FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 23, 2007

ESSEXCOUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS GRANTS

TO MUNICIPALITIES AND NON-PROFIT GROUPS

CDBG and ESG Funding Will Be Used to Upgrade Infrastructure,

Enhance Handicap Accessibility and Support Social Service Programs

Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. presented Community Development Block Grants and Emergency Shelter Grants to 16 municipalities and 43 non-profit community groups during an awards ceremony on Tuesday, January 23rd. A total of about $6.3 million was distributed to support economic development and social service initiatives, and to help the County administer the program. The CDBG and ESG programs are funded by the federal Office of Housing and Urban Development and administered locally by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development.

“Our eligible municipalities and non-profit groups depend on CDBG funding to upgrade infrastructure, support programs that benefit the elderly, young and needy, and improve handicap access,” DiVincenzo said. “CDBG is a direct investment to help fulfill the needs of our communities. Over the past several years I have witnessed how these projects and programs have benefited our residents’ quality of life,” he added.

Sixteen (16) municipalities in EssexCounty received grants that ranged in size from $47,000 to $560,290. The awards will be used to reconstruct roads, upgrade water and sewer systems, improve handicap access at schools and other public buildings, and fund façade improvements for small businesses. Some municipalities also sponsored non-profit requests for facility renovations, new vehicle purchases and support for food pantries, counseling, after school programs and adult education. Essex Fells and North Caldwell did not submit applications for CDBG funding.

Awards to non-profit groups ranged in amounts from $4,500 to $81,000. These grants will support operating expenses, basketball and life skills programs, recreation programs for the handicapped, building renovations, the purchase of equipment, substance abuse treatment, counseling, first-time homebuyers program, and child care. In addition, the EssexCountyTenantResourceCenter received funding for landlord and tenant counseling and the Economic Development Corporation of EssexCounty received funding for a small business loan program and operational costs.

Emergency Shelter Grants totaling $263,746 were awarded to five community based organizations to provide emergency service, underwrite supportive services and upgrade facilities. These grants ranged in amount from $20,000 to $65,246.

““The CDBG and ESG programs have proven to be essential in fostering economic development in EssexCounty ,” 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.

During the last several years, the federal Office of Housing and Community Development has been scaling back the CDBG program and Essex County’s annual allocation has dropped from $7.97 million in 2001 to just over $6.1 million in 2006, noted E. Michael Taylor, Director of the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development. “CDBG is a valuable program that helps to improve the quality of life in our low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and to keep our local commercial districts attractive and competitive,” he said. “Through the leadership of our CountyExecutive , and working cooperatively with our municipalities and non-profit groups, we are making a tremendous impact in our neighborhoods,” Taylor added.

South Orange President Bill Calabrese said he was very appreciative of the support the County has provided to help the Village build a downtown performing arts center. “The South Orange Performing Arts Center is more than just an entertainment venue. It defines our town, helps integrate our community and maintains our diversity,” he said. “Without our partnership with the County, it would have been impossible to build,” Calabrese noted.

“The support we receive from EssexCounty enables us to work with young people in need and provide services that otherwise would not be available,” George Shinhoster, President of the Newark YMCA, said.

The application process for the 2007 CDBG and ESG programs already is underway. The deadline to submit applications for next year’s funding cycle was December 21, 2006 . The Division of Housing and Community Development will review all applications and make funding recommendations based upon the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s regulations for the CDBG and ESG programs and the priorities outlined in the 2005-2009 Five-Year Consolidated Plan.

The Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, located at 50 South Clinton Street in East Orange , 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 973-395-8450.

# # #

Government Sponsored Projects

Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount (in bold)

  • Townshipof Belleville , Purchase of Ambulance ($125,000), Reconstruction of DeWitt Avenue ($279,826), $405,326
  • Borough of Caldwell , Improvements to White Birch Terrace, $85,000
  • Township of Cedar Grove, Reconstruction of Village Park Road ($127,175), Reconstruction of Canfield Road ($25,000), $152,175
  • Townshipof Fairfield , Water & sewer upgrades on Broadway Lane ($76,961), Improvements to Camp Lane and Lane Road ($12,000), $88,961
  • Borough of GlenRidge , Barrier free improvements to LindenAvenueSchool , $60,000
  • Townshipof Livingston , Barrier free improvements in business district ($21,500), CERP Façade Program ($55,000), $76,500
  • Townshipof Maplewood , Streetscape improvements to Springfield Avenue , $195,000
  • Townshipof Millburn , ADA improvements to Police Station, $74,000
  • Township of Montclair, Improvements to Walnut Street Parking Lot ($260,650), Upgrades to Munn Street ($112,540), Purchase 2 vehicles for American Red Cross ($18,750), Hollow Day Care Center After School Program ($8,500), MNDC Oasis Summer Academy ($20,250), MNDC Community Adult School ($36,000), Renovations for Family Service League ($13,500), Counseling Services for Family Service League ($8,100), Counseling Services for COPE Center ($27,000), Renovations for COPE Center ($55,000) , $560,290
  • Townshipof Nutley , ADA accessibility at RadcliffeSchool ($20,000), Parking lot signage and ticket machine ($65,000), CERP Program ($135,000), $220,000
  • Township of Orange, Resurfacing of Berwyn Street ($190,000), Reconstruction of Metcalf Park parking area ($143,000), CERP Façade Program ($102,000), YWCA ($37,500), Helping Hands & Ears Food Pantry ($13,500), Orange Board of Education-Youth Mentorship Program ($20,000), Main Street Counseling Center ($10,000), $516,000
  • Borough of Roseland, Improvements to Upper Foulerton Brook, $47,000
  • Villageof South Orange , Construction of Performing ArtsCenter , $184,000
  • Townshipof Verona , Improvements to Martin Road and Beach Street , $165,000
  • Townshipof West Caldwell , Barrier Free improvements for Senior Citizen programs, $85,000
  • Townshipof West Orange , Roof replacement for Valley Settlement House ($25,000), Upgrades to Community Facility and Police Substation ($40,000), Phase 3 improvements to Llewellyn Avenue ($63,000), Boys & Girls Club ($75,000), Parking lot signs ($22,000), MainStreetCounselingCenter ($20,000), Crosswalk upgrade at Valley Road and Mitchell Street ($61,000), CERP Façade Program ($50,000), $356,000
  • County of Essex , Program administration, monitoring and oversight, $1,237,241

Government Sponsored Projects Total: $4,507,493

Non-Profit Projects

Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount (in bold)

  • Above the Rim, Inc., Newark , Administrative support, basketball camp, life skills course, $4,500
  • ARC of Essex County, Livingston, Recreation opportunities for the handicapped, $8,550
  • ASPIRA, Inc., Newark , Building renovations, $36,000
  • Babyland, Newark , Administrative support, child care, training, food service, transportation, $35,000
  • Boys & Girls Club of Newark, Inc., Administrative support, $55,000
  • 1st Cerebral Palsy of NJ, Belleville , Administrative support for Adult Medical Day Program, $16,870
  • Clara Maass Residential Facility, Belleville , Purchase of equipment, $10,800
  • Economic Development Corp., Newark , Administrative support , $162,000
  • Economic Development Corp., Newark , Small business loan program, $100,000
  • EIES of New Jersey, South Orange , Administrative support, $9,000
  • Family Connections, Orange , Basement repairs ($10,000), Second Language Program ($25,000), $35,000
  • Family Service Bureau of Newark, Substance abuse program, $8,100
  • First Occupational Center of NJ, Orange , Training programs, $22,500
  • FOCUS, Newark , Administrative support, counseling, food/rental assistance, $20,000
  • Mental Health Association, Montclair , Facility improvements, $9,200
  • Montclair Child Development Ctr., Inc., Replacement of roof, $42,700
  • Newark Youth Golf, Inc., Disadvantaged Youth Golf program, $9,000
  • New Community Corporation, Newark , Administrative support, $28,800
  • NorthWardCenter , Newark , Casa Israel Senior Services, $81,000
  • Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Montclair , Administrative support, $45,900
  • Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Belleville , Site renovation at Belleville facility, $27,000
  • Opportunity Project, Millburn , Training and work program, $45,000
  • Orange Affordable Housing, Administrative support, $37,400
  • Planned Parenthood, Newark , HIV Counseling and Testing, $6,750
  • St. Matthew NIDA, East Orange , First-Time Homebuyers Program, $31,500
  • SeniorCareActivitiesCenter , Montclair , Adult day care facility, $12,000
  • Simmons Scholarship & Comm. Service, Newark , Administrative support, $18,000
  • TenantResourceCenter , East Orange , Landlord/Tenant counseling, $85,000
  • WISOMMM, Newark , Child care for families, $20,000
  • Wynona’s House, Newark , Building Renovations, $31,500
  • Home Improvement Program, $482,100
  • Contingency, Reserve for unanticipated expenses by applicants, $142,550

Non-Profit Projects Total: $1,681,720

Emergency Shelter Grants

Recipient, Summary of Projects, Total Amount

  • Salvation Army ( Montclair ), Renovations to Shelter, $20,000
  • Salvation Army ( Montclair ), Administrative Support, $37,000
  • Apostles’ House ( Newark ), Renovations to Shelter, $45,000
  • Grace Reform Baptist Church, Inc. ( Newark ), Administrative Support, $37,000
  • NewarkYWMCA, Renovations to Shelter, $65,246
  • United Community Corp., ( Newark ), Renovations to Shelter, $30,000
  • United Community Corp. ( Newark ), Administrative Support, $29,500

Emergency Shelter Grant Total: $263,746

# # #