie Mascherin, Chief Lending Officer for more information.
Commercial Kitchen
If you want a commercial kitchen to bake your goods out of before opening a bakery, check out Cherry Street Kitchen.
Eat Local Club
Every month, City Hall organizes a group who eats in a different spot for dinner to explore and support Trenton restaurants. For more information email Economic Development.
Business Improvement Grant Program
The East Trenton Collaborative has a Business Improvement Grant Program which provides up to $6,000 in grant funds for approved rehabilitation work to a ground-level retail space or industrial businesses. Owners are required to demonstrate that they are investing their own resources into the project, and intend to be an active presence in the neighborhood. For more information, visit the program website.
Co-Working Spaces
If you are looking for office space where you can share overhead like receptionist, conference rooms, phones, and copiers and other office equipment, the following are some Trenton options.
Individual Business Consulting
Lilian at the Small Business Development Center can help with things like business plans and other things to help you maximize your business. Email Lilian for more information.
Ribbon Cutting Assistance
Tom at the Trenton Downtown Association helps people with their ribbon cutting ceremonies, including invitations to elected officials and the newspapers. You can reach Tom by email for more information.
If you are a technology or life sciences startup with fewer than 10 employees and going into an approved New Jersey collaborative workspace. This program helps the company cover their rent payments at BaseCamp Trenton or Trenton Co-works or any other approved co-working space. For more information, email New Jersey Ignite.
Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Benefits
Qualified businesses can be 100% exempt from state sales taxes for the purchase of tangible property including office supplies, equipment and building supplies. Qualified businesses can also offer a lower sales tax to their retail customers. For more information, and to sign up, email the program manager. The UEZ does not cover the entire city; Tom can help you determine if your proposed location is in the Zone.
Business Lease Incentive
For new businesses before they sign a lease. Reimbursement of a percentage of annual lease payments to for profit businesses and non-profit organizations that plan to lease between 500 and 5,000 square feet of new or additional market-rate, first-floor office, industrial or retail space for a minimum 5-year term. More information can be found at the program website. You can also access the application online.