County of Monmouth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 12, 2009

Nearly $11.7 in federal stimulus money
will be used to pave county roads, build bridge 
Funding adds to other stimulus money
 the county will be receiving  

FREEHOLD – Monmouth County stands to receive nearly $11.7 million in federal stimulus money for a variety of road and bridge projects throughout the county.

The money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 follows news that the county is eligible to receive $4.2 million in stimulus money for energy efficiency projects, $1.8 million for job training, $1.2 million for programs aimed at preventing homelessness and $100,000 to help defray the cost of preparing the countywide wastewater management plan.

“The county stands to benefit from President Obama’s economic stimulus package in many ways,” Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow said. “Not only are we getting stimulus money for a number of shovel-ready construction projects, but we will be better able to prevent homelessness, retrain workers and create jobs for projects that will benefit our environment.”

The construction projects break down this way:

  • $5,438,000 for the countywide road resurfacing project. Areas to be paved include four segments of Route 537: Monmouth Road in Millstone, Freehold Township and Manalapan; Colts Neck Road in Freehold, Freehold Township and Colts Neck; three segments of Route 520: Newman Springs Road in Marlboro, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Middletown, Tinton Falls and Red Bank; and one segment of Route 547: Shafto Road in Tinton Falls; 
  • $3 million to upgrade electrical components in a number of traffic signals, including changing over to LED lights, adding battery backups and replacing poles and foundations where necessary;
  • $1.9 million toward the $4 million price tag to replace the Sweetman’s Lane bridge over Millhurst Pond in Manalapan and rehabilitation of the Millhurst dam; and
  • $1.3 million to stabilize weathered steel on the Oceanic Bridge linking Middletown and Rumson.

The county is also seeking an additional $70 million in federal stimulus money for a number of other projects, including intersection work at Routes 34 and 537 in Colts Neck; intersection work at Route 524 and Halls Mill Road in Freehold Township, and the widening of Route 66 in Neptune from Jumping Brook Road east to the Neptune Circle.

“We know we’re not going to receive the full $70 million requested,” County Engineer Joseph Ettore said. “If we just double our initial allotment of $11.7 million I would consider that to be significant.”

Money for the construction projects comes on the heels of other stimulus news. In May, the county learned it is eligible to receive $4,225,800 as part of $75.5 million in energy funding for New Jersey. This money is part of the Energy Efficiency Block Grants program created by the federal stimulus program for which Freeholder Deputy Director John D’Amico lobbied with other Local Climate Leaders in Washington earlier this year. The county will be using this money for solar energy installations, replacing incandescent traffic lights with energy efficient LED technology, replacement of old and inefficient boilers and chillers, and to conduct building energy audits.

Of the $100,000, 20 percent or $20,000 must be spent on “green infrastructure” planning activities centered on energy or water efficiency improvements. Water efficiency improvements may include identifying opportunities for beneficial reuse of reclaimed water, opportunities to retrofit existing storm water infrastructure to promote groundwater recharge, or areas where advanced onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems can be employed to address existing failing on-site systems.

“Clearly, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is benefiting Monmouth County in a number of tangible ways,” D’Amico said. “The county looks forward to putting it to good use by putting people to work on these shovel-ready projects. Money for energy efficiency will benefit the environmental landscape in Monmouth County for years to come.”

In March, word came that the county would receive $1.2 million from the economic stimulus package for the prevention of homelessness in the county. The money will be dispersed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the emergency shelter grants program. Exact use of the funds is still to be determined.

“Our nonprofits are struggling to raise money at a time when their assistance is needed most,” said Amy A. Mallet, liaison to the county’s Department of Human Services. “In Monmouth County, where despite our relative affluence, we have a great many people who struggle on a daily basis just to get by. That situation is compounded by the economic downturn, placing additional pressure on our many nonprofit agencies that help prevent homelessness. This is all welcome news.” 

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