Acting Governor Kim Guadagno Announces Nearly $3 Million In Community Development Block Grants For Cumberland And Salem Counties

Funding Will Benefit Community Renovations in Small Cities

 

TRENTON, NJ – Furthering the Christie Administration's commitment to at-risk populations and low- and moderate-income families, Acting Governor Kim Guadagno today announced the award of nearly $3 million in Small Cities Block Grants to municipalities in Cumberland and Salem Counties. The 12 grants announced today will benefit six municipalities, two counties, and thousands of residents in the South Jersey region by providing funding for projects such as housing rehabilitation, development of public facilities and improvements to public infrastructure.

Acting Governor Guadagno announced the grants – $1,330,000 for Cumberland County local government and $1,600,000 for Salem County local government, during visits to Bridgeton and Pittsgrove Township today.

"These grants help make communities and the lives of people living in them better by addressing important and varied local needs," said Acting Governor Guadagno. "Funds will help replace and repair deteriorating water and sewer mains that we rely on every day but seldom think about until there's a problem. We're also helping repair Ballinger's Mill Dam and making improvements to the Bridgeton Public Library to better serve local residents and preserve it as a resource for the community. Even residents whose homes suffered from the ravages of Hurricane Irene will benefit."

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Division of Housing and Community Resources administers the Small Cities Community Development Block Grants, which are designated to benefit people of low and moderate income or to address recent local needs for which no other source of funding is available. Funding for the Small Cities Program is provided by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grant Program. The DCA receives, distributes and administers the grant funds for the State of New Jersey.

"Our primary objective is to develop these viable communities by improving their housing situations, their overall quality of life, and their economic opportunities," stated DCA Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. "The Small Cities grants are an innovative way to give incentives to local communities to focus on housing rehabilitations, urban renewal and other public services. It is the best way for us to give maximum benefits to some of our most vulnerable citizens."

Small Cities develop their own programs and funding priorities. The projected use of funds must be developed to give maximum feasible priority to activities that benefit low- and moderate- income persons or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.

The projected use of funds may also include activities that the applicant certifies are designed to meet other urgent community development needs because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. At least 70 percent of each grant made available to a local government unit must benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

A complete list of projects receiving Community Development Block grants in Cumberland and Salem counties are as follows:

Grantee

County

Program Description

Award Amount

Cumberland County

Cumberland

Designed a plan to streamline its public library system to better serve at-risk populations and reduce costs. Public libraries are critical to residents suffering under high unemployment conditions.

400,000

Cumberland County

Cumberland

Financial aid to homeowners who experienced damage from Hurricane Irene and the storm that immediately preceded it. Funds will enable homeowners to get back in their homes, resolve building code issues and mitigate future damage.

150,000

Downe Township

Cumberland

To provide home rehabilitation deferred loans to an estimated 12 low and moderate households throughout Downe Township.

200,000

Upper Deerfield Township

Cumberland

To rehabilitate approximately 14 homes for low- and moderate-income families throughout the township.

180,000

Upper Deerfield Township

Cumberland

To replace aging water mains and sanitary sewer mains and install sidewalks in School Lane Village to benefit the entire Seabrook Farm CDP (census-designated place) neighborhood.

400,000

 


 

Grantee

County

Program Description

Award Amount

Pittsgrove Township

Salem

To assist low- and moderate-income homeowners to correct interior and exterior code violations in their homes.

100,000

Salem County

Salem

For financial aid to homeowners who experienced damage from Hurricane Irene and the violent storm that immediately preceded it.  Funds will enable homeowners to get back in their homes, resolve building code issues, and mitigate future damage.

150,000

Salem County

Salem

To repair significant damage inflicted on Ballinger's Mill Dam as a result of the August 2011 storm that was declared a federal disaster.

400,000

Salem City

Salem

To improve the condition of affordable housing by rehabilitating up to 10 single-family, owner-occupied homes through the use of interest-free, deferred loans to low and moderate-income eligible homeowners within the City.

200,000

Upper Pittsgrove

Salem

To rehabilitate an estimated 20 single-family, owner-occupied housing units in Upper Pittsgrove and Elmer with forgivable and deferred loans for households qualifying as low and moderate income.

150,000

Woodstown Borough

Salem

To replace deteriorated sanitary sewer and water mains on Green Street in Woodstown.

400,000

Woodstown Borough

Salem

To rehabilitate an estimated 22 housing units occupied by low- and moderate-income households in Woodstown Borough and Pilesgrove Township.

200,000

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