CUOMO ANNOUNCES $97 MILLION FOR 27 NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $97 million in HUD assistance for housing and community development programs for 27 New Jersey communities.

Cuomo announced aid to these communities:

Bayonne ..................$2.3 million Bergen County.............$15.3 million Camden County.............$3.9 million Cherry Hill.............. $430,000 Clifton...................$1.8 million East Orange.............. $2.7 million. Edison....................$620,000 Elizabeth.................$4.1 million Essex....................$8.7 million Gloucester Twp...........$326,0000 Hamilton Twp.............$637,0000 Hudson County............$8 million Mercer County............$490,000 Middlesex County.........$2.8 million

Middletown Twp...........$353,000 Millville....................$380,000 Morris County................$3.4 million Newark.......................$21.3 million New Brunswick................$1.3 million North Bergen Twp..............$1 million Parsippany-Troy Hills............$278,000 Perth Amboy...................$1.3 million Trenton........................$4.7 million Union City.....................$1.6 million Union County...................$7.6 million Union Township.................$832,000 Vineland.......................$1.3 million

"These funds will go toward community-based solutions to the housing and economic development challenges faced by these New Jersey communities," Cuomo said. "We are funding a comprehensive strategy to create jobs and affordable housing, help homeless Americans become self-sufficient, and increase homeownership."

Here is a summary of HUD funding for each of the communities:

BAYONNE - $2.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds; and $87,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants for homeless assistance programs.

BERGEN COUNTY - $12.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $2.4 million under the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and $491,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants for homeless assistance programs.

CAMDEN COUNTY - $2.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $111,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

CHERRY HILL - $430,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for housing rehabilitation programs and homeless assistance.

CLIFTON - $1.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to meet the needs of the county's low and moderate-income residents for a variety of activities, including housing rehabilitation efforts, public services, and homeless assistance.

EAST ORANGE - $2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, and $692,770 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

EDISON - $620,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to benefit low and moderate income residents through the provision of public services, public facilities, and housing rehabilitation.

ELIZABETH -- $2.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1.2 under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $114,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

ESSEX COUNTY -- $7.3 in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $278,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP -- $326,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP -- $637,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

HUDSON COUNTY - $5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $2.9 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $196,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

MERCER COUNTY CONSORTIUM -- $490,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- $2 million Community Development Block Grant funds, and $844,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP -- $353,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

MILLVILLE -- $380,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

MORRIS COUNTY CONSORTIUM -- $2.6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $723,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $102,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

NEWARK -- $11.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $3.7 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, $470,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance, and $5.6 million under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- $956,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds, and $381,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

NORTH BERGEN TOWNSHIP -- $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS -- $278,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

PERTH AMBOY -- $912,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds, and $416,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

TRENTON -- $3.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $810,000 under the HOME Investment partnership program, and $153,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants funds for homeless assistance.

UNION CITY -- $1.6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

UNION COUNTY -- $6.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1.2 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $244,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance.

UNION TOWNSHIP -- $832,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be used to benefit low and moderate-income residents.

The community development funds are being made available to communities in New Jersey under HUD's 1998 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Planning process was developed by Cuomo when he served as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. The process ensures that local residents have strong input into the creation of comprehensive, community-based housing and economic development plans.

The streamlined funding process gives communities maximum local flexibility, while reducing burdensome regulatory requirements. Local HUD staff are empowered to work closely with communities to customize Consolidated Plans and to help them achieve their housing and economic development goals.