The New Jersey Economic Development Authority approved more than $29 million in tax credits through the Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion Program for the New Jersey Symphony. Announced May 14, the funds will help establish a new permanent home at the Symphony Center in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District.

The CAFE Program is designed to support the construction and renovation of cultural arts facilities around New Jersey while helping revitalize downtowns and expand public access to the arts. The project at 151 Bay St. will create a dedicated performance and administrative headquarters featuring a 550-seat concert hall, rehearsal and production space, and classrooms for year-round arts education and community programming.

Officials said the project is designed to expand free and low-cost arts access, support neighborhood revitalization and strengthen Hudson County‘s cultural infrastructure.

The center is expected to host more than 100 public performances annually, including orchestral concerts, jazz, film, spoken word and multimedia productions, while also serving as a hub for workshops, afterschool programming, civic events and artist residencies.

A symphony first

The Symphony Center will become the first fully managed facility operated by the New Jersey Symphony. The orchestra was founded in 1922 and reaches more than 140,000 people annually through performances and education programs in over 100 communities statewide. Officials said the project will allow the symphony to expand its presence in Hudson County while continuing programming across New Jersey.

“New Jersey’s booming arts and culture sector continues to create impactful economic opportunities, enhancing quality of life in local communities and supporting high-quality jobs across the state,” said Evan Weiss, CEO of the NJEDA. “The NJEDA is committed to supporting cultural institutions like New Jersey Symphony as it expands artistic offerings and educational initiatives, cultivating new generations of artists and catalyzing neighborhood vitality.”

Terry Loftis, president and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony, called the expansion “a transformative moment” for the region.

“This expansion continues our deep commitment to Newark and other communities throughout New Jersey, where our mainstage concerts, community events, and education programs impact the lives of thousands each year,” Loftis added.

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon described the New Jersey Symphony’s choosing Jersey City as its permanent home as a “significant moment for our city and the entire region.”