FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 29, 2019

 

Acting Governor Oliver announces the Main Street New Jersey and Neighborhood Preservation Programs 2019 Grant Recipients

Grants Will Help Communities Advance Downtown and Neighborhood Revitalization Efforts

HAMMONTON, NJ – Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver today announced the award of $2.5 million in Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) grants to 20 municipalities in New Jersey and of nearly $350,000 in Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) grants to 17 Main Street district organizations throughout the state. The grants from both programs will help improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents by assisting communities with their downtown and neighborhood revitalization efforts. 

This year marks the first time in its 30-year history that the MSNJ Program has awarded grants to designated MSNJ district organizations around the state. Also, it is the first time in 11 years that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has awarded NPP grants. The grant funding is part of a larger effort by the Murphy Administration to commit more resources to community revitalization programs that focus on small businesses and neighborhood improvement projects. 

“We are renewing our commitment to community revitalization and to these worthwhile programs after years of neglect by the previous administration. Governor Murphy and I recognize how important these programs are to the economic and social health of our communities, which is why we have invested significant resources in them,” said Acting Governor Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “The grant funding will be used to create places filled with energy and ambience that draw people to live, work, and visit. We can’t wait to see how they positively impact neighborhoods and downtowns around the state.” 

Today’s announcement took place on the front lawn of the Eagle Theatre in Hammonton, which received a $125,000 NPP grant and a $24,000 MSNJ grant. The town, which has the second longest running Main Street program in the state, will use its MSNJ grant to continue work on the Hammonton ArtsWalk, which will provide an outdoor gathering space downtown featuring kinetic art, seating, lighting, landscaping, and water features. The town will use its NPP grant to expand the Eagle Theatre, which was restored and reopened 10 years ago and has successfully drawn residents and visitors of all ages to Downtown Hammonton; to increase public parking downtown in areas where it is lacking; and to improve the exteriors of commercial and residential buildings downtown to create a more inviting environment.  

“Hammonton is on a roll and has become a destination,” said Mayor Stephen DiDonato, Town of Hammonton. “Grants like these by the State of New Jersey, along with local, county and private investment, will continue to keep us growing and thriving.” 

“We are excited for Hammonton's business owners, residents and visitors. Projects and funding like this spark more interest and momentum in our town. We are very thankful for the State's faith and support," said MainStreet Hammonton Executive Director Cassie Iacovelli. 

The MSNJ Program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance, and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources. Municipalities must apply and be selected to join the MSNJ Program, which was established in 1989. These designated communities receive technical support and training to assist in restoring their Main Streets as centers of economic and social activity. This year, designated communities were also eligible for the MSNJ grants, which are funding awards of $25,000 or less aimed at assisting projects such as storefront improvement, placemaking, and transformation strategies development that can be completed in six months or less. 

The NPP program provides direct financial and technical assistance to municipalities over a three- to five-year period to conduct activities that strengthen threatened but viable neighborhoods through local planning, community participation, and building local capacity and coordination. Eligible grant activities include community development planning, commercial retail and residential property renovations, code enforcement, historic preservation, support of community/neighborhood organizations, and public facilities improvement. Municipal grantees had to show a commitment of resources from the neighborhood and municipality, as well as support from community organizations and residents. 

2019 Neighborhood Preservation Program Grant Recipients

 

Municipality

County

Amount

Berlin Township

Camden

$125,000

Burlington City

Burlington

$125,000

Cape May City

Cape May

$125,000

East Orange

Essex

$125,000

Egg Harbor City

Atlantic

$125,000

Elizabeth

Union

$125,000

Garfield

Bergen

$125,000

Glassboro

Gloucester

$125,000

Hammonton

Atlantic

$125,000

Keyport

Monmouth

$125,000

Millville

Cumberland

$125,000

Mount Holly

Burlington

$125,000

New Brunswick

Middlesex

$125,000

Passaic City

Passaic

$125,000

Paterson

Passaic

$125,000

Perth Amboy

Middlesex

$125,000

Phillipsburg

Warren

$125,000

Pleasantville

Atlantic

$125,000

Roselle

Union

$125,000

Woodbury

Gloucester

$125,000

 

2019 Main Street New Jersey Grant Recipients

 

Main Street District Organization

County

Amount

Bloomfield (Bloomfield Center Alliance)

Essex

$9,750

Boonton (Boonton Main Street)

Morris

$23,000

Bridgeton (Bridgeton Main Street Association)

Cumberland

$17,500

Denville (Downtown Denville BID)

Morris

$25,000

Hammonton (MainStreet Hammonton)

Atlantic

$24,000

Highland Park (Main Street Highland Park)

Middlesex

$25,000

Metuchen (Metuchen Downtown Alliance)

Middlesex

$23,000

Millville (Millville Development Corporation)

Cumberland

$15,000

Montclair (Montclair Center BID)

Essex

$25,000

Mount Holly (Main Street Mount Holly)

Burlington

$20,750

Red Bank (Red Bank River Center)

Monmouth

$13,000

Salem City (Stand Up for Salem)

Salem

$23,000

South Orange (South Orange Village Center Alliance)

Essex

$21,500

Vineland (Vineland Downtown Improvement District)

Cumberland

$20,500

Westfield (Downtown Westfield Corporation)

Union

$20,000

West Orange (Downtown West Orange Alliance)

Essex

$20,250

Woodbury (Main Street Woodbury)

Gloucester

$23,500

 For more information on NPP, visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/np.html.
 For more information on MSNJ, visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/lps/msnj.html.

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including energy assistance, housing vouchers, affordable housing production, fire and building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery.

 For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media:     

   DCa on Twitter

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty
Gina Trish
Lisa Ryan
(609) 292-6055