FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Teresa Ruiz
October 7, 2004 973-621-4404
Caryl Lucas
973-621-1590
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS
FOR 2004 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
FUNDS AWARDED TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STREET REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO ENHANCE COMMUNITIES
Newark, NJ – On Thursday, October 7, 2004, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the County’s Division of Housing and Community Development announced that 62 social service agencies and municipalities were presented $9.4 million in grants to improve the quality of life throughout Essex County. The presentations were made during a press conference in the first floor lobby of the Hall of Records.
Funding for the grants was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and distributed through the County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and the Emergency Shelter Program (ESG). The scope of the projects includes improvements to public facilities, retro fittings for handicapped accessible projects, street repairs, new buses, and first time homebuyer loans.
The County’s Division of Housing and Community Development, which administers federal funds through the CDBG Program, awarded grants totaling $3.2 million to 15 municipalities. The projects included infrastructure improvements, handicap accessibility improvements, façade improvement programs, park and pool renovations, and the construction of a performing arts center. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply directly to the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development for their own grants. North Caldwell, Roseland and Essex Fells did not submit any applications for the 2004 grants.
The County also awarded $4 million in (CDBG) money to 34 social service agencies for a wide range of projects, including vocational training, HIV testing and counseling, drug education services, recreation programs, facility renovations, new buses, adult daycare programs and job creation strategies.
Through the Home Investment Partnership Program, $1.9 million was awarded to four nonprofit organizations, the Township of Bloomfield’s Homebuyer and Rental Unit Rehabilitation Program and the County’s Rental Rehabilitation and First Time Homebuyer Programs. These federally funded programs enable low- to moderate-income families to realize their dream of homeownership, while developers are afforded the opportunity to purchase properties and rehabilitate existing rental units. The Home Investment Partnership Program also provides loans to help nonprofit organizations and residents improve existing housing and rental stock.
The Emergency Shelter Grant Program also awarded grants totaling $266,921 to six community-based agencies that serve the homeless. The funds allow them to expand drug counseling programs and emergency services.
“Today is a great day. It is about improving the life for Essex County residents, and we are excited to be able to provide over $9.4 million to groups that will work with us to enhance our communities,” DiVincenzo said. “We’re celebrating the distribution of our CDBG monies. Whether it’s a facility renovation, an improvement to one of our roads or the purchase of a new bus, our grant programs allow us to work with local groups to improve our communities,” he added.
Diane Johnson, Director of the Newark Field Office for the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development, commended the County of Essex for partnering with the federal government on worthwhile CDBG projects and local municipalities and social service agencies. “For everything you do, the residents of this great county will reap the benefits,” she said.
“We’re delighted our grant programs fund initiatives such as affordable housing, rehabilitation of public facilities, social services and job strategies that create an environment that promotes increased economic development within Essex County,” said Anibal Ramos, Director of the Essex County Department of Economic Development, Training and Employment. “These programs benefit the citizens of towns who would otherwise have to pay for these improvements in the form of higher taxes,” he added.
The Division of Housing and Community Development also provides a number of projects in municipalities throughout Essex County. It offers Community Development Block Grant Opportunities, showcases Home Investment Partnerships, administers the Emergency Shelter Grant Program, the Home Improvement Program, the First Time Home Buyer Program and operates the CERP Façade Improvement Program.
“Announcing these grants helps to raise awareness about how the County is working with our municipalities and social service agencies,” said Al Restaino, Director of the County’s Division of Housing and Community Development. “As we move forward to put each of our Essex County communities first, we hope these improvements increase pride among all of our residents,” he added.
Restaino said applications for the division’s 2005 grant programs will be available at fall public hearings, to be held later this month. Applicants are required to submit all grant applications by the second Thursday in December.
Lists of the 2004 recipients receiving grants from the Community Development Block Grant Program, the Emergency Shelter Program and the Home Investment Partnership Program are attached.
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2004 Community Development Block Grant Program
Municipal Projects
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Amount
Township of Belleville, Roof repairs for Friendly House and roadway improvements, $426,790
Township of Caldwell, Pedestrian ADA improvements on Bloomfield Avenue, $95,000
Township of Cedar Grove, Installation of barrier free elevator in Town Hall, $170,000
Township of Fairfield, Loan repayment for water & sewer upgrade on Broadway Lane, $105,000
Township of Glen Ridge, Loan repayment for ADA Improvements to public facilities, $70,000
Township of Livingston, ADA improvements on Northfield Road & South Livingston Ave., $85,000
Township of Maplewood, Springfield Avenue streetscape improvements, $220,000
Township of Millburn, New bus for senior citizen transportation, $83,200
Township of Montclair, Infrastructure improvements, $390,700
Township of Nutley, Float Loan repayment, façade improvement program, infrastructure design, $240,000
Township of Orange, Infrastructure improvements, Master Plan, park and pool renovations, $555,320
Village of South Orange, Construction of Performing Arts Center, $230,000
Township of Verona, Infrastructure improvements, $190,000
Township of West Caldwell, Improve handicap accessibility for senior citizen program, $95,000
Township of West Orange, Infrastructure improvements, $372,375
Municipal Projects Subtotal, $3,328,385
Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply directly to the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development. North Caldwell and Essex Fells did not submit any applications.
Social Service Agency Projects
Recipient, Summary of Projects, Amount
ASPIRA Inc. of New Jersey, Elevator renovations, $70,000
ARC of Essex County, Recreation program for the disabled, $10,530
African American Fund of NJ, Ward Mansion roof rehabilitation, $80,000
Babyland Family Services Inc., Training and Technology Center, $50,000
Black Youth Organization Inc., Educational services at the Chad School, $100,000
Boys & Girls Club of Newark Inc., Transportation vehicle for recreational programs, $75,000
COPE Center, Mental health counseling, $30,000
First Cerebral Palsy of NJ, New awning, $20,828
Economic Development Corp., Administration of countywide economic development initiatives, $200,000
Economic Development Loan Program, Management of HCD Economic Development Loan Program, $140,000
EIES of New Jersey, Public services for the visually impaired, $16,650
Family Connections, English as a Second language program, $45,000
Family Service Bureau of Newark, Drug Counseling Service, $10,000
First Occupational Center of NJ, Vocational training programs, $45,000
FOCUS, HVAC Renovations, $35,000
Franklin Station Haz Mat Facility, Hazard material response facility renovations, $125,000
Helping Hands & Ears Outreach Center, Food pantry, $15,000
Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, Architectural Design, $20,000
Hollow Day Care, Day care services, $7,500
Main Street Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, $25,000
Mental Health Association, Vehicle Replacement, $28,611
Montclair Neighborhood Development Corp., Adult school and youth recreation program, $78,678
Montclair Historical Society, ADA improvements at the Schultze House, $71,400
New Community Corporation, Affordable Housing, $36,000
North Ward Center, Senior citizen day care, $100,000
Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare Network, Vocational training, education and renovations – Two locations, $170,000
Our Children’s Foundation, Facility renovations; doors and windows, $43,000
Opportunity Project, Rehabilitation center for brain trauma victims, $18,000
Planned Parenthood, HIV testing and counseling center, $7,290
Red Cross, Roof replacements on Chapter House and garages, $19,400
Saint Matthew NIDA, Housing Counseling Services, $50,000
Senior Care & Activity Center, Adult day care program, $14,850
Simmons Scholarship & Comm. Services, Drug education and counseling, $22,500
Tenant Resource Center, Tenant and landlord services, $105,000
Wynona M. Lipman Child Advocacy Center, Screening services for abused and neglected children, $40,000
Home Improvement Program, Owner occupied rehabilitation program, $800,000
Administration and Contingency, $1,357,000
Social Service Agency Projects Subtota, $4,082,237
Community Development Block Grants Grand Total, $7,410,622
2004 Emergency Shelter Grant Program
Recipient, Summary of Projects, AmountSalvation Army, Montclair, Cornerstone shelter services and plumbing renovations, $41,000
Interfaith Hospitality Network, Orange, Supportive services for the homeless, $20,000
Apostles’ House, Shelter renovations, $84,500
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Addition to shelter, $76,345
Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc., Supportive services for the homeless, $19,076
United Community Corporation, Renovations, $26,000
Emergency Shelter Grant Total, $266,921
2004 Home Investment Partnership Program
Recipient, Summary of Projects, AmountEssex County, Countywide Rental Unit Rehabilitation Program, $838,608
Bloomfield, Bloomfield Rental Unit Rehabilitation Program, $350,864
ARC of Essex County, Rehabilitation of three buildings in Maplewood, $101,250
Jewish Services MetroWest, Condominium purchase, $167,565
Home Corp., Renovation of two buildings, $30,938
Project Live, Inc., Five affordable housing units and two group homes, $120,739
Essex County, Administration of Countywide HOME Program, $139,415
Bloomfield, Administration of Bloomfield HOME Program, $38,984
American Dream Down Payment Assistance Program, First-Time Homebuyer down payment assistance program, $192,551
Home Investment Partnership Program Total, $1,981,514