A top Christie Administration official told the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Agency (FMERA) that they had no choice but to allocate 14 2 story living units in the Suneagles Golf Course area of the fort, located in Eatontown, for use as quarantine housing for travelers returning from West Africa who may have been exposed to Ebola, according to an official familiar with the situation who asked not to be named in this story.
Bruce Steadman, Executive Director of FMERA, and some members for the FMERA board resisted the Ebola quarantine facility being located at Fort Monmouth when they were approached by NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Valez Esq. last fall. Michele Brown, then Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority , informed Steadman that the quarantine facility was a fait accompli, according to the source.
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Posted: February 2nd, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Christie Administration, Earthquake, Ebola, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County | Tags: Dennis Connelly, Department of Human Services, DHS, Eatontown, Ebola, Ebola Quarantine, EDA, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Fort Monmouth Economic Redevitalization Authority, Jennifer Velez, Michele Brown, NJ Economic Development Authority, NJ EDA | 6 Comments »
The Christie Administration announced this morning that government aid to assist businesses in recovering from the Seaside Boardwalk fire will only cover costs not reimbursed by insurance proceeds or by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Governor Christie announced over the weekend that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will make $15 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery monies available to affected businesses in the form of $50,000 grants and loans free of interest and principle payments for two years.
In announcement that the EDA will be providing CDBG-DR funding for debris removal assistance, the administration said, “the State will conduct an analysis of duplication of benefits and ensure that the CDBG-DR funds are used only to cover costs not already paid by other sources, such as insurance or SBA. For the demolition of private structures, the state and/or municipality will place a lien on the property to enable recapture of any duplicative insurance proceeds, should they be paid later.”
Posted: September 16th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, Christie Administration, Community Development Block Grant, EDA | Tags: CDBG, CDBG-DR, Christie Administration, Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan, Community Development Block Grants, EDA, Seaside Fire | 2 Comments »
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Posted: August 23rd, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Economy, EDA, NJNewsCommons | Tags: Angel Tax Credit, biopharma, EDA, Friedman, Jonathan Perelman, LLP, NJ EDA, RePost | Comments Off on EDA Approves First NJ Angel Tax Credit for Investment in Biopharma Firm
Governor Christie meeting with business owners at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch, April 18, 2013. Photo by Art Gallagher
After meeting with business owners in Long Branch yesterday, Governor Chris Christie told the press that the businesses’ biggest frustration is the amount of phone calls they get asking if they are open. “They’re happy that at least the phone is ringing,” said Christie, emphasizing that the perception that the Shore is not open has to be impacted.
Christie said that there would be a multi-media ad campaign launch by the Economic Development Authority next month to promote Jersey Shore Tourism. It has not been determined if Christie will appear in the aid. “I haven’t been asked. If I’m asked and I think it is appropriate I will consider it,” the governor said in response to a reporter who asked if he would appear in the state funded ad during the gubernatorial campaign season.
The governor said that EDA would be announcing a working capital grant program for businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy in May and that the Department of Community Affairs will be administering a grant program for homeowners who can apply for up to $150,000 in federal money, over and above what they have already received from FEMA and their insurance companies to rebuild their homes.
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Posted: April 19th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, 2013 Gubernatorial Politics, Chris Christie, DEP, EDA, EPA, FEMA, Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore, Long Branch, Superstorm Sandy, Taxes | Tags: Chris Christie, DCA, EDA, FEMA, Flood Elevation Maps, Long Branch, Tax Cuts | 7 Comments »
Ongoing Questions About Value of Tax Credit Program are Underscored by Award to TV Series of Dubious Value to State
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today vetoed the Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) award of $420,000 in film tax credits to the Jersey Shore television program, citing New Jersey’s difficult fiscal climate and the need to direct limited state resources to programs and projects that actually benefit the state.
In his veto letter to the EDA, which he signed today, Governor Christie noted his long held, serious concerns about the limited value and return on the cost of the New Jersey Film Tax Credit Transfer Program, which was the basis for his veto of legislation earlier this year to “grossly expand” the program.
“We must ensure that our limited taxpayer dollars are spent on programs and projects that best benefit the State of New Jersey,” Governor Christie said. “I have no interest in policing the content of such projects; however, as Chief Executive I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the State and its citizens.”
The Governor also noted the contradictions coming from legislative supporters of the program who complained about EDA’s award of the tax credit to Jersey Shore just days before their most recent legislative action to expand funding.
“Legislators who championed the Program’s original legislation, and who later sponsored legislation to expand it, must surely have appreciated the consequences of their actions. The tax credit to Jersey Shore illustrates the potential for wasteful spending inherent in the implementation of the Program,” the Governor wrote in the veto letter.
“For such legislators to now complain of its implementation with respect to Jersey Shore is, at best, mystifying.”
Governor Christie concluded by noting that while it appeared “that the EDA felt compelled” to include Jersey Shore in the Program, “I am not so constrained” and vetoed the $420,000 tax credit award.
Posted: September 26th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, EDA | Tags: Chris Chrisite, EDA, Jersey Shore, Press Release | 6 Comments »
A top Christie Administration official told the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Agency (FMERA) that they had no choice but to allocate 14 2 story living units in the Suneagles Golf Course area of the fort, located in Eatontown, for use as quarantine housing for travelers returning from West Africa who may have been exposed to Ebola, according to an official familiar with the situation who asked not to be named in this story.
