Governor Christie signed A1451 into law this week making EDA loans through the Urban Plus Program available to small, minority or women owned businesses located in designated New Jersey regional centers or metropolitan planning areas as if such businesses were located in urban centers. Minority or woman owned business enterprises (MWBE) must be certified through the Department of Treasury. As a qualification, MWBE applicants must demonstrate that the business is operated and controlled by a management team of women or minorities and such company is owned by a majority of minorities or women. The business must be involved with a commercially useful function and the minority or female ownership and management must be real, substantial, and continuing and not merely in name only.