Belleville, Nutley Receive Grants For Improvements

Belleville and Nutley are among 16 Essex County municipalities to receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), according to an announcement made Tuesday by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr.

Belleville will receive a grant of $323,900 for the reconstruction of Academy Street, DiVincenzo said, while Nutley will receive grants totaling $170,700 for Maple Place reconstruction ($151,299) and Prospect Place reconstruction ($19,401).

In addition, Belleville-based 1^st Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey will receive a $15,000 non-profit community organization grant as part of clinical support services, officials said. Belleville will also share a $65,000 non-profit community organization grant with Montclair for the Northwest Community Healthcare System for building renovations.

A total of $4.4 million was distributed Tuesday through the CDBG program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development.

“Programs supported through the CDBG programs are direct investments to provide services that enhance our quality of life and help stabilize our neighborhoods by modernizing our infrastructure,” DiVincenzo said in a release.

“These federal grants enable us to upgrade our sidewalks and roads, enhance handicap access, address mental health needs, support food pantries and stimulate economic development in our downtown commercial areas,” he added.