Today, representatives from the City of Camden, New Jersey
American Water, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, Saint Joseph’s
Carpenter Society, community partners and Camden residents gathered
for the announcement of a $985,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Tax
Credit (NRTC) grant from New Jersey American Water to fund
revitalization efforts in the Cramer Hill neighborhood in
Camden.
“Today’s announcement marks not only another significant
investment in Camden by New Jersey American Water, but
the realization of years of planning by the residents of the Cramer
Hill neighborhood,” said Camden Mayor Francisco “Frank” Moran. “The
development of the Cramer Hill NOW! Plan was very much a
community-driven process. It’s wonderful to see this investment’s
direct benefit to our residents in the form of enhanced open
spaces, improved housing and upgrades to the City’s aging
infrastructure. I am confident in all of the partners
involved and certain these funds will be a catalyst for substantive
change throughout Cramer Hill.”
The NRTC program is designed to foster the revitalization of New
Jersey's distressed neighborhoods. NRTC funds are used by
neighborhood-based non-profit organizations that have prepared,
submitted and received approval from the New Jersey Department of
Community Affairs for a revitalization plan for the neighborhood it
serves. The funds must be used by the eligible organizations for
projects and activities that will implement the goals and
strategies of the approved neighborhood plan.
“The Department of Community Affairs’ Neighborhood
Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program has afforded New Jersey
communities the means to bring about neighborhood change over time,
which is the formula it takes to achieve significant
revitalization,” said Lieutenant Governor and DCA Commissioner
Sheila Y. Oliver. “Camden’s Cramer Hill neighborhood is being given
a great opportunity to build a stronger community while focusing on
the needs of their working families, seniors and children. I look
forward to celebrating the results of this exciting project and am
hopeful that these funds will help to improve the quality of life
for Camden residents while making it a safer and more vibrant place
to live.”
New Jersey American Water has successfully allocated tax credits
through the NRTC program since 2010. To date, New Jersey American
Water has contributed nearly $5.8 million to local community
projects through the program.
This year, New Jersey American Water selected the 2018
Revitalization Projects from the Cramer Hill NOW! Plan as the
benefactor of its NRTC grant funds. As a resident-driven blueprint
for the community, Cramer Hill NOW! outlines a vision to create a
social service network tailored specifically to the Cramer Hill
neighborhood. The NRTC grant funds will be used to mitigate
flooding, improve local parks, ensure residents are healthier and
more secure in their homes and help promote Cramer Hill as a
vibrant, safe neighborhood to live, work and play.
“The Cramer Hill NOW! Plan centers on needed improvements to
infrastructure, parks, housing, neighborhood and community spaces,
which aligns perfectly with our company’s overall corporate giving
and investment goals,” said Deborah Degillio, president of New
Jersey American Water. “The revitalization projects outlined in the
plan demonstrate the power of partnership and the positive change
that can occur when likeminded community organizations come
together for a common goal. We are proud to do our part to make
this Camden neighborhood a better place to live and work.”
New Jersey American Water is partnering with Cooper’s Ferry
Partnership, Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society and the Camden
Special Services District (CSSD) in order to complete the 2018
Cramer Hill Revitalization Projects.
“The 2018 Cramer Hill Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit
Projects are designed to re-energize the community by providing
innovative housing programs and much-needed infrastructure
improvements to benefit both current residents and generations to
come,” explained Kris Kolluri, President and CEO of Cooper’s Ferry
Partnership. “With these funds, we are able to address real issues
and needs, leveraging all available resources through our partners
to enact real change in Cramer Hill.”
New Jersey American Water’s support of the 2018 Cramer Hill
Revitalization Projects will benefit residents in the Cramer Hill
neighborhood in four distinct ways:
- Home repair grant program – providing
$5,000 in grants to homeowners making 100% or below the median
family income for health and safety repairs to necessary basic
systems in a home, including electrical, plumbing, weatherization,
heating/air conditioning and roofing.
- Flooding mitigation/park improvements –
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, in collaboration with the City of
Camden and Camden County have been working on the Von Nieda Park
Stormwater Management & Park Improvement project to increase
public access by eliminating flooding in the park, via structural
and non-structural methods, and to enhance recreational
opportunities. This grant will help fund Phase 3 of the project –
completing an additional phase of green and gray infrastructure and
park improvements to the portion of the park located east of River
Road in order to help mitigate flooding and further enhance
recreational amenities in the neighborhood.
- Green infrastructure – Camden SMART
(Stormwater Management And Resource Training) Initiative, a
community-driven movement to protect human health, improve
conditions for economic development, improve water quality, and
enhance the quality of life for Camden City, its residents, and the
Delaware River watershed through the broad use of green and grey
infrastructure techniques for stormwater management, have
constructed four green infrastructure components in Cramer Hill
that collectively manage more than 369,000 million gallons of
stormwater annually. In order for these green infrastructure
projects to properly function, they must be maintained on a regular
basis – NRTC funding would allow for the Camden Special Services
District to complete improvements and maintenance at the following
sites:
1. 29th Street Rain Gardens – 440 28th Street
& 2852 Tyler Avenue2. 20th Street Community Garden & Rain
Garden – N. 20th Street, near River Road3. Von Nieda Park Rain
Garden – Reeves & Pierce Avenue
- Vacant housing rehabilitation – Saint
Joseph’s Carpenter Society will transform four vacant, abandoned
and blighted properties located in the Cramer Hill neighborhood
into beautiful homeownership opportunities for four families.
“Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society looks forward to working with
community members on a resident-driven approach to preserving and
enhancing the existing housing stock in Cramer Hill. In partnership
with Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, New Jersey American Water and the
City of Camden, repairing and reclaiming homes embodies the
importance of families to the future of Cramer Hill,” said Pilar
Hogan Closkey, Executive Director of Saint Joseph’s Carpenter
Society.
For more information about the many ways New Jersey American
Water gives back to the communities they serve, visit
https://amwater.com/njaw/news-community/community-involvement.
About New Jersey American
Water:
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is
the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing
high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 2.7 million people. More information can be found at
www.newjerseyamwater.com. With a history dating back to 1886,
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically
diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company.
The company employs 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide
regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other
related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and
Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting
www.amwater.com.
About Cooper’s Ferry
Partnership:
For the over 30 years, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership (CFP) has been
facilitating the revival of the City of Camden by creating an
environment where people choose to live, work, visit, study and
invest. CFP develops visionary, long-range plans for the
redevelopment of Camden’s waterfronts and neighborhoods and works
with private sector, government and community partners to make
these plans a reality. Through all its work, CFP is committed to
engaging the community of the City of Camden. Utilizing strategic
planning techniques through coordination with neighborhood groups
and individuals, CFP ensures that the Camden community voices their
opinions, wants, and needs concerning projects. Citizens are
engaged in all project development processes through such
activities as community meetings and visioning efforts.
About Saint Joseph’s Carpenter
Society:
Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society strives to improve the quality
of life of the people of the City of Camden and its surrounding
communities by promoting affordable housing and neighborhood
development. Through our initiatives, we encourage people to take
charge of their lives and become active community members. To that
end, Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society is regionally recognized as a
leader in Camden’s revitalization. Our efforts, both in housing and
neighborhood development have resulted in increased property values
within a stable, mixed-income neighborhood. Strategic partnerships
have helped us expand educational and employment opportunities,
grow Camden’s housing market, improve public safety, strengthen
commercial activity and raise the aesthetic appeal of the
neighborhood. Visit www.sjcscamden.org for more information.
About Camden Special Services District
(CSSD):
Camden Special Services District (CSSD) began providing Clean
and Safe services in downtown Camden more than a decade ago. Since
then the program has grown into a far-reaching improvement
mechanism, creating and maintaining inviting public spaces in the
downtown, waterfront, commercial and gateway corridors, parks and
neighborhoods. Whether tasked with removing trash, clearing away
graffiti or providing landscape maintenance, the CSSD helps keep
the city bright, tidy and attractive. Noted-and nicknamed for-
their yellow jackets, CSSD Ambassadors, all Camden residents, also
offer hospitality and reliable customer service to those needing
guidance or assistance. By forming effective partnerships with
local government, key institution, businesses and stakeholders and
providing first-rate services, the CSSD creates a safe and
welcoming environment, which is critical to the city’s continued
success.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180716005871/en/
New Jersey American WaterDenise Venuti FreeDirector of
Communications and External
Affairs856-782-2316denise.free@amwater.comwww.newjerseyamwater.com
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