Title
Dept/ Agency: Administration/Office of the Business Administrator
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Application/Acceptance of the Arts & Education District 2026 Grant
Purpose: To submit an Application and enter into Agreements with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources for the Arts & Education District 2026 Grant.
Entity Name: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources
Entity Address: 101 South Broad Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0811
Total Grant Amount: $1,000,000.00
Funding Source: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources
Grant Period: July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, until funds are fully expended
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Monitoring Dept/Agency: Not Applicable
Additional Information:
To support year-round activations including festivals, concerts, art walks, pop-ups, family nights, film screenings, seasonal markets, and partnerships with local venues; and contribute to beautification of the arts and cultural district
body
WHEREAS, on behalf of the City of Newark (“City”), the Business Administrator, submitted an application, on or about November 6, 2025, to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (the “Department”) requesting funding in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00), from the “Arts & Education District 2026 Program” to expand the Newark Arts & Education District and support a unified coordinated system for branding, communication, programming, workforce development opportunities, creative sector career pathways, public space activation, and visitor experience (“Application”); and
WHEREAS, the Department has informed the City that it will receive grant funding from the Department, which may be equal to, lesser or greater than the amount requested in connection with the Application; and
WHEREAS, the Department requires that the City pass a Resolution authorizing the submission of the application before a grant agreement can be provided and entered into, authorizing the release of the grant funds to the City; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to accept the grant and award upon final notification and execute a grant agreement governing said award, upon receipt; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreement for the Arts & Education District 2026 Grant will not require municipal funds for the receipt or acceptance of the grant award.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Business Administrator are hereby authorized to submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (the “Department”), requesting funding in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) from the Arts & Education District 2026 Program to expand the Newark Arts & Education District and support a unified coordinated system for branding, communication, programming, workforce development opportunities, creative sector career pathways, public space activation, and visitor experience (“Application”).
2. The Newark Municipal Council (“Municipal Council”) hereby ratifies its authorization of the Application from the date the Application was submitted until the date of this authorizing Resolution.
3. The Municipal Council recognizes and accepts that the Department may offer a lesser or greater amount and therefore, upon receipt of the grant agreement from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, does further authorize the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee to execute any such grant agreement upon review and, approval of the grant agreement by the Business Administrator and the Corporation Counsel; and also, upon receipt of the fully executed grant agreement from the Department, does further authorize the acceptance of the grant funds and the expenditure of the funds, pursuant to the terms of the grant agreement for the period commencing on July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. 4. The Business Administrator shall file fully executed copies of the Application, the grant award letter and the grant agreement in the Office of the City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This Resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, and the Business Administrator, to submit an application for, accept, and enter into an agreement in the approximate amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) in New Jersey legislative “line item” grant funds from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Arts & Education 2026 Program, for the Newark Arts & Education District for the period commencing on July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. No municipal funds are required for the receipt or acceptance of the grant funds.