The Town of Guttenberg has signed a grant agreement with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for $1,258,445 in Resilient Communities Program funding to help improve flood control systems.

 

The project includes the construction of a new network of inlets and pipes along the east side of JFK Boulevard East between 68th Street and 70th Street. Portions of the existing stormwater system will be demolished and replaced with new inlets, piping, asphalt, curbing, and pavers. The flood control improvements along Boulevard East respond directly to disaster-related risks associated with major storms and the insufficient layout of the existing system.

 

The grant agreement signing marks the first Resilient Communities project to reach this stage of the program, which is aimed at supporting local governments in their efforts to strengthen community infrastructure to withstand future storms.

 

Municipalities, counties, special districts, and federally recognized tribal governments were eligible to apply for up to $5 million in Resilient Communities grant funding if they are located within the counties that HUD and the State identified as most impacted and distressed by Hurricane Ida. DCA announced provisional awards for 10 local governments last year, pending the submission and approval of project-specific deliverables. Guttenberg is the first local government to sign a grant agreement, having received project approvals.

 

Funding will be provided to Guttenberg on a cost reimbursement basis. Throughout the course of the project, DCA will conduct regularly scheduled site inspections to assess project progress. The project must be completed within three years of grant agreement signing.

 

The Resilient Communities Program is administered by DCA’s Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation and supports projects that reduce risk, enhance preparedness, and promote long-term community resilience.