Government

Understanding Your Retirement & Benefits in a Government Plan
With another fiscal year-end (June 30th) in the rearview for the State of New Jersey’s Division of Pensions and Benefits (the Division), it is as good a time as any for plan members to brush up on their benefits. The Audited Comprehensive Financial Report for 2021 offers great insight into how members respective pension plans…

Mercadien Serving as Subcontractor on U.S. SBA Awards $13 Million Contract, for Supervised Lenders 7(a) Guaranteed Loan Program
Princeton, NJ and Philadelphia, PA – The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce that it has been awarded through its partner company, Kingstonville, LLC, a $13 Million one-year contract, with four optional years, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide services in support of the SBA Office of Credit Risk Management (OCRM) Supervised…

Mercadien Announces Executive Promotions; Names Three New Partners
Princeton, NJ & Philadelphia, PA – The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce several promotions within the firm’s corporate leadership team. Ms. Bjondina Karpuzi, CPA, PSA, a member of the Private Company and Advisory Services Groups, was promoted to managing director of The Mercadien Group and principal in Mercadien, P.C., CPAs (the official titles of…

What Do You Need to Know About the Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act?
The Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act is proposed legislation aimed at reforming the tax laws that cover charitable donations made by Private Foundations (PFs) and Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). The Act is supported by a bipartisan organization called The Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving, or IACG. One aim of the proposed legislation is to restructure…

Mercadien Serving as Subcontractor on U.S. HHS $15 Million Contract, for Provider Relief Fund Allocations & Support
Princeton, NJ and Philadelphia, PA – The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce a subcontract agreement with Kingstonville LLC, who was recently awarded a five-year $15 million contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its subagency, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to provide administrative and technical support in…

Remembering Our Friend & Partner, Eugene “Gene” Elias
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our partner and dear friend, Eugene “Gene” Elias. We are so fortunate to have had Gene and his family as part of our Mercadien family for almost 30 years. He was a friend, mentor, advisor, and role model to many of us, and he…

Mercadien Announces Executive Promotions; Several Associates Promoted to Director
Mercadien is pleased to announce several promotions within the firm’s corporate leadership team. Three professionals were promoted to the level of Director: Ms. Melissa Correa, CRCM, a member of the Financial Institutions Services Group and resident of Oklahoma City, OK; Mr. Matthew Daly, CPA, a member of both the Government Services and Audit and Assurance…

NJ Funding Alert: Additional $235 Million in Small Business Relief
On Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed six bills, which provide additional assistance to small businesses that continue to struggle with the economic effects of the pandemic. The bill package provides $235 million to small businesses, allowing the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to fulfill all eligible applications submitted during…

Funding Alert: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
On Monday, May 10th, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. The Treasury also released details on how these…

The Challenges of Distributing American Rescue Plan Funds
The recent passage of the American Rescue Plan earmarked billions of dollars for local governments to support citizens struggling through the economic impact of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, local governments have done crucial, life-saving work, but resources have been stretched thin. This latest round of funding poses fresh challenges. Verifying Eligibility & Allowability It’s crucial…