CITY OF PATERSON 2020 GRANT FUNDING REVIEW

Mayor Andre Sayegh and his administration have made grant funding for the City of Paterson a priority. In the year 2020 his administration obtained numerous grants that have funded a variety of programs and initiatives – totaling nearly $12 Million.

The importance of grant funding to a city is evident. The prime example is that of the 2019 grant of Strengthening Local Health. The $95K awarded to City of Paterson’s Division of Health and Human Services was used to create a communicable disease outbreak strike team. This grant, awarded by the NJ Department of Health, strengthened the city’s capacity to investigate communicable diseases by funding new tech software and allowing for more staff to be available when responding to outbreaks in the region. Through the guidance of Public Health Officer Dr. Paul Persaud, Paterson’s COVID-19 Strike Team was created and has since received nationwide recognition for their preparedness and work during the ongoing COVID Pandemic.

“Each grant secured by the City of Paterson is paramount in our overall infrastructure,” said Mayor Andre Sayegh. “Grant funding alleviates the burden on the general operating budget and allows us to pursue our priorities: public safety, public health and public administration.”

Below, please find a listing of grants.

21^st Avenue Streetscape – Awarded June 2020 – $500K

Awarded by the Department of Transportation from the local aid infrastructure fund – 21^st Avenue, a busy commercial sector in the City of Paterson and an area that was usually inundated with traffic and double-parking issues. The area transformed and is now a one-way street that includes 65 additional angled parking spaces. The streetscape change was a benefit to the residents and business owners in the area.

Abatement of lead Hazard in Homes –

Awarded by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – September 2020 – $3.4M
Awarded by NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) – October 2020 – $378,151.00
The administration received funding for Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction which will eliminate lead hazards in the homes of low-income Paterson families with children.

COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Program– Awarded October 2020 – $80K

        Awarded by the NJDCA Neighborhood Preservation Program the grant allowed the City of Paterson to help businesses as they struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic.

US DOJ Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program –
Awarded October 2020 – $900K

In 2019 the City of Paterson received a $600K grant for Partnerships to Support Data-Driven Responses to Emerging Drug. Paterson has since partnered with St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Passaic County Department of Human Services, and the Health Coalition of Passaic County. In 2020 the City of Paterson has been awarded $900K to hire staff and support the programs related to Opioid Grants and Cross-Agency Coalition.

NJ Historic Trust, Historic Site Management grant – Awarded November 2020 – $50K

The City of Paterson together with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working to rehabilitate and install new fencing at the former Allied Textile Printers (ATP) site. Together they have been working toward the immediate objective of securing the ATP site from public access. This project is the first of several upcoming phases to achieve the overall cleanup, rehabilitation and reuse of this significant historic site.

NJ State Library, Library Construction Bond Act – Awarded November 2020 – $734,812.00

The Paterson Free Public Library was one of thirty-eight libraries to receive capital grant funding through the New Jersey Construction bond act. The grant funding will include renovations for the Children’s Department and the Community Literacy Center, roof replacement, Repairing existing retaining walls and the installation and modification of an ADA compliant elevator.

The total grant funding the City of Paterson has received in the year 2020 in addition to grants not listed above is $11,993,204.00.