Members of the Greenville Community Partnership (GCP) have reason to celebrate today after finding out their neighborhood plan entitled, “I Love Greenville Community Plan” has received $100,000 courtesy of Horizon Healthcare Services through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (NJDCA) Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) Program. Last October, GCP’s neighborhood plan was approved by NJDCA to participate in the NRTC program. Funds are being administered by Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation (GSECDC), headquartered in Jersey City, to implement health and wellness programs for seniors, financial literacy and volunteer programs for youth, and to recruit Greenville entrepreneurs for business training courses to start local businesses. GSECDC will be partnering with local organizations, AngelaCARES and Rising Tide Capital to roll out these services.
GSECDC Executive Director, Carol Mori states, “GSECDC is proud to facilitate this process and commends all of the participants, particularly the residents and steering committee members, for their commitment to positive change in Greenville. Planning efforts like this command attention and funding and I sincerely thank Horizon Healthcare Services and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and all that support us in this effort.”
Over a 10-month period ending in December 2012, the Greenville Community Partnership brought together residents, business owners, local non-profits and other organizations to participate in extensive neighborhood planning process. During that time roughly 500 attended five public meetings and over 350 surveys were conducted door-to-door. The planning area stretches from Woodlawn Ave to Union St between Bergen Ave and Ocean Ave.
GCP Coordinator and Assistant Project Manager for GSECDC, Matt Ward says, “Implementation will not be easy. The challenges facing the Greenville Neighborhood did not develop overnight and they will not be resolved overnight. But by working together, bringing a unified voice to the needs of the community, the goals of the community can be realized.”
BACKGROUND: To date, GSECDC has completed the development of 240 units of affordable housing over 90 scattered sites, mostly in Greenville. Started in December 2011, the Greenville Community Plan is the agency’s first foray in the community organizing. The Greenville Community Partnership has over 15 steering committee members that include residents, churches, businesses and representatives from AngelaCARES Inc, College Preparatory Incentive, Friends of Lifers Youth Corp, Jackson Hill Main Street Management Corp, North Jersey National Action Network, Rising Tide Capital, Urban League of Hudson County and others. More information about the plan and its participants available at:
