Tuesday, April 30, 2013

NJ: Sandy Impacted School Districts Get $1.25 Million

The New Jersey Department of Education today announced grant awards to assist school communities as they recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy. These funds, made possible through a $1.25 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) program, are available to districts to fund short- and long-term education services designed to restore safe learning environments for their students.

“Our communities have exhibited tremendous resilience in the face of the after-effects of Super Storm Sandy and they should be commended for all they have done to support our students and their education,” said State Education Commissioner Cerf. “These funds from the U.S. Department of Education will help support the continuous recovery of school communities in New Jersey and we are grateful these grants were made available.”

School districts or charter schools were able to request reimbursement of expenditures in support of activities intended to restore a sense of safety and security, activities intended to assist students in understanding the impact of the Superstorm and stabilizing their lives, and activities that assist school districts and charter schools in managing the practical problems created by Superstorm Sandy.

Examples of eligible types of services or activities districts applied for include:

§ Overtime for teachers, counsellors, and law enforcement and security officers and other staff;

§ Substitute teachers and other staff as necessary;

§ Emergency transportation;

§ Technical assistance on developing an appropriate response to crisis;

§ Transportation and other costs to operate school at an alternative site, e.g. leasing of space to substitute for damaged building;

§ Temporary security measures such as non-permanent metal detectors and additional security guards and security cameras;

§ Targeted mental health assessments, referrals and services related to Superstorm Sandy with the goal of restoring victims/survivors to their pre-incident levels of functioning.

Based on the number of applicants, monies requested, and available funding, all districts received 45% of their requested eligible expenses.

The list of districts that applied and their award amounts is as follows:
COUNTY
DISTRICT
AWARD
Atlantic
Brigantine
$                    5,515
Atlantic
Pleasantville
$                  58,240
Essex
Newark
$                  32,500
Hudson
Hoboken
$                  48,142
Hudson
Jersey City
 $                    5,459
Middlesex
Sayreville
$                  67,049
Middlesex
South River
$                  46,951
Monmouth
Asbury Park
$                    9,192
Monmouth
Keansburg
$                322,527
Monmouth
Long Beach
$                    6,727
Monmouth
Manasquan
$                  63,655
Monmouth
Monmouth Beach
$                 47,052
Monmouth
Rumson
$                  34,249
Monmouth
Rumson - Fair Haven
$                    1,174
Monmouth
Union Beach
$                  28,667
Ocean
Bayhead
$                    9,977
Ocean
Brick Township
$                211,891
Ocean
Central Regional
$                  38,973
Ocean
Lavallette
$                  24,465
Ocean
Little Egg Harbor
$                  51,554
Ocean
Pinelands Regional
$                  47,443
Ocean
Point Pleasant Borough
$                    7,820
Ocean
Point Pleasant Beach
$                  16,001
Ocean
Seaside Heights
$                  24,537
Ocean
Stafford
$                    3,469
Ocean
Toms River
$                  36,771
Total
$            1,250,000


May 10 NYC Event To Celebrate, Help Haiti Relief


Above: Some members of the Community2Community team on the ground in Haiti.

On Friday, May 10, 2013 at 6:00 PM Community2Community (C2C), a Brooklyn based nonprofit service organization working to help Haïti regain self-sufficiency, will launch “Hope and A Future” – A Celebration of Haïti, at Christian Cultural Center (CCC), 12020 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.

“Hope and A Future” – A Celebration of Haïti is an inspirational, cultural experience that officially inaugurates May as Haitian Heritage Month and introduces C2C’s “Ayiti Marché”. The festive “Ayiti Marché” (Haitian Kreyòl for Open Market) will bring a multitude of Caribbean and American businesses and organizations together for a cultural exchange of information and services of interest to the Caribbean community. Attendees can partake in the taste and sounds of Haïti while exploring Haïti’s rich artistic and cultural contributions through various vendors and artisans. Festive Haitian music will be playing throughout.

Sponsored by Christian Cultural Center, New York Daily News, WBLS FM/WLIB AM, Amour Creole, Positive Community and New York Amsterdam News, the Celebration will feature international cultural artists Belo, Haitian Jazz Ensemble Mozayik, Melanie Charles and others soon to be announced. In addition, the festive event will also include “Friends of Haiti” - an array of local artists, presenting an eclectic mix of inspirational, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, rap and Haitian music, spoken word and dance expressions along with special vignettes spotlighting Haitian culture inclusive of a narrative on the significance of water.

Themed Building Forward Together, proceeds from the celebration will help Community2Community continue its ongoing efforts to restore clean water to the towns in and around Petit Goâve. Launched in April 2011, C2C’s Water Initiative is designed as a gravity-fed water distribution system that will give their partnering mountainside community access to clean, potable water. It has already helped a densely dry population of approximately 16,000 gain access to water. In 2012, C2C completed Phases 1 and 2 with the goal of completing the system by the end of 2013. In addition, C2C has worked with another partner community to complete the building of 15 latrines. The C2C Water Initiative is of crucial importance as it is the first step in creating the community’s health and sanitation infrastructure. The completed system will directly impact the regions current incidents of cholera and other water-borne diseases.

“The most pressing challenge Haïti faces moving forward is clean water,” said C2C CEO + FireStarter Marie-Yolaine Eusebe. “This event highlights C2C’s and our partners’ efforts in making a real difference on this issue. I invite everyone to come learn how they can help Haïti move forward by volunteering, providing technical assistance or becoming a C2C Neighbor. So, join us and let’s build forward together!”

Community2Community (C2C) is a non-profit, service organization whose vision is creating self-sufficient communities by working with the community. Mobilizing resources to support the transformation of developing international communities into healthy, self-sufficient communities through the C2C Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project (HRTPP) is their mission. “Hope and A Future” – A Celebration of Haïti is a free public event celebrating Haïti and the Caribbean Diaspora. For more information visitwww.Community2Community.info.

Pope Discusses Middle East With Israeli President

This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received Shimon Peres, president of the State of Israel. President Peres then met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks, the political and social situation in the Middle East—where more than a few conflicts persist—was addressed. A speedy resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is hoped for, so that, with the courageous decisions and availability of both sides as well as support from the international community, an agreement may be reached that respects the legitimate aspirations of the two Peoples, thus decisively contributing to the peace and stability of the region. Reference to the important issue of the City of Jerusalem was not overlooked. Particular worry for the conflict that plagues Syria was expressed, for which a political solution is hoped for that privileges the logic of reconciliation and dialogue.

A number of issues concerning relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See and between state authorities and the local Catholic communities were also addressed. In conclusion, the significant progress made by the Bilateral Working Commission, which is preparing an agreement regarding issues of common interest, was appreciated and its rapid conclusion is foreseen.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Giant Philly KAWS Sculptures Prompts Photo Contest

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) will launch a week-long Instagram Photo Contest on May 1, 2013, in celebration of the highly popular KAWS’ COMPANION (PASSING THROUGH) installation currently on view at 30th Street Station.

The contest invites the public to capture unique and creative photos of KAWS’COMPANION at 30th Street Station to win an autographed copy of the book, “KAWS” (2010), the first publication dedicated to the full range of KAWS’ work, written byMonica Ramirez-Montagut.

“Since its debut at 30th Street Station on April 11, KAWS’ COMPANION has received an overwhelmingly positive response from social media users. At the same time, the installation provides a unique opportunity for PAFA to engage with the public at an off-site location, while drumming up excitement for the KAWS exhibition coming to PAFA this fall. We are thrilled to now offer fans a chance to share their favorite COMPANION photos on Instagram in an effort to win a fantastic prize,” says Harry Philbrick, PAFA’s Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Museum.

To enter, Instagram users must visit KAWS’ COMPANION at 30th Street Station, take a photo of the installation with their mobile phone or camera, and submit the photo via Instagram by including the hashtag #PAFAKAWS. Entries are welcome between May 1, 2013 and May 8, 2013. There are no limits to the number of entries per Instagram user. PAFA’s Museum Director will review all contest entries and select one winner who will be announced via PAFA’s social media outlets (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) on May 9, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The winning entry will also be featured on pafa.org/kawsthrough October 2013.

Five entries will also be chosen and featured on HuffingtonPost.com to build excitement and participation.

Prior to the debut of KAWS’ COMPANION at 30th Street Station, PAFA introduced the hashtag #PAFAKAWS for the public to utilize when sharing photos of the installation on social media outlets. The hashtag is prominently featured on rack cards and signage available at 30th Street Station. In addition to the social media campaign, a group of PAFA students also serve as on-site Brand Ambassadors at 30th Street Station. Besides sharing information about the installation and PAFA, Brand Ambassadors engage with passerby in dialogues about the role of art in public spaces.

For complete contest details, please visit pafa.org/kawscontest.

ABOUT KAWS’ COMPANION (PASSING THROUGH) at 30th ST. STATION

On view April 11 through May 14, 2013, KAWS’ COMPANION (PASSING THROUGH) is a preview for PAFA’s new Sculpture Plinth Exhibition Program, which will open at PAFA in October 2013 with a sculpture commissioned from KAWS. The Sculpture Plinth Exhibition Program will present a rotating series of site-specific, attention-catching sculptures in an unexpected location—the façade above the front door of PAFA’s Historic Landmark Building on North Broad Street in Philadelphia.

First seen in Hong Kong, COMPANION has also traveled to New York; The Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, CT; The High Museum, Atlanta; and The Modern, Fort Worth. In 2012, a version of COMPANION appeared as a 40-foot float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Video: Student Plays Pope, Naked From Waist Down

Christie Video: 'We Haven't Forgotten You!'

The Italians Call It 'Primavera!'


The Italians have a word for it.
They call it primavera.
It literally means "first green." But the Italians and the whole world know it as spring.
All around us -- right now -- spring is marked by the freshest, newest, brightest greens. These first greens are wispy, delicate and wonderfully vivid.
Against a clear blue sky or along a creek or by a walkway these greens beckon us and awaken us to a fresh, new beginning.
Yesterday was a glorious day for capturing just a bit of the primavera and we are delighted to share these photos with you.
Hurry on out and enjoy the show, for these wonderful, fresh green colors will not last very long.




Thirty Seconds To Mars In Philly May 13

Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic, collectively known as Thirty Seconds to Mars, will hold a private performance at the Temple Performing Arts Center on the campus of Temple University on Monday, May 13 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the event are available via radio on 104.5 WRFF. Fans can also stay tuned to THIRTYSECONDTOMARS.COM for other ways to attend the show.

Fans are invited to come worship with the Church of MARS and bear witness to the alternative rock kingpins as they prepare for their next multi-year world tour. The Church of MARS will take place in four cities - Boston, Washington DC, Chicago and Philadelphia.

The special intimate performance will debut new material for the first time, and the group will perform selections from their classic repertoire. In addition, the band will screen the short film for their latest hit "Up in the Air" and give a glimpse of their award winning documentary Artifact.

The American rock band affectionately known as Thirty Seconds to Mars, formed in 1998, hailing from Los Angeles. With three albums to date the group is gearing up for another world tour and the release of new music. The group has been compared to Pink Floyd as their edgy and experimental music has been described as having a philosophical and spiritual influence.

THIS Is Where Philly's Next Casino Belongs

2013 Drama Desk Nominations Announced On Broadway

On Broadway, the 2013 Drama Desk nominations have been announced. The Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations are all in. That leaves only the Tonys yet to be announced.
The following are the nominations for the Drama Desk competitive categories. Please keep in mind that these include both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Winners will be selected by the voting membership of the Drama Desk.

Outstanding Play
Annie Baker, The Flick
Christopher Durang, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Joe Gilford, Finks
Richard Greenberg, The Assembled Parties
Amy Herzog, Belleville
Deanna Jent, Falling
Richard Nelson, Sorry

Outstanding Musical
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Giant
Hands on a Hardbody
Here Lies Love
Matilda
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Golden Boy
Good Person of Szechwan
The Piano Lesson
The Trip to Bountiful
Uncle Vanya

Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue
Passion
Pippin
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
The Golden Land
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Working: A Musical

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Reed Birney, Uncle Vanya
Daniel Everidge, Falling
Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Shuler Hensley, The Whale
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, Belleville
Amy Morton, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Julia Murney, Falling
Vanessa Redgrave, The Revisionist
Miriam Silverman, Finks
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Eric Anderson, Soul Doctor
Brian d’Arcy James, Giant
Jim Norton, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen
Ryan Silverman, Passion
Anthony Warlow, Annie

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, Giant
Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Lindsay Mendez, Dogfight
Donna Murphy, Into the Woods
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Jenny Powers, Donnybrook!

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Chuck Cooper, The Piano Lesson
Peter Friedman, The Great God Pan
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Aaron Clifton Moten, The Flick
Brían F. O’Byrne, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Tasha Lawrence, The Whale
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Kellie Overbey, Sleeping Rough
Maryann Plunkett, Sorry
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful
Laila Robins, Sorry

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Stephen Bogardus, Passion
John Bolton, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Bertie Carvel, Matilda
John Dossett, Giant
Andy Karl, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Melissa Errico, Passion
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Jessie Mueller, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Christiane Noll, Chaplin: The Musical
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Kate Wetherhead, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Director of a Play
Lear Debessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Sam Gold, Uncle Vanya
Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, Restoration Comedy
Pam MacKinnon, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Lynne Meadow, The Assembled Parties
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
John Doyle, Passion
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Emma Rice, The Wild Bride
Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love
Matthew Warchus, Matilda

Outstanding Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Warren Carlyle, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda
Josh Rhodes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Sergio Trujillo, Hands on a Hardbody
Chet Walker and Gypsy Snider, Pippin

Outstanding Music
Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
Michael John LaChiusa, Giant
Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Lyrics
Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody
Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bring It On: The Musical
Michael John LaChiusa, Giant
Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Tim Minchin, Matilda
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Dennis Kelly, Matilda
Sybille Pearson, Giant
Joseph Robinette, A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen
Jeff Whitty, Bring It On: The Musical
Doug Wright, Hands on a Hardbody

Outstanding Orchestrations
Trey Anastasio and Don Hart, Hands on a Hardbody
Larry Blank, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Bruce Coughlin, Giant
Larry Hochman, Chaplin: The Musical
Steve Margoshes, Soul Doctor
Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Outstanding Music in a Play
César Alvarez with The Lisps, Good Person of Szechwan
Jiří Kadeřábek, Mahir Cetiz, and Ana Milosavljevic, Act Before You Speak: The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Glen Kelly, The Nance
Eugene Ma, The Man Who Laughs
Steve Martin, As You Like It
Jane Wang, Strange Tales of Liaozhai

Outstanding Revue
Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking!
Old Hats
Old Jews Telling Jokes

Outstanding Set Design
Rob Howell, Matilda
Mimi Lien, The Whale
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy
David Zinn, The Flick

Outstanding Costume Design
Amy Clark and Martin Pakledinaz, Chaplin: The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Chris March, Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet
Loren Shaw, Restoration Comedy
Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Lighting Design
Ken Billington, Chaplin: The Musical
Jane Cox, Passion
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Justin Townsend, Here Lies Love
Daniel Winters, The Man Who Laughs
Scott Zielinski, A Civil War Christmas

Outstanding Projection Design
Jon Driscoll, Chaplin: The Musical
Wendall K. Harrington, Old Hats
Peter Nigrini, Here Lies Love
Darrel Maloney, Checkers
Pedro Pires, Cirque du Soleil: Totem
Aaron Rhyne, Wild With Happy

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Hands on a Hardbody
Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy, Chaplin: The Musical
Tony Meola, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Brian Ronan, Bring It On: The Musical
Brian Ronan, Giant
Dan Moses Schreier, Passion

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Ien DeNio, The Pilo Family Circus
Steve Fontaine, Last Man Club
Christian Frederickson, Through the Yellow Hour
Lindsay Jones, Wild With Happy
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Fergus O’Hare, Macbeth

Outstanding Solo Performance
Joel de la Fuente, Hold These Truths
Kathryn Hunter, Kafka’s Monkey
Bette Midler, I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers
Julian Sands, A Celebration of Harold Pinter
Holland Taylor, Ann
Michael Urie, Buyer & Cellar

Unique Theatrical Experience
Bello Mania
Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet
Cirque Du Soleil: Totem
That Play: A Solo Macbeth
The Fazzino Ride
The Man Who Laughs

NJ Sandy Disaster Grant Approved: Details Here!




Distributing The Resources New Jersey Needs For The Rebuilding Process
What New Jersey Residents Need To Know About The Christie Administration’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan


The Christie Administration has received approval from the Obama Administration to move forward with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Action Plan.  This plan outlines how we will utilize the first phase of the emergency supplemental passed by Congress in January. The first $1,829,520,000 in CDBG funds provided to New Jersey by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will focus primarily on helping homeowners, renters, businesses and communities impacted by Super Storm Sandy.

What To Know About Where And How:

·         The Action Plan incorporates input from HUD, as well as Sandy-impacted communities and stakeholder groups whose engagement will continue throughout the State’s recovery, rebuilding and restoration process.

·         CDBG Disaster Recovery funds are intended to address unmet needs not satisfied by private insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business Administration, or other sources.

·         The Christie Administration will dedicate over 55 percent of funding for low-to-moderate-income households.

Next Steps For New Jersey Homeowners, Renters And Small Business Owners:

·         Visit www.sandyhelp.nj.gov to choose either housing or business assistance and fill out notification forms to receive real time updates on programs and next steps. This web site will feature fact sheets with basic information about the programs and steps to prepare for submitting an application for assistance.

·         There are also two hotline numbers available: for housing assistance, call 1-855-SANDYHM (1-855-726-3946); for business assistance, call 1-855-SANDYBZ (1-855-726-3929).

Helping New Jersey Homeowners and Protecting Shore Communities:
  
·         Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation And Mitigation (RREM) Program: This $600 million program will provide eligible homeowners up to $150,000 to aid reconstruction, rehabilitation, elevation and mitigation of damaged homes.

·         Housing Resettlement Program: This program is aimed at Sandy-impacted homeowners who sustained storm damage and who are considering selling or abandoning their property. Funded at $180 million, this program will provide $10,000 grants to eligible homeowners to remain part of the fabric of their communities as they continue the recovery process.

Helping New Jersey’s Working And Low Income Families:

Governor Christie is committed to helping low-to-moderate income families as well as vulnerable populations recover from Sandy. The Christie Administration is proposing a range of rental housing activities designed to replenish rental housing stock lost to Sandy, rehabilitate affordable rental units left uninhabitable by Sandy, and provide affordable housing for special needs populations.

·         Restoration Of Multi-Family Housing: $179.52 million will be utilized to provide zero and low-interest loans of up to $120,000 per unit to qualified developers and public housing authorities to facilitate the creation of new permanent housing units. A significant portion of the fund will be used to assist in the development of new permanent, supportive housing for individuals with special needs.

·         The Sandy Special Needs Housing Fund (SSNHF): $25 million will be provided for the creation of quality, permanent supportive housing which will expand housing options for  individuals with special needs severely impacted by Super Storm Sandy.

·         Fund For Rehabilitation Of Small Rental Properties: Through an allocation of $70 million, the Christie Administration will provide zero-interest, forgivable loans of up to $50,000 per unit to eligible owners of rental buildings with 25 or fewer units that received significant damage from Super Storm Sandy and are partially or completely uninhabitable.

·         Predevelopment Fund For Affordable Rental Housing: Provide financing of up to $500,000 to help nonprofit housing developers cover the predevelopment costs of properties that are unsafe, underutilized, or in foreclosure. Projects must help to revitalize communities by facilitating the acquisition, clearance, and preparation of difficult to develop sites. Allocation for the program will be $10 million.

·         Affordable Housing Incentives: Through $40 million in funding, this program will provide incentive payments to eligible rental property owners who agree to lease their units to low and moderate income households at affordable rents.

Supporting Economic Recovery and Revitalization:

Economic recovery and revitalization is also a top priority of the Action Plan to restore communities and promote job growth. Businesses in the 113 municipalities most impacted by Super Storm Sandy incurred commercial property losses in excess of $380 million and business interruption losses in excess of $63 million. To help New Jersey businesses, the Christie Administration is setting aside $460 million in funding for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to administer the following activities:

·         Small Business Grants: Eligible small businesses that sustained physical damage will be able to apply for grants of up to $50,000. These grants can be used for rehabilitation, new construction, equipment, inventory, mitigation, refinancing and working capital among other uses.

·         No-Interest Loans For Storm-Impacted Small Businesses: These loans, up to $5 million, are intended to assist small businesses that suffered physical damage, as well as spur economic revitalization by providing funding for expansion and new businesses in storm-impacted areas.

·         Neighborhood And Community Revitalization Programs: Provides funding to help communities with public facility improvements such as streetscapes, lighting, and sidewalks; businesses assistance initiatives such as micro-loans for storm-related damage and loan guarantees for loan loss reserves; and façade and code-related improvements.

·         Tourism Marketing Campaign: This marketing campaign will promote storm-impacted businesses and shore communities by letting the nation know that New Jersey is recovering and that communities are open for business. The campaign funded at $25 million would also encourage New Jerseyans and tourists to shop local, thereby supporting companies that are operational.

It is estimated the Action Plan’s rental development and rehabilitation programs will create 3,000 jobs and $500 million in economic activity.

Providing Real Assistance To Local Governments And Property Taxpayers:

While the housing and economic sectors are the central focus of this first allocation of CDBG Disaster Recovery funding, the Christie Administration is also going to help local governments provide essential services. Since there were unanticipated expenses caused by the storm that are not reimbursed by FEMA, the Action Plan proposes to allocate $116 million in funds as follows:

·         FEMA Match For Public Assistance Program: An allocation of $50 million will be used to provide critical funding support to eligible applicants such as state agencies and local governmental entities by helping to subsidize the required match for FEMA Public Assistance projects. This will ensure that governmental entities have sufficient resources to continue providing essential services without resorting to tax increases or other measures that may cause further hardship and distress in Sandy-impacted communities. 

·         Protecting Essential Services For Short-Term Sustainability And Long-Term Recovery: $60 million will be used to close gaps in funding in FEMA’s Community Disaster Loan Program so that local government entities such as counties, municipalities, authorities, fire districts, and school districts can continue to pay essential personnel in critically important service areas including police and fire services, education, and public works.

·         Code Enforcement Grant Program: $6 million in funding will supplement local code enforcement offices with additional personnel, provide an online plan review and permitting process, and enhance the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ continuing education curriculum for code officials to include training in flood hazard mitigation practices and other storm-related code issues.