Some Morris County Groups Could See Federal Funding

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Morris Habitat for Humanity is one organization that could see $3 million in federal dollars if projects that just received funding approval from the House Appropriations Committee in fiscal year 2022 funding bills get the green light.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s office announced on Tuesday that 10 projects she’d submitted to the Appropriations Committee for funding in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District have made it to the next step.

In Morris County, those projects include Morris Habitat for Humanity at $3 million, funding to the United Way of Northern New Jersey at $1.1 million (with $3.1 million initially requested), Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris’s Suicide Prevention Services for $300,000 (initial request for $296,550) and funding for Morris Plains traffic improvements at $136,330.

Sherrill said the projects came across her desk as requests from municipalities and non-profit groups within her district.

“I’m thrilled that all 10 of the projects I submitted to the House Appropriations Committee received funding approval in the FY22 funding bills,” Sherrill said. “If enacted, this potential funding could be the difference that gets them [the groups that made the requests] across the finish line.”

If Morris Habitat for Humanity in Randolph, which received full approval of the $3 million sought, receives its funding, it will enable them to purchase 2.5 acres in Randolph for $1 - which the township plans to remediate, make any demolitions, take charge of site design, approvals and permitting - then move forward to build 25 affordable homes on the tract from the township. Eligible families from the county can they apply for the homes and if qualified, help build and they finance their own property in a no-interest mortgage program.

The monies for the United in Care program through the United Way of Northern New Jersey if approved, would be used for early education and child care programs, with a 71 percent loss to that industry.

Should the request from the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Inc. be fulfilled, it will enable the group to expand its suicide prevention services in Essex and Morris Counties.

If the traffic improvement project is fully approved for the Borough of Morris Plains, sidewalk upgrades, new traffic signals and other enhancements will be made in the area of Route 53 and Tabor Road.

Other projects within District 11th that Sherrill received funding approval in the bills were:

• Bloomfield Township Lead Service Line Replacement Program - $250,000 requested and approved
• Hopatcong PFAS Water System Upgrade Phase 1 - $800,000 requested and approved
• Peckman River Flood Mitigation - $500,000 requested and approved
• Totowa PAL Fields Recreational Lighting - $649,000 requested and approved
• West Orange Degnan Park Senior Citizens Park Improvements Project - $250,000 requested and approved
• Stanhope Borough Water Main Replacement - $250,000 requested and approved

For full information on all of the funding requests, click here.

All of these projects still need to make it past the full House Appropriations Committee and House, as well as the U.S. Senate, with it not certain yet if the Senate will include legislation for Community Funding Projects, Sherrill said.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.