NEWARK, NJ--Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development Stefan Pryor, East Ward Council Member Augusto Amador, Federal Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith Enck, and Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) Executive Director Joseph Della Fave, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura and other dignitaries announced the award of a federal $100,000 Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grant to the Ironbound Community Corporation to identify and address environmental health risks in the East Ward, during a press conference which was held at the River Bank Park Field House in Newark. River Bank Park is located between Raymond Boulevard and Market Street, and between Van Buren and Somme Streets.
Ironbound Community Corporation is a comprehensive social service provider located in the East Ward of Newark. The Ironbound, one of the most densely populated and diverse areas of the City, is home to more than 50,000 residents. In this area, 75 percent of those over the age of five speak a foreign language, typically Portuguese or Spanish. The wide variety of pollutants in the Ironbound - from both existing and former chemical plants, waste industries, and mobile sources like trucks, airplanes, and ships - require a comprehensive and innovative approach to decrease risks of exposure.
“This grant is going to be instrumental in improving the quality of life for Ironbound residents. I commend Mayor Booker, the City of Newark Office of Economic Development, and the Ironbound Community Corporation for this wonderful partnership,” said Council Member Amador. Sheriff Fontoura attended, to represent Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo.
For the CARE Project, ICC has brought together various stakeholders including residents, business and community group representatives, members of the academic and governmental sectors to help gather diverse sources of information about current and potential environmental problems. The CARE project will also take into account community experiences, socio-economic and public health data to better determine the community’s vulnerability to pollution exposure. The project will also investigate the cumulative impacts of these environmental burdens and work through a consensus process to prioritize issues that must be addressed moving forward. Ultimately, ICC and its CARE stakeholders will work with the public to draft strategies for reducing or mitigating impacts and secure commitments for action.
“Going Green” has been a major priority for the Booker Administration since it took office in 2006. Together with the residential and commercial sector, the City has made significant progress in greening its neighborhoods, homes and business. Hundreds of units of new energy efficient affordable housing are coming on line to ensure that residents can enjoy energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly homes. Newark is connecting residents to weatherization programs that can reduce utility bills and is connecting businesses to retrofit and job-training programs so they can participate in the clean energy economy.
In addition, the City has leveraged millions of dollars to reclaim brownfields and has marked the largest rehabilitation and renovation project of City parks in decades, opening the largest such municipally-owned facility, Nat Turner Park, in 2008. Led by stakeholder recommendations gathered from the 2007-2008 Newark's Green Future process, the City brought on its first Sustainability Officer. In March 2009, the City swore in its first-ever Environmental Commission.
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for communities to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment. Through CARE, a community creates partnerships that implement solutions to reduce exposure to toxic. By providing financial and technical assistance, EPA helps CARE communities develop renewed environments and CARE has been providing financial assistance to communities annually since 2005 and expects to award nearly $2 million in 2010.
City of Newark
www.ci.newark.nj.us
Comments, Pingbacks:
No Comments/Pingbacks for this post yet...
