Lautenberg, Menendez Announce $100,000 to Support
Economic Development in Southern New Jersey
Grant to Set Framework for Job Creation, Capital Investment Throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $100,000 grant to the South Jersey Economic Development District.  The federal funds will be used to plan and implement a strategy to encourage economic development throughout the state’s southern counties.

“These funds will help to ensure that southern New Jersey enjoys economic productivity for years to come,” said Sen. Lautenberg.  “By creating jobs and offering new opportunities for growth, this grant will help South Jersey remain a vibrant economic engine for our state and the entire region.”

“It is critical to invest in Garden State projects like these with the purpose of developing strategies to create new jobs and to strengthen the economy of our state,” said Menendez.  “I am delighted to announce these funds with my colleague Sen. Lautenberg as we continue to work in Congress to help New Jerseyans in these hard economic times.”

The South Jersey Economic Development District, located in Millville, will use the $100,000 in federal funds to design a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) to serve Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties.

This grant, awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, comes on the heels of $2 million invested earlier this year by the EDA in a program managed jointly by the South Jersey Economic Development District and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The CEDS will encourage cooperation between public and private entities with the goal of creating new employment and strengthening the regional economy.

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