Gloucester Township To Get $125K A Year To Improve Arts District

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Arts District in Downtown Blackwood is expected to receive $125,000 in state grant money for each of the next five years, township officials announced on Monday.

Gloucester Township has been awarded a 5-year designation, including an initial $125,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Neighborhood Preservation Program, officials said.

The township is seeking input from the community about how to improve the district. (See below).
The funding is pending annual state budget capacity, officials said. The money will help assist with economic and community development.

The township is one of 20 communities statewide that was awarded the funding, out of 31 total that applied.

In addition to the funding, a team of revitalization experts from the Neighborhood Preservation Program will provide technical assistance and training locally, officials said.

The focus will be on the continued revitalization of the Downtown Blackwood section of Gloucester Township. Read more here: Gloucester Township Considers Overhaul Of Blackwood West Plan

“I am thrilled to announce that Gloucester Township will be receiving the NPP Grant this year to further enhance and revitalize the Arts District in Blackwood section of Gloucester Township,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer said. “Though efforts at revitalization have been made in the neighborhood, the support of the NJDCA and the funding available through the Neighborhood Preservation Program will have an enormous positive impact on the community.”

The goal of the program is to enhance the value of Downtown Blackwood. This would be done through enhanced buildings, streets and the district’s overall physical makeup.

This includes supporting and coordinating small business recovery, growth and sustainability, and marketing district events and activities. The township would work with local stakeholders in planning and relationship building, officials said.

The state’s team will work with the township and stakeholders to support an array of bottom-up efforts that create visible and tangible change, leverage other public and private resources, and address real needs and aspirations of the Gloucester Township’s Arts District stakeholders, including residents and business owners, officials said.

A coordinator will create an implementation plan that includes community engagement, local knowledge and hard data to come up with projects and programs that help fulfill local needs.

Gloucester Township is seeking feedback from people who live, work, shop and eat in Gloucester Township Arts District for the program. The online survey will help determine the projects and priorities designed to revitalize and rejuvenate the area located in downtown Blackwood section of Gloucester Township and boost economic growth.

The deadline for completing the survey, which is available in multiple languages, is Dec. 31. Visit www.GloTwp.com to register your input.