State sends millions in federal aid into South Jersey counties

TRENTON — Housing rehabilitation and lead-paint removal efforts in five Cumberland County communities are getting a big boost from federally funded, state-run grant programs.

Cumberland County, including county government itself, is receiving about $3.4 million collectively in grants. Of that total, $1 million is for housing rehabilitation and another $1 million for lead-based paint removal.

The state Department of Community Affairs on June 19 said it is distributing almost $8 million to 17 governments in eight counties. The bulk of the aid is to South Jersey communities.

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Cumberland and Cape May County account for more than half the grant totals, with Cape May communities receiving about $1.87 million. Cumberland County government is getting $400,000 for Americans with Disabilities Act-related improvements to Cumberland County Fairgrounds.

In Cumberland, Deerfield, Downe, Fairfield, Hopewell, and Upper Deerfield each received $400,000 in grants for housing rehab and paint-removal programs.

Deerfield also is getting about $386,000 for ADA improvements to its municipal building and senior center, and Fairfield is getting some $216,000 to upgrade its senior center.

In Camden County, Gloucester City is getting $400,000 to replace water and sewer mains on a portion of Division Street as well as reconstructing the roadway.

In Burlington County, Mount Holly Township is getting $240,000 for improving accessibility to the municipal building and senior center. It also is getting $200,000 to rehabilitate eight housing units occupied by low- to moderate-income residents.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: State sends millions in federal aid into South Jersey counties