Gateway Community Action Partnership announced recently it has received a $1 million grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation to support revitalization initiatives in Bridgeton.
The grant, which will be dispersed over five years, will provide key community enhancements to Bridgeton’s Southeast Gateway neighborhood.
“The Wells Fargo Regional Foundation is excited to continue our decade-long partnership with Gateway Community Action Agency and the residents of Southeast Gateway neighborhood. With this grant, we continue to build upon the work outlined by the residents and add new partners to the initiative. We know great things are in store for this neighborhood,” Lois Greco, senior vice president and senior program officer of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, said.
The project is a collaboration between Gateway CAP, United Advocacy Group and the Cumberland Empowerment zone.
“Gateway has a long history of working with the residents in the Southeast Gateway Neighborhood. We look forward to continuing the work in a more collaborative and comprehensive fashion. Our partners are, also not new to SEG Neighborhood. In fact, each organization bring a unique perspective and vast resources that would enhance and accelerate the revitalization efforts,” Edward Bethea, executive vice president, chief operating officer and project administrator, said.
The resident-driven revitalization plan established three goals: To enhance public safety, to advance community and economic development and to ensure creativity and sustainability.
For each goal, projects will be created and implemented over the next five years, including installing new street lights, repaving local roads, and new housing and commercial development.
“At Gateway, we do more than dream of improving the lives of individuals and families in our community, we work with other organizations that share our vision to make those dreams come true,” Albert B. Kelly, CEO and president, Gateway CAP, said. “This step is a huge step in a dream becoming reality. It involved an entire community and like-minded organizations working together. Doing a lot of hard and necessary work to get us where we are at this point. Celebrating our collective success, but more importantly, celebrating our community promise becoming a reality.”
