New Jersey receives additional $149M for Ida recovery

Matthew Fazelpoor//November 15, 2022//

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The New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs‘ (DCA) Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation announced Nov. 14 that the Garden State will receive an additional $149 million in federal funding for Hurricane Ida recovery.

The new round of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, combined with the $228 million awarded in May, brings the state’s total allocation for recovery from the 2021 storm to $377 million.

Gov. Phil Murphy commemorates the one-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Ida — In September, Gov. Phil Murphy highlighted statewide resiliency initiatives and commemorated the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida in Hillsborough. – OIT/OFFICE OF THE NJ GOVERNOR

“Successfully rebuilding our communities after devastating storms and natural disasters is a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal government,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement. “With this funding, more New Jersey residents impacted by Hurricane Ida will receive the support they need to rebuild their homes and communities will be able to recover and become more resilient to future storms.”

DCA is currently awaiting guidance from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, which must approve the state’s Hurricane Ida Action Plan before it can use of any of the first round of money. The plan, which was developed in consultation with numerous stakeholders – most notably, the public via a comment period – is currently under review by HUD, which has until the end of this month to either approve, deny or direct changes be made to the plan.

“The additional funding coming to New Jersey for Hurricane Ida recovery is critical for households and communities in the designated disaster impacted areas,” said Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who serves as DCA commissioner. “The state anticipates using this money to bolster and expand our existing Hurricane Ida Action Plan, which focuses on helping low-income and moderate-income homeowners rebuild, assisting tenant households with their rent, and investing in flood mitigation projects that create stronger, more resilient communities.”

DCA is also awaiting guidance for this newly announced round of funding on the allowable uses and the process that must be followed; that is expected to be issued before the end of the year.