Essex County Distributes $5.7 Million in Federal Grants to 9 Towns, 35 Orgs

Essex County gave out $5.7 million in Community Development Block Grants and Emergency Solutions Grants to nine municipalities and 35 organizations earlier this month. The federal money comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development runs the program.

Belleville got $300,000. Nutley got $238,000 in the latest round of awards. Millburn received $50,000, and the Opportunity Project received $15,000. The Township of Livingston, National Council of Jewish Women from Livingston, and The Arc of Essex County in Livingston also got funding.

Montclair and several local nonprofits received grants as well. Family Promise from Montclair, Family Service League from Montclair, Mental Health Association from Montclair and the Salvation Army of Montclair received awards. Oaks Integrated Care, Strategic Mentoring/Brother to Brother, Succeed2gether, SOFIA, and MFEE also got money.

West Orange and Jewish Family Service of MetroWest received money through the program. The grants support projects that span infrastructure improvements to social services for residents who need help.

“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,” said Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, Jr.

The funding will pay for sidewalk and road upgrades across the nine towns. Money will also go toward handicap access improvements and mental health services.

DiVincenzo Jr. said the grants support food pantries and help with development across the region. “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 said, according to Patch.com.

The CDBG program targets low and moderate-income areas with infrastructure and housing improvements. ESG funds help people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing.

Photos by Glen Frieson showed representatives from the towns and organizations at the grant announcement ceremony.

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