Cape May Gets NJ Grant for Neighborhood Preservation

HAMMONTON – Acting Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver announced the award of $2.5 million in Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) grants July 29 to 20 municipalities in New Jersey and of nearly $350,000 in Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) grants to 17 Main Street district organizations throughout the state.
Cape May will receive a $125,000 grant from the Neighborhood Preservation Program. It was the only Cape May County municipality to receive funding.
According to a release, the grants from both programs will help improve the quality of life for state residents by assisting communities with their downtown and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
This year marks the first time in its 30-year history that the MSNJ Program has awarded grants to designated MSNJ district organizations around the state. Also, it is the first time in 11 years that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has awarded NPP grants.
The grant funding is part of a larger effort by the Murphy Administration to commit more resources to community revitalization programs that focus on small businesses and neighborhood improvement projects.
“We are renewing our commitment to community revitalization and to these worthwhile programs after years of neglect by the previous administration. Gov. Murphy and I recognize how important these programs are to the economic and social health of our communities, which is why we have invested significant resources in them,” stated Acting Gov. Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “The grant funding will be used to create places filled with energy and ambience that draw people to live, work, and visit. We can’t wait to see how they positively impact neighborhoods and downtowns around the state.”
Today’s announcement took place on the front lawn of the Eagle Theatre in Hammonton, which received a $125,000 NPP grant and a $24,000 MSNJ grant.
The town, which has the second longest-running Main Street program in the state, will use its MSNJ grant to continue work on the Hammonton ArtsWalk, which will provide an outdoor gathering space downtown featuring kinetic art, seating, lighting, landscaping, and water features.
The town will use its NPP grant to expand the Eagle Theatre, which was restored and reopened 10 years ago and has successfully drawn residents and visitors of all ages to Downtown Hammonton; to increase public parking downtown in areas where it is lacking; and to improve the exteriors of commercial and residential buildings downtown to create a more inviting environment.
The MSNJ Program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance, and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources. Municipalities must apply and be selected to join the MSNJ Program, which was established in 1989. These designated communities receive technical support and training to assist in restoring their Main Streets as centers of economic and social activity.
This year, designated communities were also eligible for the MSNJ grants, which are funding awards of $25,000 or less aimed at assisting projects such as storefront improvement, placemaking, and transformation strategies development that can be completed in six months or less.
The NPP program provides direct financial and technical assistance to municipalities over a three- to five-year period to conduct activities that strengthen threatened but viable neighborhoods through local planning, community participation, and building local capacity and coordination. Eligible grant activities include community development planning, commercial retail, and residential property renovations, code enforcement, historic preservation, support of community/neighborhood organizations, and public facilities improvement.
Municipal grantees had to show a commitment of resources from the neighborhood and municipality, as well as support from community organizations and residents.