Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber Chair Brenda Ross-Dulan will serves as the chair of the Trenton American Rescue Plan Advisory Committee, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora announced recently.
The committee of city officials, policy experts and community leaders is tasked with evaluating upcoming projects that will take advantage of $73.8 million in federal aid coming to Trenton over the next year.
Gusciora said having a top advisory committee is a big key in the process.
“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve taken advantage of every funding source we could to provide free testing for Trenton residents, offer emergency loans to support local businesses, hire critical first responders and launch new online platforms to ensure remote access to essential services,” he said. “Imagine what we can do with nearly $74 million in funds dedicated to helping communities like ours get back on our feet.”
Ross-Dulan will lead a group that includes the following:
- Brandon McKoy, president of N.J. Policy Perspective;
- Marge Caldwell-Wilson, city council vice president;
- Elvin Montero, director of communications, Chemistry Council of New Jersey;
- Jeannine LaRue, senior vice president of the Kaufman Zita Group;
- Kelly Ingram, I Am Trenton;
- Adam E. Cruz, business administrator;
- Adela M. Ames-Lopez, director of health and human services;
- Maria Richardson, director of recreation, natural resources and culture;
- Wahab A. Onitiri, director of public works;
- Andre McNair, owner of Octobers Vintage in Trenton;
- Shereyl Snider, UrbanPromise Trenton.
“I’m honored to be appointed to this advisory committee and to serve as its chair,” Ross-Dulan said. “I look forward to working alongside some extremely well-respected individuals who want the best for the city of Trenton. My sincere thanks to Mayor Reed Gusciora for the confidence.”
The state of New Jersey will receive approximately $6.4 billion plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state. Each of the 21 county governments will split $1.8 billion, with another $1.7 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities. Trenton is due to receive $73.8 million of that aid, with the first half arriving within 60 days of the bill being signed into law. The other half will arrive within the next 12 months.
The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber is a membership organization committed to promoting business growth within the central New Jersey and Mercer County Region. With more than 8,000 individual chamber member contacts and more than 1,600 member companies, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber is one of the largest regional chambers in the state.
CEO Hal English said he is confident Ross-Dulan’s appointment will have impact.
“Brenda has been a vital leader within the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber as chairman of the board and we could not be more honored to have her serve on this crucial committee,” he said. “It will lead our region, our businesses and our members back on the path to prosperity as we continue to forge through this pandemic together.”
