Cape May Court House, N.J. – As Middle prepares for final passage of the ordinance to create the Rio Grande Community Partnership, residents have one last chance to submit membership applications.

Township Committee plans a second reading of the ordinance to create a nine-member volunteer board at its Oct. 5 meeting. Board members will be appointed on Oct. 17.

The creation of the board was spearheaded by Middle Township Committeeman Jim Norris, who grew up in Rio Grande and is pursuing a collaborative approach to address quality-of-life concerns in the Township’s southern business district.

“We look forward to final passage and the creation of this board to focus on the issues in the Rio Grande area,” Norris said. “Bringing all interested parties together to deal with these multifaceted concerns provides our greatest opportunity for success.”

The Rio Grande Community Partnership will create a structure for Rio Grande residents, business owners, social-service agencies and local government to work together on addressing challenges such as homelessness, petty crime, drug use and an ongoing housing shortage.

Representatives and advisers from local and county government and the Middle Township Police Department will be on the board. The Township will appoint a staff member as secretary to the board and provide legal counsel from the municipal solicitor.

Residents and business owners interested in serving in the Rio Grande Community Partnership may contact Deputy Business Administrator Suzanne Schumann at 609-465-8853.