NJ Grant Helps Livingston Center Empower People With Special Needs

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Want to see what well-spent state funding can do to uplift the community? Pay a visit to “LifeTown,” New Jersey Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill says.

Collazos-Gill recently rolled up her sleeves alongside several other state lawmakers for a day of service at LifeTown, a unique, nonprofit educational facility at 10 Microlab Road in Livingston.

A project of Friendship Circle, the 53,000 square foot education center simulates a real “town,” giving kids, teens and adults with special needs the chance to master independent living skills in a real-life setting – but without the pressure. Read More: Replica 'Main Street' In Livingston Empowers Special Needs Youth

Look to the left and you’ll see a replica bank situated next to a movie theater. Look to the right and you’ll find a grocery store, nestled among a landscape of traffic lights and sidewalks. And for all intents and purposes, there’s little difference between what you’d find outside on the streets of Livingston.

Take a virtual tour of the shops at LifeTown here.

During their visit, the legislators got the chance to engage with children and see the impact the center has on them firsthand (watch video footage here).

LifeTown received $500,000 in the state budget to subsidize visits for Title I school students, ensuring equitable access to immersive programs that foster life skills, independence and social engagement.

The allocation opens the doors of LifeTown to neurodiverse students from underserved communities, directly impacting 10,000 individuals from families living at or below the federal poverty level, the nonprofit said.

In 2024, LifeTown welcomed more than 35,000 visitors.

The funding effort saw support from Collazos-Gill and fellow Assembly members Rosy Bagolie, William Spearman, Shanique Speight and Angela McKnight, and Sen. John McKeon.

“When the state decides to invest in programs like this, this is actually an investment to not just the residents and the families, but also the economic development of our state,” Collazos-Gill said.

“LifeTown is an incredible center that provides a safe, inclusive and interactive space for individuals with special abilities to develop essential life skills in a supportive environment,” she added.

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As the mother of a child with special needs, Assemblywoman Bagolie said that when her young son needed a place to thrive during a difficult time, LifeTown welcomed him with open arms.

"I’m indebted to LifeTown because they embraced us and helped us," Bagolie said of her son’s experience at Allie’s Camp – a weeklong camp program held during school break.

"It’s not easy to find people who are willing to extend a hand – and do so with a loving heart," the assemblywoman enthused. "When I walk through the doors of LifeTown I feel like I’m hugged by community."

Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, CEO of LifeTown, said the grant money received from the state has been "transformative."

"This grant ensures that those without the resources or support — families with limited means and students from underfunded schools — are not left behind," Grossbaum said.

• See Related: Lifetown In Livingston Earns ‘Good Neighbor’ Award
• See Related: Simulated Town In Livingston Helps People With Disabilities Enjoy Holidays
• See Related: New Center Empowers Eager Bowlers At LifeTown In Livingston

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