FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 30, 2020

Grants to Fund Community Improvements in Small Cities throughout New Jersey 

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced the award of $7,129,163 in Small Cities Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to non-entitlement municipalities and counties in New Jersey. The 22 grants will fund projects in 20 municipalities covering nine counties, as well as one county-wide program, and will benefit approximately 25,000 people across the state, including senior citizens and people with disabilities. DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources receives, distributes, and administers these grants funds for the State of New Jersey.  

“DCA’s Small Cities Grants are an innovative way to provide vital funding to local communities for housing rehabilitation, neighborhood revitalization, and public facilities improvement to help increase the quality of life for residents,” said DCA Commissioner, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. “By improving overall housing situations and boosting economic opportunities, these grants are one of the best ways for us to provide benefits to some of New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.” 

Awards in this year’s grant round will fund multiple projects including water main installations; stormwater pumping station improvements; street reconstruction; Americans with Disability Act (ADA) improvements such as the installation of ADA-compliant sidewalks and bathrooms for municipal and county parks; group home rehabilitation; a senior center expansion; and the rehabilitation of low- and moderate-income single-family housing. 

Small Cities CDBG funding is designated to benefit people of low- and moderate-income or to address recent local needs for which no other source of funding is available. The program provides direct assistance to eligible municipalities and counties for housing rehabilitation, public facilities, community revitalization, and economic development. 

Funding for the Small Cities Program is provided by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant Program.  Only non-entitlement, less-populated communities and counties that do not receive direct funding from HUD are eligible for the State CDBG program.   

Municipalities receiving Small Cities grants design their own projects and funding priorities. These locally developed projects are required to meet at least one of the three federal national objectives which include: 1) activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, 2) aid that prevents or eliminates slums or blight, or 3) initiatives that meet urgent community development needs because recent conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community, and the municipality is unable to finance the initiative because other financial resources are not available.  

The grant recipients and projects are listed below. 

SFY 2020 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Awards 

Grantee Name

Project Title

Project Description

Award Amount

Burlington City

ADA Improvements

ADA improvements to the historic William R. Allen School located on Mitchell Avenue.

$276,699

Carneys Point Township

Carneys Point Vacant and Abandoned Property Project

Acquire and substantially rehabilitate vacant and abandoned properties throughout the Township of Carneys Point.

$400,000

Downe  Township

Housing Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation of approximately seven low- income housing units within Downe Township.

$112,700

East Windsor Township

East Windsor Senior Center Expansion

Expand and renovate the East Windsor Senior Center to accommodate the significant growth of registered users. 

$400,000

Elmer Borough

Elmer Borough Hall ADA Improvements

Removing mobility barriers inside and outside of Elmer Borough Hall in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

$400,000

Fairfield Township

Housing Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation of approximately seven low- income housing units within Fairfield Township.

$112,700

Gloucester City

Sussex Street Infrastructure Improvements

The replacement of combined water and sewer mains, reconstruction of the roadway curb to curb, and installation of ADA ramps on Sussex Street between Market Street and Cumberland Street.

$400,000

Hammonton Town

ADA Improvements

Installation of ADA-compliant equipment and other improvements to the recreational facilities at Hammonton Lake Park.

$400,000

Lower Township

ADA Improvements

Removing architectural barriers that hinder disabled persons’ access to Rotary Community Park.

$400,000

Newton Town

Mill Street Sidewalks

Installation of sidewalks along Mill Street and reconstruction of sidewalks in areas where sidewalks are deficient in connecting the neighborhood with important public and non-profit institutions.

$400,000

North Wildwood City

22nd Avenue Beach & Boardwalk ADA- Compliant Access Improvements

Installation of ADA-compliant infrastructure improvements at the 22nd Avenue beach access and boardwalk entrance so people with mobility issues can access these public facilities.

$400,000

Oldmans Township

Housing Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation of approximately seven low- income housing units within Oldmans Township.

$112,700

Penns Grove Borough

Infrastructure Improvement

Infrastructure improvements to the Delaware Avenue and Mill Street Pumping Stations.

$400,000

Riverside Township

Riverside ADA Enhancements Project

Installation of ADA-compliant curb cuts and infrastructure improvements at various intersections  throughout Riverside  Township

$400,000

Sussex County

SCARC Group Home Rehabilitation Project

Rehabilitate seven group homes throughout Sussex County in order to ensure a safe and healthy living environment for low-income disabled residents.

$200,000

Upper Deerfield Township

Seabrook Recreation Complex ADA Compliance-  Phase 2

Remove architectural barriers that hinder disabled persons’ access to the Seabrook Recreation Complex.

$221,585

Upper Deerfield Township

Township Housing Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation of approximately eight low- income housing units within Upper Deerfield Township.

$112,700

Washington Borough

Warren Housing Opportunities Building Improvement Project

Rehabilitation of the Arc of Warren County facility in  Washington Borough to address structural, drainage and energy efficiency deficiencies.

$400,000

Wildwood City

Facilities Improvements

Building upgrades and improvements to the Byrne Community Center.

$400,000

Wildwood Crest Borough

ADA Compliance Barrier Removal

Removing architectural barriers that hinder mobility for the disabled at  Scoop Taylor Park in the borough.

$400,000

Woodbine Borough

Development of ADA-compliant Playground Facilities

Construct all-inclusive, ADA-compliant playground facilities at the Woodbine Eco-Park.

$400,000

Woodstown Borough

South Main Water Main Replacement & Roadway Restoration

Replace an undersized and deteriorated asbestos-cement water main on South Main Street and restore the roadway surface.

$400,000

 

 

22 Approved Applications Total:

$7,129,034

 

For more information on Small Cities Community Development Block Grants, log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/cdbg.html.

The Division of Housing and Community Resources strengthens and revitalizes communities through the delivery of affordable housing, supportive services, and financial and technical assistance to communities, local government, and community-based organizations.

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

   DCa on Twitter

CONTACT:

DCA:
Tammori Petty
Gina Trish
Lisa Ryan

(609) 292-6055