The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has announced the allocation of $34.47 million in Resilient Communities Program grants to 10 local government entities. These grants aim to enhance public infrastructure resilience against natural disasters, utilizing funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Hurricane Ida recovery efforts.
Governor Phil Murphy emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating, "With climate change making New Jersey more vulnerable to destructive storms and flooding events, my administration is taking steps to better protect lives, property, and infrastructure from natural disasters." He expressed confidence that the Resilient Communities Program will assist local governments in safeguarding neighborhoods and families.
DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez highlighted the necessity for proactive measures in disaster preparedness. "Based on our work in the aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Ida and Superstorm Sandy, DCA recognizes that New Jersey communities must be proactive in preparing for future disasters by strengthening local infrastructure," she said. She added that these grants would alleviate financial burdens associated with such projects.
Eligible applicants included municipalities, counties, special districts, and federally recognized tribal governments within areas identified as most impacted by Hurricane Ida. Applications were submitted by December 20, 2023.
Projects funded through these grants include structure elevation; construction or reconstruction of infrastructure; installation of public works; structural retrofitting; property demolition; dry floodproofing; and property acquisition and relocation.
The grant recipients are as follows:
- Carteret Borough: Bio-retention facility for stormwater management ($4,107,675)
- Flemington Borough: Academy Street stormwater management ($1,145,000)
- Greenwich Township (Warren County): New municipal complex construction ($5,000,000)
- Guttenberg Town: JFK Boulevard East stormwater management ($1,480,605)
- Hudson County: Penhorn Creek pump station upgrades ($5,000,000)
- Kingwood Township: Replacement emergency services building ($4,158,252)
- Manville Borough: Property acquisition and stormwater management with siren ($5,000,000)
- North Arlington Borough: Flood resilience along the Passaic River ($721,600)
- Passaic City: Stormwater management with new floodwater pump station ($5,000,000)
- Sayreville Borough: Melrose pump station stormwater management ($2,859,780)
These grant awards are provisional pending project-specific deliverables' submission and approval. All projects must be completed within three years following a grant agreement execution with DCA.
DCA’s Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation focuses on enhancing long-term community resilience across New Jersey by supporting housing fortification initiatives against severe weather events. The division also manages grants from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Beyond disaster recovery efforts, DCA provides various programs including local government management support services such as affordable housing production and community planning.
