Verona received $108,738 from Essex County on Wednesday as part of the county’s distribution of about $4.8 million through the Community Development Block Grant program and the Emergency Solutions Grant program. 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.
Verona received its grant for reconstruction work on Gould Street and Reid Place. Fourteen Essex County municipalities and 36 non-profit community organizations got funding today.
A total of $3,041,475 was awarded to 14 municipalities and County programs in the Essex County consortium. Grant funding will be used to repave roadways, improve handicapped accessibility at public buildings and upgrade sidewalks. Grants ranged in size from $39,500 to Glen Ridge make handicap ramp improvements at various crosswalk locations to $410,265 to the City of Orange for improvements to the Central Park Spray and Play Facility and support for community organizations providing after school and enrichment programs, a food pantry and mental health services. Essex County was provided with $1,021,102 for program oversight, monitoring and administration. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply for CDBG funding independently and do not participate in the Essex County consortium. Essex Fells, North Caldwell, Roseland and West Caldwell did not submit applications.
A total of $1,374,638 was awarded to the non-profit community organizations, ranging from $7,000 to ASUN Star, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Hudson Community Enterprises and Offender Aid Restoration of Essex County to $53,800 to Northwest Essex Community Healthcare. A total of $382,751 was awarded to six local social service agencies through the Emergency Solutions Grant program. Funding will be used to renovate shelter facilities and support housing programs and homeless prevention services. There were no awards to Verona non-profits or social service agencies.
