FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 13, 2015

Christie Administration Awards Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Grants in Mercer County

Grants Totaling $985,500 Enables Nonprofit to Perform Activities to Benefit Neighborhood Residents


 

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III today announced a $985,000 grant award through the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program to Isles, Inc. located in Trenton. Since the creation of the NRTC program, 31 corporations have contributed $78,081,000 to fund 29 neighborhood revitalization plans in 15 urban municipalities throughout the state.

"The Christie Administration continues to support the NRTC program which encourages new housing options and economic development opportunities for small businesses in New Jersey’s urban neighborhoods," said Commissioner Constable. "This program continues to have positive impacts in New Jersey and has allowed the state to work with local organizations to foster revitalization in communities throughout Mercer County. We will continue to invest in innovative programs such as this that will support New Jersey’s working families, seniors, and children."

Isles Inc. was awarded $985,000 for activities associated with its Trenton Historic Development Collaborative in Trenton’s West Ward. The funds will help to target the hiring and training of unemployed and underemployed people to carry out important neighborhood revitalization tasks, such as the clean-up and maintenance of unsightly vacant lots and distressed neighborhood parks. The grant will also ensure that neighborhood buildings that are vacant will be cleaned, secured and artistically boarded-up. Vacant neighborhood buildings will also be demolished. Additionally, NRTC funds will enable Isles to develop and carry out programs and activities to increase recreation opportunities. Another effort associated with the Trenton Historic Development Collaborative, will be the Mercer Street Friends Purposeful Education Project, intended to educate and empower young parents to better care for themselves and their families.  

Other communities that have benefited from the NRTC program this year include Salem City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Perth Amboy, Camden, Asbury Park, Newark, Orange and New Brunswick.

Funds for Isles Inc. were contributed by NJM Insurance Group.  Isles, Inc. has had an approved NRTC plan since 2013, for the Trenton Historic Development Collaborative (West Ward) neighborhood of Trenton.

Companies that fund the program receive a 100 percent tax credit against various state taxes for their investments in revitalizing low-and moderate-income neighborhoods in eligible cities.

Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc. is a community development and environmental organization based in Trenton, New Jersey. With a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities, we design and develop effective services that support this mission and share what we learn with others who can make a difference. Additional information on Isles Inc. can be found at http://www.isles.org/.

The NRTC program is administered by the Division of Housing and Community Resources and provides community based non-profit groups with corporate funding for implementing neighborhood revitalization plans.  The nonprofit organizations agree to allot at least 60 percent of the funds to housing and/or economic development activities.  The remainder may be used for complementary activities such as supportive services, improvements to streetscape and public open space, and community outreach activities.  NRTC has approved 96 grants to date to implement these neighborhood plans totaling $77 million in funding.

More information on the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program, visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/nrtc.html.

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty
(609) 292-6055