Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Acceptance of Grant Funds
Purpose: Resolution of Support from the Governing Body authorizing the acceptance of funds from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) that will be used to help address safety needs of the Lincoln Park community, help reduce crime and provide community residents with recreational activities.
Entity Name: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Neighborhood Preservation Program
Entity Address: 101 South Broad Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Grant Amount: $125,000.00
Total Project Cost: $887,569.00
City Contribution: $25,000.00 In-Kind Services
Other Funding Source/Amount: Prudential Foundation, Verizon, Horizon, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs - NRTC Program, Titos, United/$762,569.00
Grant Period: January 27, 2023 through January 26, 2024
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
List of Property: (if applicable)
(Address/Block/Lot/Ward/Site Known As)
Lincoln Park Preservation District/Central and East Wards
Additional Information:
The Grant Funds will be allocated for:
1) The purchase, distribution and installation of security cameras to homeowners and small business owners to help prevent robberies and assaults; and
2) Alley enhancements and activations that include, lighting, seating, tables and performance spaces to reduce the presence of drug sales and substance abuse; and
3) Neighborhood beautification, greening, signage, street murals, wayfinding and information kiosk near the 6 acre park to expand Lincoln Park’s branding.
A Shared Services Agreement between the City of Newark and Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), was signed by Eric S. Pennington, Business Administrator, on August 18, 2021.
A Letter of Approval was signed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, on August 10, 2021.
The Notice of Interest (NOI) was signed by Eric S. Pennington, Business Administrator, on July 8, 2021.
A copy of the City’s Grant Application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) is atatched.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Conditional (NJDCA) Approval Letter signed by Jeff Buehler, NJDCA Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) Administrator is attached.
The approved NJDCA Application for Grant Funding submitted by the City of Newark on behalf of LPCCD is attached.
The Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) Official Designation Letter from NJDCA was signed by Lieutenant Governor, Sheila Oliver, on September 22, 2021.
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WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has instituted the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP), administered through the New Jersey Department of Community Affair's (NJDCA), which provides financial support and technical assistance to municipalities and their affiliates to encourage and promote the social and economic strengthening and development of neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2021, a Notice of Interest was signed and approved by the City of Newark’s Business Administrator, Eric S. Pennington, confirming the City of Newark's interest in applying for designation of the Lincoln Park neighborhood by the NJDCA as required under the Neighborhood Preservation Program; and
WHEREAS, on August 10, 2021 a Letter of Support was signed and approved by Mayor Ras. J. Baraka confirming the City of Newark's interest in applying for NPP grant funding designated for the Lincoln Park neighborhood within the City of Newark; and
WHEREAS, on August 18, 2021 a Shared Services Agreement between the City of Newark and the Lincoln Park Cultural Coast District (LPCCD) was signed and approved by the City of Newark’s Business Administrator, Eric S. Pennington, the City’s Economic and Housing Development (EHD) Deputy Mayor/Director, Allison Ladd and LPCCD Executive Director, Anthony Smith, to perform in-kind professional services in an amount not to exceed Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($25,000.00), in connection with the NPP Grant Application; and
WHEREAS, on August 18, 2021, the NPP Grant Funding Application was submitted to NJDCA on behalf of the City’s Department of Economic and Housing Development (EHD) and the Lincoln Park Cultural Coast District (LPCCD), pursuant to the aforementioned Shared Services Agreement between the City’s Department of Economic and Housing Development (EHD) and Lincoln Park Cultural Coast District (LPCCD); and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2021, a New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) Designation Letter was signed and approved by NJDCA Commissioner and New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver confirming approval of the aforementioned NPP Application and the official NPP designation of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, on September 29, 2021, a Conditional Letter of Approval was signed by NJDCA NPP Administrator, Jeff Buehler confirming the approval of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00), in NPP Grant funding contingent upon the approval of acceptance of grant funds by the Municipal Council; and
WHEREAS, the Lincoln Park Neighborhood (LPN) is appropriate for NPP funding for several reasons:
1) LPN is the sole remaining undeveloped downtown neighborhood in the City of Newark. Due to the lack of investment and growing interest by for-profit developers, the neighborhood and City of Newark. Due to the lack of investment and growing interest by for-profit developers, the neighborhood and residents face significant challenges of housing insecurity, crime, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and low education; and
2) Growing inter-generational Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) population representing more than 90% of the residents is contributing to unprecedented demand for services to meet the complex human services and community needs; and
3) An activated and highly engaged resident advocacy group is driving neighborhood transformation to a healthy, safe and vibrant neighborhood; and,
4) Part of the neighborhood is a historic district listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, making it deserving of preservation for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, funding will be used to help address safety needs of the Lincoln Park community, help reduce crime and provide community residents with recreational activities; and
WHEREAS, the Lincoln Park Neighborhood in the City of Newark was designated a Neighborhood Preservation Program district and awarded a grant in 2021 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP); and
WHEREAS, the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District has taken public input including resident and business feedback sessions, and input from a community Stakeholder Committee comprised of Lincoln Park residents, business owners, property owners; and
WHEREAS, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District has taken public feedback and desired objectives as noted in the application and combined them with the recommendations to provide a 2023 Implementation Plan related to the grant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark wishes to continue receiving technical assistance and funding through the NPP program in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and continue the partnership in this program administered by Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District;
WHEREAS, Grant funds will be allocated for:
1) The purchase, distribution and installation of security cameras to homeowners and small business owners to help prevent robberies and assaults; and
2) Alley enhancements and activations that include lighting, seating, tables and performance spaces to reduce the presence of drug sales and substance abuse; and
3) Neighborhood beautification, greening, signage, street murals, wayfinding and information kiosk near the six (6) acre park to expand Lincoln Parks branding; and
4) Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District shall meet with staff of the City of Newark, including the Department of Economic and Housing Development, Department of Engineering, Department of Public Works and Department of Public Safety to provide regular updates on projects and programming.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. This resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee the Business Administrator and/or the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development to support, apply and accept the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) application for grant funding in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00) and a municipal in-kind service match not to exceed Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($25,000.00) in 2023.
2. This support and acceptance of these grant funds are ratified back to January 27, 2023.
3. Recognizes and accepts that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs 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 execution of any such grant agreement; and also, upon receipt of the fully executed agreement from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, does further authorize advance of such funds to Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District and the expenditure of funds pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
4. The Municipal Council authorizes and accepts the Shared Services Agreement between the City of Newark and Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) and ratifies it back to August 18, 2021.
5. Authorizes the acceptance of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Preservation 2023 Implementation Plan.
STATEMENT
This Resolution requests that the aforementioned actions taken by the City of Newark, the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) ratified back to January 27, 2023 by the City of Newark Municipal Council for the support, approval, and receipt of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand and Zero Cents ($125,000.00) in grant funding pursuant to the signed Shared Service Agreement (2021) between the City of Newark and LPCCD with an in-kind Match not to exceed Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($25,000.00).