05 Feb ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS $5.7 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANTS 12 Municipalities and 36 Community Organizations Receive Funding for Infrastructure Improvements, Community Programs and Building Renovations
Published on February 5, 2025
Cedar Grove, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that about $5.7 million will be distributed to 12 Essex County municipalities and 36 community organizations through the Community Development Block Grant program and the Emergency Services Grant program on Tuesday, February 4th. The CDBG and ESG programs are funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development.
“Programs supported through the CDBG and ESG programs are direct investments to provide services that enhance our quality of life and help stabilize our neighborhoods by modernizing our infrastructure and supporting programs that assist vulnerable populations,” DiVincenzo said. “These federal grants enable us to upgrade our sidewalks and roads, enhance handicap access, address mental health needs, support food pantries, and stimulate the overall development in our communities,” he added.
“I really see synchronicity in this room between the county, our municipalities and the non-profit organizations to bring services to our residents. This demonstrates how we need everyone here to improve the quality of life,” Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“These grants are so marvelous because they directly impact the quality of life for so many residents from throughout all of our communities,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said. “I want to thank our municipalities and community organizations for what you do because you are doing this on behalf of our residents,” Commissioner Len Luciano said. “Congratulations to our grant recipients. We want you to know that your work does not go unnoticed. You are impacting the community every day with what you do,” Commissioner Brendan Gill said.
A total of $4,372,781 was awarded to 12 municipalities and County programs in the Essex County consortium. Grant funding will be used to repave roadways, improve handicapped accessibility at public buildings, install new sidewalks, improve water and sewer lines, and purchase a vehicle for senior citizen transportation. Grants ranged in size from $30,000 to Glen Ridge and Roseland for ADA improvements to $374,000 to West Orange for roadway rehabilitation and support to the Bethany Center and Main Street Counseling. Essex County was provided with $1,055,906 for program oversight, monitoring and administration and $1,359,250 for new elevators in the Essex County Veterans Courthouse in Newark. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply for CDBG funding independently and do not participate in the Essex County consortium. Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, South Orange and West Caldwell did not submit applications. (A chart of all the recipients is attached.)
A total of $906,750 was awarded directly to non-profit community organizations. Grant funding will support mental health counseling, supportive services for disabled residents, vocational rehabilitative services, facility upgrades, senior programming and the purchase of vehicles. Grants ranged in size from $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters from Newark to $48,000 to the Family Service League from Montclair and The North Ward Center from Newark. Essex County was provided with grants of $450,000 for the Home Improvement Program and $100,000 for the Tenant Resource Center. (A chart of all the recipients is attached.)
A total of $460,258 was awarded to 12 local social service agencies through the Emergency Services Grant program. Funding will be used to renovate shelter facilities, support housing programs and homeless prevention services, and street outreach initiatives. Grants range in size from $6,500 to HBP RAIN Foundation and My Sister’s Lighthouse in Newark for shelter operations and rapid rehousing activities to $138,239 to YMCA of Newark and Vicinity for shelter and rapid rehousing activities. Essex County was provided with a $34,519 grant to administer the program. (A chart of all the recipients is attached.)
“The beauty of the CDBG and ESG programs is their ability to fund a broad array of projects without affecting the budgets of the County, municipalities or organizations receiving the grants. This is a great example of a tax relief program that benefits all County citizens,” said Anibal Ramos, Director of the Essex County Department of Economic Development, Training and Employment.
Municipalities and non-profit organizations must meet specific criteria established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be eligible for grant funding. These funds have no impact on the County budget and cannot be used as revenue in the County’s operating budget.
The Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, located at 20 Crestmont Road in Verona/Montclair, offers a variety of assistance programs designed to stimulate development in communities, stabilize residential neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents. It administers the Community Development Block Grant Program, Home Improvement Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program 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 973-655-0200.
