Nutley receives $156,800‬ through CDBG program

Nutley Township: Anibal Ramos, Kathy Rempusheski, Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Patricia Sebold

NUTLEY, NJ — Essex County recently announced that approximately $5.4 million will be distributed to 14 Essex County municipalities and 34 community organizations through the Community Development Block Grant program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program. Nutley received $156,800, specifically $125,450 for Witherspoon Street roadway reconstruction and $31,350 for an ADA pathway at Father Glotzbach Park. 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,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. 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.”

A total of $2,089,641 was awarded to 14 municipalities and county programs for infrastructure improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance in the Essex County consortium. Grants ranged in size from $25,000 to Roseland to $370,500 to Orange. Essex County was provided with $1,039,263 for program oversight, monitoring and administration.

Nutley will use the lion’s share of its grant money to reconstruct the roadway on Witherspoon Street.

“Witherspoon Street will be milled and paved with selected replacement of curbs, sidewalks and driveway aprons dependent upon the bid response, available funds and the engineer’s recommendations,” Mayor Joseph Scarpelli told the Nutley Journal.

The township will use the remainder of the grant money to add an ADA pathway at Glotzbach Park.

“We will be establishing an at-grade, handicapped-accessible ramp off the parking lot on Quarry Street,” Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci told the Nutley Journal. “The work entails grading to ADA specifications and paving.”

Nutley, like most municipalities, actively seeks out grants, such as CDBG.

“CDBG funding, as well as all grant money we receive, allows the township to perform needed upgrades to our infrastructure and save valuable property tax dollars,” Scarpelli said.

It’s not just municipalities that are helped by these grants. A total of $1,787,411 was awarded directly to nonprofit community organizations. Grants ranged in size from $7,800 to Jewish Family Services in Livingston to $48,500 to Wynona’s House in Newark. Essex County was provided with grants of $856,399 to repave roads, $79,200 to purchase a handicap-accessible senior bus, $91,200 for landlord and tenant counseling, and $467,172 for a home improvement program.

Among these organizations, the Arc of Essex County received $29,400 for an ADA vehicle; Jewish Family Services received $7,800 for its services to frail, homebound, older adults; the Mental Health Association of Essex County received $9,700 for an ADA vehicle replacement; NCJW/Essex of Livingston received $9,700 for its job-readiness program; Planned Parenthood received $9,800 for HIV prevention, testing and counseling; The Bridge received $11,200 for behavioral health counseling; and Wynona’s House in Newark received $48,500 for Family Resource Center renovations.

A total of $440,579 was awarded to eight local social service agencies through the Emergency Solutions Grant program. Grants range in size from $12,000 to the Salvation Army in Newark to $73,000 to the YMCA of Newark and Vicinity. These funds will support emergency shelter operations, rehousing activities and homelessness prevention. Essex County was provided with a $33,043 grant to administer the program. There is $82,756 available for reprogramming.

“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.