Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leadership agreed Friday to allocate nearly $700 million to stimulate economic growth and improve public health.
The funding will allocate $435 million from the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund and $262.6 million from the American Rescue Plan’s State Fiscal Recovery Fund.
The proposals were sent from the Department of the Treasury to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee for their approval, which is expected.
“This proposal will allow us to responsibly fund capital construction and continue using federal dollars for one-time, transformative investments in our residents, communities and infrastructure,” Murphy said.
The following are the proposed capital construction projects to be supported by the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund:
- New Jersey Wind Port and Related Port Infrastructure ($345 million): Funds for the Wind Port and related projects will be used by the Economic Development Authority, the Department of Transportation and the South Jersey Port Corp.
- Rowan University School of Veterinary Medicine/Cooper Medical School ($90 million): To support school.
The following are the 13 proposed projects to be supported by the American Rescue Plan’s State Fiscal Recovery Fund:
- Hackensack University Medical Center ($100 million): To support Hackensack University Medical Center, which was verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center this fall, in its efforts to strengthen regional health emergency preparedness infrastructure. HUMC will be required to submit a preparedness improvement plan subject to the conditions listed for the other Level 1 Trauma Centers.
- Supply Chain Disruption Funding ($40 million): To establish a program run through the Department of Community Affairs and the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to fill COVID-induced funding gaps in already underwritten and in-process affordable housing and community development projects.
- Eviction Prevention Program Implementation ($37.5 million): To provide targeted support for individuals most in need of help with applications, and for temporary staff to assess eligibility and determine and disburse assistance payments, in addition to other tasks critical for program success.
- Greenway Acquisition ($25 million): To support the state’s efforts to purchase this transportation corridor in Essex and Hudson counties. These funds will supplement moneys from the Green Acres State Land Acquisition program.
- Inspira Health ($20 million): Going to support Inspira Health’s proposed acquisition of the Salem Medical Center, which will enhance emergency preparedness and pandemic preparation for this community.
- Commuter Hub COVID-Impacted Redevelopment Program ($10 million): To assist retail and pedestrian activity in urban areas with mass transit that have faced economic harm from the reduction in commuters due to the pandemic. This program would split funds between the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the Economic Development Authority for two targeted initiatives.
- Pennsauken Community Center ($10 million): To help construct a new community center in Pennsauken Township, which will be used to facilitate access to social services and mitigate the impacts of the public health emergency on education and childhood welfare.
- RWJBarnabas Health ($5 million): To help RWJBH and Rutgers University Behavioral Health with programming related to addressing increased behavioral health needs due to the pandemic.
- Wally Choice Community Center ($5 million): To support the pandemic-related efforts (including educational and social services) of this facility in Glenfield Park.
- Business Marketing Initiatives ($5 million): To help the state expand the implementation of a marketing program to highlight the benefits of doing business in New Jersey as the state works to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
- Atlantic Health ($3 million): To help modernize and renovate the emergency department at the Morristown Medical Center, which will make the facility better able to address the current pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.
- Alexander Hamilton Visitor and Education Center at the Great Falls of the Passaic River ($2 million): To support eligible costs for this tourism-related project at the National Historical Park in the city of Paterson.
- Vernon Township ($100,000): To support the township’s public health efforts related to environmental remediation.
