Gloucester Twp. To Hold Public Hearing On CARES Act Funding

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township will host a public hearing next month on how it will distribute $679,000 in federal funding for those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and will take place sometime in December via Zoom, Township Administrator Tom Cardis said Monday night.

“We're looking to get that money out by January 1,” Cardis said during Monday night’s council meeting at the municipal building.

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It was previously announced that the township would receive a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $180,120 to help small businesses survive the pandemic. Read more here: $180K Grant To Help Gloucester Township Battle Coronavirus

Community Development Block Grants are used to help communities pay for infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, microenterprise assistance, code enforcement and homeowner assistance, among other purposes.

Gloucester Township will also receive $493,426 in funding to hold down the rate of evictions in the township. The money can be used to provide temporary financial assistance to meet rental obligations for up to 6 months. The township has not yet received this portion of the funding, officials said. Read more here: Gloucester Twp. To Get $493K To Hold Down Evictions Amid Pandemic

The funding is all being made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Cardis made the statement about the public hearing in response to a question from resident Paul Krug, who was concerned about the township making availability of the funding known to those who need it and are eligible.

“People are starting to hit a wall of desperation, and getting this money out the door can’t be caught up in any way,” Krug said. “Properly creating a strategy to let people know about this lifeline is of the utmost importance.”

Krug cited the troubles that led Shana’s Wild Fig to close its brick-and-mortar business in Blackwood as an example of small businesses needing help. Cardis said the township is working on a strategy to get the information out to the public. Read more here: Gloucester Township Woman’s Dreams Hit Hard By Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic continues to be a problem, as the county and the state experience a surge in cases. As of Tuesday, 1,454 Gloucester Township residents had been diagnosed with the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Twenty new cases were identified among Gloucester Township residents on Tuesday. They were among the 261 new cases countywide, which is the highest number of new cases in Camden County in one day since the pandemic began.

There were seven new deaths countywide, bringing the Camden County totals to 14,263 cases and 588 confirmed deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Trace investigations are underway in all new cases.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as with everyone who is currently battling this disease,” Camden County Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “This is the largest single day total we have ever experienced in Camden County, and unfortunately, we have not seen any sign of slowing case growth since this surge began in the early days of October. Just because our state’s economy remains open does not mean that we can operate under a ‘business as usual’ mentality. Please minimize your contact with others to the greatest extent possible, wear a mask when you leave your home, and avoid indoor gatherings with friends and family. We will get through this, but we have to take action to flatten the curve before it is too late.”