HUD AWARDS NEARLY $1 MILLION TO THE JERSEY CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY TO EXPAND COMMUNITY CENTER AT MARION GARDENS

NEWARK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $998,640 grant to the Jersey City Housing Authority today that will be used to substantially rehabilitate the 2,900 square-foot existing community center and expand the center - adding another 630 square-feet. The improvements will allow the housing authority to enhance its early childhood education programs for residents. Partnering with the housing authority is the Jersey City Child Development Centers, Inc. and the Jersey City One-Stop Career Center.

"This funding fills the gap for public housing agencies that want to provide educational and employment services but lacked the resources," said HUD Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión. "This is an investment to make certain we connect affordable housing with quality education and employment resources."

The funding will be used to build two additions on the existing community center at the Marion Gardens public housing development, which houses an afterschool and music enrichment program for school-aged residents. The rehabilitation will allow the housing authority to begin a Head Start facility for 3- and 4-year olds and will include a new commercial kitchen and food pantry that will allow for meal preparation.

HUD's Capital Fund Education and Training Community Facilities (CFCF) Program provides funding to public housing authorities for the construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of facilities that will offer early childhood education, adult education and/or job training programs. It is designed primarily for public housing residents, but can be utilized by residents in the surrounding community. The purpose of the facilities is to offer comprehensive, integrated education and employment services to help public housing residents achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency.

HUD requires successful applicants to illustrate their ability to get firm financial commitments to leverage the HUD grant by at least 5 percent. These applicants were also required to identify at least one education and/or training supportive service provider, such as a community college, that would partner with the housing authority to provide the education and employment services at the facility. All of the grantees surpassed this requirement by forming partnerships with many local organizations in the community.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.