West Deptford To Receive $176K In Coronavirus Funding From NJ

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — West Deptford will receive $176,062 in coronavirus relief funding to cover necessary and unexpected expenses brought on by the pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Friday.

It is part of $60 million that New Jersey counties and municipalities who were excluded from federal funding will receive from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for the Local Government Emergency Fund, Murphy said.

Gloucester County will receive $4,858,821. See related: 11 NJ Counties Backslide In Coronavirus Crisis: Here's Where

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The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is also providing up to $10 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to support the state’s County Boards of Social Services with pandemic-related expenses.

These expenses include technology to adapt to remote work, expanding to meet growing demand, and supplies and materials to meet COVID-19 health and safety standards.

“Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief,” Murphy said. “We know these funds will be a welcome lifeline of support for essential government services and New Jersey’s taxpayers.”

Murphy made the announcement in Evesham Township alongside Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1), as well as state and local officials.

“The CARES Act has delivered critical federal resources to our state, and distributing this CRF funding to those county and local governments who have yet to receive relief will have a profound impact,” Norcross said. “These resources will provide our local governments with the vital funding needed to help cover unexpected costs from the pandemic and keep our first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job. I’ll continue to fight for New Jersey in Congress to ensure our communities get the tools and supplies we need to combat this outbreak and keep residents healthy and secure.”

“This CRF funding is going to make a world of difference for short- and long-term municipal recovery efforts,” Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), said. “DCA will work to distribute this relief funding equitably and fairly to our communities as we rebuild the State’s economy. No one will be left behind.”

Funding will help local governments pay for public safety and health-related expenses, coronavirus-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the coronavirus response and recovery, and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening.

The Local Government Emergency Fund allocation formula uses a variety of relevant metrics, including the municipal COVID-19 infection rate, fiscal stress, the Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI), population, and public safety and health and human services expenditures share of the budget to determine the amount of funds counties and municipalities receive.

Funds awarded may not be used for government revenue replacement, including the provision of assistance to meet tax obligations. Only expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020, are covered by this funding.