FREEHOLDER PRESIDENT BRENDAN W. GILL, VICE PRESIDENT WAYNE RICHARDSON AND THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS APPROVE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANTS (CSBG) TO EAST ORANGE AND IRVINGTON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

(Bloomfield, NJ) – On April 10, 2019, Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill, Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson, and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders voted unanimously to approve two resolutions that will channel $88,500 and $58,500 to the East Orange Community Development Corporation (EOCDC) and the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (INIC) respectively.

These funds were provided through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program which allocates funds to assist in providing emergency services and various programs to low income communities throughout Essex County. The monies awarded to East Orange and Irvington will be used by the previously mentioned development corporations on programs ranging from Youth After-School Programs and Housing Counseling to Case Management for Emergent Needs, Independent Living Support Services, and Food Bank programs.

After the vote, Gill stated, “As President of the Board of Freeholders, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of working with community organizations throughout Essex County to ensure that funding is directed properly and has an effective impact on the lives of our residents.”

Gill has served on the Freeholder board since January 2012. He continued, “This first round of funding represents 15% of the CSBG funding allocated for Essex County in fiscal year 2019. We will continue to ensure that these funds reach the organizations and communities that need them the most.”

Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson was also pleased with the outcome of the vote. “The CSBG program has done a tremendous job of providing funds to local organizations, which carry out the job of making sure specific needs of the community are met.”

Freeholder Richardson also expressed his appreciation for the experience the EOCDC and the INIC have in administering various programs that help the community. He continued, “The East Orange Community Development Corporation and the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corporation provided detailed documentation of the processes that they will use to help the residents of their respective communities. As county legislators, we are more than happy to do our part assisting local organizations with this process.”

Brendan Gill has served as the President of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders since January 2018. He is in the second year of a three year term as an At-Large Freeholder.

Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson has served as the Vice President of the Board of Chosen Freeholders since January 2018. He is in the second year of his second three-year term as the Freeholder representing District 2, which is comprised of sections of Newark, Irvington, and Maplewood.

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