FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi
October 28, 2009 973-621-2542
Lauren Shears
973-621-1590
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS $10.6 MILLION
IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS AND CDBG STIMULUS GRANTS
14 Municipalities and 48 Non-Profit Organizations Receive Funding
for Infrastructure Improvements, Community Programs and Homeless Shelters
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced $10.6 million will be distributed to 14 Essex County municipalities and 48 non-profit community organizations through the Community Development Block Grant program and the CDBG Recovery Program, part of the Federal government’s economic stimulus package. An additional $270,248 in Emergency Shelter Grants will be distributed to six social service agencies that provide support and housing to homeless residents. Both grant programs are funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development.
“Programs supported through the CDBG and ESG programs are direct investments into improving our quality of life,” DiVincenzo said. “These federal grants enable us upgrade our sidewalks and roads, enhance handicap access, address mental health needs, support food pantries and stimulate economic development in our downtown commercial areas,” he added.
“The CDBG and ESG awards are pivotal programs to addressing social service issues in our communities. They pay for repaving roads, modernizing infrastructure, providing shelter for the homeless and helping seniors and the less fortunate,” NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“There is a greater need for programs like these, especially during this time of economic crisis,” Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said. “The best thing is this money does not impact our County budget. This is funding from the Federal government that truly benefits the residents of Essex County,” he added.
A total of $4,177,451 was awarded to the 14 municipalities in the Essex County consortium. Grant funding will be used to repave roadways, improve handicapped accessibility at public buildings and facilities, upgrade sidewalks, demolish vacant and unsafe structures, and support façade improvements in local business districts. Grants ranged in size from $44,824 to $1.2 million. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply for CDBG funding independently and do not participate in the Essex County consortium. Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland did not submit applications.
A total of $1,647,529 was awarded to 11 municipalities through the Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program, which is part of the Federal Government’s economic stimulus initiative. These projects include roadway improvements, enhancing handicap accessibility at public buildings, and streetscape upgrades. Grants ranged in size from $35,000 to $233,046.
A total of $2,066,858 was awarded to 48 non-profit community organizations. Grant funding will support services for seniors and the disabled, recreation activities for children, mental health counseling, foreclosure prevention and first-time homebuyer education programs, facility renovations and vocational training. Grants ranged in size from $4,650 to $1,205,938.
A total of $270,248 was awarded to six local social service agencies through the Emergency Shelter Grant program. Funding will be used to renovate shelter facilities or support housing programs for homeless residents. Grants range in size from $6,000 to $118,748.
A grant of $2.4 million was awarded to the Essex County Division of Community Action to administer the Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing Program. This program is designed to provide temporary financial assistance to eligible families to pay rent or utility costs. The goal is to keep families from becoming homeless by providing temporary help until their financial situation is stabilized.
“The CDBG and ESG programs have proven to be essential in fostering economic development in Essex County,” said Anibal Ramos, Director of the Essex County Department of Economic Development, Training and Employment. “The beauty of the CDBG program is its ability to fund a broad array of projects without affecting the County’s budget. It is a great example of a tax relief program that benefits all County citizens,” he said.
Municipalities and non-profit organizations must meet specific criteria established by the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development to be eligible for grant funding. These funds have no impact on the County budget and cannot be used as revenue in the County’s operating budget.
The Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, located at 20 Crestmont Road in Verona/Montclair, offers a variety of assistance programs designed to stimulate economic growth, stabilize residential neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents. It administers the Community Development Block Grant Program, Assistance Program and the Community Economic Revitalization Program for façade improvements for the County and 18 Essex municipalities. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark have their own housing and development programs. For more information, call the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development at 973-655-0200.
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2009 Community Development Block Grant Program
Government Sponsored Projects
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount
· Township of Belleville, Traffic Signal Installation at Intersection of Holmes and Union, $250,000
· Borough of Caldwell, Parkway East & West Street Reconstruction, $82,450
· Township of Cedar Grove, Barrier Free Community Park Concession Stand ($13,551), Barrier Free Recreation Building ($45,098), Barrier Free Ramp Morgan Farm ($55,000), Total: 113,649
· Borough of Glen Ridge, ADA Street Ramp Improvements, $58,200
· Township of Livingston, ADA Barrier Free Curb Cuts, $73,720
· Township of Maplewood, Hillcrest Area Road Reconstruction Phase III, $189,150
· Township of Millburn, Barrier Free Improvements-Deerfield Elem. School & Public Library, $69,000
· Township of Montclair, Neighborhood Child Care Center-Building Renovations ($65,000), Family Service League-Renovations to Facility ($15,000), ADA Elevator at Municipal Building ($100,000), Portland Place Reconstruction ($166,300), Hollow Day Care ($9,000), United Way of North Essex ($20,000), Interfaith Hospitality Network ($8,320), MNDC-Oasis Summer Academy ($42,500), COPE Center, Inc. ($35,000), Family Service League, Inc. ($18,750), Total $479,870
· Township of Nutley, William Street Reconstruction ($66,230), Saint Mary’s Place Reconstruction ($55,392), Total: $121,622
· Township of Orange, ADA Elevator at Orange Public Library ($56,525), Roadway Infrastructure Improvements ($268,600), Demolition of Vacant Structures ($100,000), Emergency Board-Up of Vacant Structures ($81,000) Helping Hands & Ears Food Pantry ($28,000), Main Street Counseling Center ($20,000), Community Technical Assistance ($66,550), Total: $620,675
· Village of South Orange, South Orange Performing Arts Center, $174,000
· Township of Verona, Park Avenue Reconstruction, $160,050
· Township of West Caldwell, Crane Park Barrier Free Walkway ($32,419), ADA-Library Improvements ($12,405), Total: $44,824
· Township of West Orange, SID Parking Lot Improvements ($175,000), Riggs Place Reconstruction ($183,000), Riggs Place & Rose Terrace Reconstruction ($145,000), Total: $503,000
· County of Essex, Program administration, monitoring and oversight, $1,237,241
Government Sponsored Projects, Total $4,177,451
2009 Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program
Government Sponsored Projects
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount
· Township of Belleville, Reconstruction of Howard Place – Entire Length, $155,000
· Borough of Caldwell, Roadway Improvements to Parkway East & West Street, $152,044
· Borough of Glen Ridge, ADA Improvements to Municipal Complex, $35,000
· Township of Livingston, Barrier Free Curb Cuts to Various Streets ($152,000), ADA Improvements to Burnett Hill & Collins Schools ($12,000), Total: $164,000
· Township of Maplewood, Hilton Area Roadway Improvements, $113,000
· Township of Montclair, ADA Improvement to Municipal Building Entrance ($17,000), Roadway Improvements to Willard Place ($57,201), Roadway Improvements to George Street ($59,133), Total $133,334
· Township of Nutley, ADA Improvement - Elevator Installation to Public Safety Building ($150,000), Roadway Improvements to St. Mary’s Place from Hancox Street to Centre Street, Total $233,046
· Township of Orange, Streetscape Improvement to Central Avenue, $193,353
· Township of Verona, Streetscape Improvements to Bloomfield Avenue, $152,000
· Township of West Orange, Roadway Improvements to Park Drive, $152,000
· County of Essex, Program administration, monitoring and oversight, $164,752
Government Sponsored Projects, Total $1,647,529
2009 Community Development Block Grant Program
Non-Profit Projects
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount
· Above the Rim, Inc., Newark, Administrative support, $11,250
· ARC of Essex County, Livingston, Administrative support, $8,550
· Bethany Cares, Inc. – Full Circle, Newark, Public service, $10,000
· First Cerebral Palsy of NJ, Belleville, Administrative support, $15,650
· Clara Maass Residential Facility, Belleville, Portable sonogram equipment, $10,000
· Community Tech. Assistance, Orange/East Orange, Administrative support, $36,000
· EIES of New Jersey, South Orange, Radio reader and administrative support, $8,450
· Family Connections, Orange, Renovation of facility, $28,900
· Family Service Bureau of Newark, Substance abuse program, $7,600
· Family Service League, Montclair, Administrative support for after-school program, $19,250
· First Occupational Center of NJ, Orange, Administrative support, $23,650
· FOCUS, Newark, Improvements to facility, $17,400
· Hopewell Urban Renewal Dev. Corp., Newark, Rehabilitation of facility, $15,000
· Ironbound Soccer Club, Newark, Administrative support, $4,650
· Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, Administrative support, $6,500
· Main Street Counseling Center, West Orange, Administrative support, $14,350
· Mental Health Association, Montclair, Vehicle replacement, $9,550
· NJ Citizen Action Education Fund, Newark, Foreclosure prevention, $43,600
· New Community Corp., Newark, Public service, $20,000
· Newark Youth Golf, Inc., Administrative support, $10,000
· North Ward Center, Newark, Casa Israel Senior Citizen Services, $78,650
· Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Belleville, Rehabilitation of facility, $26,000
· Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Montclair, Public service, $45,000
· Opportunity Project, Millburn, Administrative support, $43,550
· Orange Valley Social Settlement, West Orange, Rehabilitation of facility, $75,000
· Partnership for a Better Tomorrow, Montclair, Homeowner Preservation Counseling, $56,650
· Planned Parenthood, Montclair, Administrative support, $9,450
· Senior Care & Activities Center, Administrative support, $11,250
· Simmons Scholarship & Comm. Service, Newark, Drug education and counseling, $7,400
· Tenant Resource Center, East Orange, Counseling services, $113,620
· The Centre, Inc., Newark, Rehabilitation of facility, $20,000
· Wynona’s House, Newark, Rehabilitation of facility, $54,000
· Home Improvement Program, Home improvements, $1,205,938
Non-Profit Projects, Total $2,066,858
2009 Emergency Shelter Grants
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount
· Salvation Army (Montclair), Renovations to Shelter, $6,000
· Salvation Army (Montclair), Administrative Support, $20,000
· Apostles’ House (Newark), Renovations to Shelter, $66,500
· Interfaith Hospitality Network (South Orange), Administrative Support, $20,000
· Newark YWMCA, Renovations to Shelter, $118,748
· New Community Harmony House (Orange), Administrative Support, $20,000
· United Community Corp. (Newark), Renovations to Shelter, $19,000
Municipal Projects, Total $270,248
2009 Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing Program
Essex County Division of Community Action, Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing Program, $2.4 million
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