Hunterdon County Commissioner Board awards community development block grant funding to 3 municipalities

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – The Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners recently approved a grant award in the amount of $370,892, for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CV1 and CV3, to be disbursed amongst the Bloomsbury, Flemington, and Glen Gardner municipalities.

Hunterdon County received CBDG-CV funds from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), through the CARES Act.

The CV1 and CV3 funds were made available to eligible municipalities with Municipal Revitalization Index numbers of 250 or less during the time of the award. The CDBG was established in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act.

Under the CDBG CV Program, grantees may use funds to undertake a variety of projects including public facilities and public improvement projects. Activities must be eligible under regular CBDG rules, including meeting a national objective and being undertaken to prevent, prepare or respond to the pandemic and its effects.

“The Department of Human Services (DHS) is home to programs, activities and outreach services that are designed to help the most vulnerable members of the community and for certain residents, provide necessary assistance and improvement in daily living. Director of DHS, Meagan O’Reilly is to be commended for her work on assisting residents that are in need of public services and for helping the municipalities in navigating the application process for these funds, which exist to improve the quality of life of Hunterdon County residents,” Board Director Zach Rich said.

The CDBG CV2 approved projects include:

• Main Street renovations in Bloomsbury, that will improve sidewalk, walkway and curb
  restoration.
• Construction of an ADA public accessible bathroom in the new Police Station, in
  Flemington.
• The enhancement of community outdoor park and recreation area in Glen Gardner.

Director for the Department of Human Services, Meagan O’Reilly said, “On behalf of the Hunterdon County Department of Human Services, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the municipalities for submitting projects that will serve vulnerable Hunterdon County residents and for their patience as we worked through the application process.”

The application process involves a preliminary review of a proposed project that is completed in consultation with the DCA, a review committee then meets and makes recommendations, followed by a public hearing which is held to notify the public of prospective projects. Once approved by DCA and County Commissioners, the county initiates agreements with awardees.