Seaside boardwalk fire: Christie pledges grants, loans and aid to businesses and towns

Seaside boardwalk fire: Christie pledges grants, loans and aid to businesses and towns (via NJ.com)

SEASIDE PARK — Business and community leaders emerged from a private meeting with Gov. Chris Christie this afternoon relieved and impressed as the state announced it would offer $50,000 grants and $5 million in no-interest loans to each business owner…

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Christie Administration Announces Federal Supplemental Social Services Block Grant To Assist Superstorm Sandy Victims

Funds Will Reinforce Social Services Programs and Continue to Assist New Jerseyans’ Personal Recovery Efforts

Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration today announced that it received authorization to spend $209 million of a supplemental social services block grant (SSBG) from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families on services provided to victims of Superstorm Sandy. The funding is allocated to the Department of Human Services (DHS) and shared with the Departments of Health (DOH) and Children and Families (DCF) for eligible expenditures.

“The physical rebuilding of structures and the removal of debris are just one part of New Jersey’s efforts to recover from Superstorm Sandy,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Another stage of that recovery is the healing process, which many of our impacted residents have been undergoing over the last eight months through social services programs available to them. New Jersey will use these grant funds to reinforce our social services infrastructure so that we can continue to support Sandy survivors’ ongoing personal recovery efforts.”

The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act provided about $500 million to five states for expenses related to recovery and rebuilding. New Jersey received almost half of the total allotment. SSBG funds are designed to address necessary expenses resulting from Superstorm Sandy, including social, health, and behavioral health services, as well as the repair, renovation and rebuilding of health care, child care and other social services facilities.

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Christie Administration Announces Launch of “reNew Jersey Stronger” Housing Assistance Initiative

$780 Million Available for Homeowners Impacted by Superstorm Sandy

Trenton, NJ – Marking a major step forward in the recovery from Superstorm Sandy, the Christie Administration today launched the reNew Jersey Stronger housing assistance initiative to assist homeowners impacted by the storm. Beginning today, eligible homeowners can apply for grant assistance at www.renewjerseystronger.org or by calling 1-855-SANDYHM (1-855-726-3946).

The grants are designed to encourage homeowners to resettle in their primary residences and help them reconstruct, rehabilitate, elevate and mitigate their homes.

“We are working incredibly hard to get money out to Sandy-impacted individuals as quickly as possible, and today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to this mission,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Sandy may have damaged homes in New Jersey, but it did not destroy New Jerseyans’ spirits. With the help of initiatives such as reNew Jersey Stronger housing grants, we will be back, stronger than ever.”

Today’s launch of the housing assistance programs comes less than a month after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved New Jersey’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Action Plan. The Action Plan details how the State will utilize $1,829,520,000 in federal funding to help homeowners, renters, businesses and communities impacted by Superstorm Sandy. The reNew Jersey Stronger housing assistance initiative will utilize $780 million of the allocation.

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Christie Ads Define Buono As Corzine’s Tax Raising Partner

State Senator Barbara Buono, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, continues to lag terribly in name recognition in various independent polls that show her losing the November general election to Governor Chris Christie by over thirty points.

Worse for ‘Dawn Quixote’ Buono, as she was dubbed by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, she can’t raise the money needed to increase her name ID and message. Numerous media reports indicate that Buono will likely be the first major party nominee not to qualify for the maximum in New Jersey’s state matching fund program for gubernatorial candidates.

Christie, who has opted out of the state matching fund program for the primary, is spending $850,000 of the $6+million he has raised to boost Buono’s name ID and define her by her record of voting to raise taxes 154 times and as former Governor Jon Corzine’s budget chair.

The $850,000 will be spent on a 30 second TV commercial and a 1 minute radio ad.

UPDATE via Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray’s twitter feed:

Buono camp responds to Christie attack ad with very, very long email about how she was not “Corzine” budget chair. Plus sundry other facts.

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Feds Approve New Jersey’s $1.83 Billion Community Development Block Grant Program For Sandy Recovery

Only those residents and business who have registered with FEMA by 11:59pm on May 1 will be eligible for CDB grants

Gov Chris Christie and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announce $1.83 billion in federal grant money for New Jersey’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy at Bahrs Landing, Highlands, 4/29/13. photo by Art Gallagher

U.S . Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan joined Governor Chris Christie at Bahrs Landing in Highlands this morning to announce that the Obama Administration has approved New Jersey’s application for $1.83 billion in grant funds to assist businesses and homeowners from the 9 counties catastrophically impacted by Superstorm Sandy in rebuilding to a “new normal.”

“Today we take another important step toward recovery and healing for hard-hit communities in New Jersey,” said Donovan. “HUD has worked closely with Governor Christie, Senators Menendez and Lautenberg, and the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to help design effective programs that will help small businesses reopen, get families back in their homes make communities more resilient as quickly as possible. We have also imposed additional internal controls and accountability measures and we will be working with the Inspector General to ensure that all funds are used as intended – to help families, small businesses and communities get back on their feet and rebuild.”

“Today’s news sends a very powerful message that New Jersey is moving forward and that the Jersey Shore will be open for business this summer,” said Governor Chris Christie. “These funds will provide critical resources to our Sandy-impacted homeowners and businesses to reconstruct, rehabilitate and continue down the road of recovery. While there is much work ahead of us, we have come a long way during these last six months, and I want to thank Secretary Donovan and his team for their tireless efforts as we all work together to rebuild our great state.”

Christie and Donovan said that the CDB grants will assist homeowners and businesses who have received all that is available from FEMA and their insurance companies, yet have fallen short in the funds needed to rebuild. Donovan emphasized that funds are available in the program for renters and the rebuilding of rental housing.

Only those residents and business who have registered with FEMA by 11:59 on May 1 will be eligible for CDB grants, Christie said.

Anyone who has not yet registered with FEMA should do so immediately by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by visiting FEMA’s website at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

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Mainstream Media To Give The Jersey Shore A Needed Boost

We often complain about the leftist slant of the mainstream media here at MMM.  However, now is a time for those of us who live and do business at the Jersey Shore to say thank you in advance, and least to Comcast’s NBC properties.

NBC’s Today Show is broadcasting from Highlands on Saturday morning (Hint for Greg, put that on the list.) and 300 Comcast and Sherman Williams employees will volunteer to help Highlands business and homeowners rebuild their properties.

On Monday the 29th, MSNBC’s Morning Joe will broadcast from the Fifth Avenue Pavilion in Asbury Park, according to a report on Asbury Pulp.

When Governor Christie met with Jersey Shore business owners in Long Branch last week, they told him that one of their biggest challenges was in dealing with the widespread perception that the Shore is closed.  People remember the scenes of destruction that were all over the news in November and haven’t seen news of the progress we’ve made in rebuilding. Christie told the business people that a state funded advertising campaign is coming.  Unless that campaign features Christie shouting into the camera, “Get the hell onto our beaches ©  ,” the kind of ‘free media’ attention the Jersey Shore will get from Today and Morning Joe will make a much larger impact to the perception that the Jersey Shore is closed than an advertising campaign.

It’s not just a problem of attracting ‘bennies’ to come back with their money.  A few weeks back, a local elected official called me to ask for a recommendation for a Highlands restaurant on the water to hold an event.  For years his group gathered at Bahrs.  Where can he go on the water now that Bahrs is closed?  “Bahrs Landing is Still Standing“, I told my friend.

This kind of news coverage does not happen by accident.  I’d bet Christie’s team had something to do with it happening.   I wouldn’t be surprised to see him appear on his two favorite morning shows.  I’d love to see him in Highlands on Saturday morning, but I would guess he’s more likely to hang with Mika and Joe on Monday.  Maybe he will bring his bff Bruce with him.

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Christie Town Hall in Manasquan on Thrusday

Photo credit: RedBankGreen.com

Governor Chris Christie will hold a Town Hall Meeting in Manasquan on Thursday, March 21 at 4pm.  Doors open at 3:15pm.

The event is being held at the Manasquan High School Gymnasium, 167 Broad Street, Manasquan 08736.

The Town Hall is open to the public.  Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

For planning purposes, the Governor’s office requests that you RSVP here.

The following video is from Christie’s meeting with seniors in Lakewood this morning:

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Taking Action To Distribute The Necessary Resources For The Rebuilding Process

What New  Jersey Residents Need To Know About The Christie Administration’s  Proposed First Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action  Plan

“This    plan puts into motion the specific actions we’ve been designing to    get relief out as quickly as possible to our Sandy-impacted homeowners and    businesses – to reconstruct, rehabilitate and elevate homes, and to    get over hurdles for our small businesses to get up and running again.    These programs have been carefully, but quickly designed to fill the unmet    needs faced by our residents to rebuild in a safer, more enduring way, to    strengthen our impacted local economies going into this summer, and to help    preserve the unique character of our shore communities as we’ve known    them.  With this first round of funding, we will also begin an    aggressive marketing effort to let people both in the region and across the    country know that New Jersey is rebounding and that the Jersey Shore will    be open for business this summer.”

–    Governor Chris Christie

The  Christie Administration today unveiled its proposed Community Development  Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan, which outlines how the State plans  to utilize $1,829,520,000 in federal funding. This is the first phase of  Community Development Block Grant funds provided to New Jersey by the U.S.  Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additional CDBG recovery funds  are expected in the coming months. With this first phase of funding, the  Christie Administration is focusing primarily on helping homeowners, renters,  businesses and communities impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

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AshBritt CEO Deflates Buono’s Hopes Of Making Clean Up A Campaign Issue

Trenton Democrats’ continuing quest to turn Governor Christie’s strongest issue against him suffered a set back yesterday when AshBritt CEO Randall Perkins won over Democratic members of a Joint Legislative Oversight Committee and flummoxed presumed gubernatorial nominee Barbara Buono by calling her on the political motivation of her questioning.

Facing four hours of questioning by the bi-partisan committee chaired by Senator Bob Gordon (D-Bergen), Perkins frequently praised the legislators for exercising their oversight duties, while combatively swatting back Democratic allegations of impropriety disguised as questions.

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Governor Christie Announces 30 Day Extension Of Deadline To Register For Sandy Assistance

New April 1 Deadline Allows Additional Time for Residents to Register for FEMA Assistance 

Trenton, NJ –The Christie Administration announced today that New Jersey residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy now have until April 1, 2013 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance, another important step in the disaster relief process to ensure survivors obtain all relief they are eligible for.

“This 30-day extension will help us ensure that anyone who has been affected by Sandy gets the help they need and deserve,” said Governor Christie. “It’s vitally important for people to know that the process of receiving any type of federal disaster assistance – including future grant assistance for homeowners and businesses – begins with registering as a disaster survivor with FEMA and working with a coordinator to determine eligibility for relief. I encourage those who have not yet registered with FEMA and SBA to do so now to get the relief they are entitled to and to ensure their eligibility for any future relief we can offer.”

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