Middletown Will Receive $400K In CARES Act Funding

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown is one of many municipalities across New Jersey that will walk away with an unexpected chunk of federal funding thanks to the CARES Act, signed into law by President Trump in March in response to the coronavirus economic downturn.

Middletown will receive $403,433 in CARES Act funding, and Monmouth County will receive its own separate $4 million, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) announced last week. Pallone represents the Bayshore area in Congress, which includes the northern part of Middletown.

The funding is allocated through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD's) Community Development Block Grant Program.

The allocation focuses funds towards places with households facing higher risk of eviction.

“The Trump Administration has maintained that no one should risk losing their home due to the coronavirus,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

Congress has so far passed three aid packages in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. government has spent an estimated $2.58 trillion on coronavirus. The CARES Act alone was $1.8 trillion, the largest stimulus package in U.S. history.

Other nearby towns that received unexpected CARES Act funding include Asbury Park ($292,337), Edison ($884,324), Long Branch ($374,654), New Brunswick ($768,861), Perth Amboy ($583,908), Sayreville ($356,218) and Woodbridge ($805,562), all towns Pallone represents in Washington.

"The funding is through the community block development program, so the towns have a lot of leeway in how they use the money," said a spokeswoman for Pallone. "Usually the money is used for affordable housing, public services or infrastructure, but it’s up to the towns to decide. Since this allocation is through the CARES Act, the funding is meant to be spent on preventing, preparing for and responding to the pandemic."

Tony Mercantante, Middletown's business administrator, said this was the first he'd heard of Middletown receiving the funding. Spokespeople for Woodbridge and Long Branch said the same.

However, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone seemed aware the county was receiving the funds, and said:

"On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, I am excited about this development and currently awaiting confirmation from HUD about the additional $4,061,870 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for COVID-19 assistance."

This new $4 million for Monmouth County is in addition to the $1.5 million in federal CARES Act money Monmouth County received earlier this year.

According to Arnone, Monmouth County will use the money to further develop its CDBG small business and non-profit assistance program, funded with the first $1.5 million Monmouth County was already given.

Monmouth County is looking to help small businesses in low- and moderate-income areas keep employees, particularly low- and moderate-wage employees.

Businesses in Long Branch, Middletown and Asbury Park were at first not eligible.

But now —

"With this additional money, the county can now explore the possibility of creating new Community Development Block Grant programs," said Arnone. "Funding will be available to small businesses in low and moderate income areas as defined by HUD. Funds can be used to reimburse eligible COVID-related expenses."

Middlesex County will receive $2.6 million from the Act. If you are a small business and need help, learn more here: www.monmouthcountycares.com