HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) – The Hackettstown Business Improvement District announced that it received a US Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant of $32,000 for business development.
Warren County Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski and Commissioner James R. Kern III along with Hackettstown Mayor Gerald DiMaio, Jr. were on hand when USDA Rural Development State Director Jane Asselta and Hackettstown BID Executive Director Laurie Rapisardi announced the grant in an BID event held at at Man Skirt Brewing.
“We make investments in rural communities … things that rural towns need,” Asselta said.
USDA Rural Development funds things like water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, farm markets, assistance for farmers and for retail businesses, and programs to help senior citizens stay in their homes, Asselta said.
“The Hackettstown BID is doing great things for Hackettstown and the surrounding community,” Sarnoski said. “The Commissioners are proud to support our business community and will continue to fight to make sure they thrive in this county.”
Outlining the many types of assistance offered by the USDA Rural Development program, Asselta noted that by the time the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, “we will have invested nearly $3 million in Warren County” in community, family, housing and business programs.
“The Hackettstown BID continues to be a tremendous advocate for the town,” Kern said. “Laurie and her team’s advocacy was crucial for today’s announcement. We are thankful that USDA continues to invest in Warren County. Great things are happening in Hackettstown!”
Rapisdari explained the grant is being used to hire retail advisory Richard Cohan, who was introduced at the BID meeting. Cohan will research the types of businesses that Hackettstown wants to attract and how to get them to locate in town.
This latest grant is the third one Hackettstown has received from USDA Rural Development in recent years, Rapisardi said.
Also participating were Maryann Tancredi, Business Program Director in New Jersey for USDA Rural Development, and Janis Rega, USDA Rural Development Area Director and Vanessa Galante, Loan Specialist, from the Hackettstown office, one of three the federal agency has in New Jersey.
