Camden, NJ- Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced a $13.2 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant awarded to the Housing Authority of the City of Camden for the City’s Mt. Ephraim South neighborhood.

“Today’s announcement highlights our collective commitment to ensuring residents of Camden have affordable, safe places to call home. These funds will go a long way changing lives and generating the transformation of this Camden neighborhood for generations to come,” said Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01). “I’m proud to have supported this federal grant initiative and look forward to Camden’s best days, which are still ahead.”

Congressman Norcross was joined by United States Senators Bob Menendez & Cory Booker, as well as Camden Mayor Dana Redd for the grant announcement at Branch Village, a distressed housing site that will be replaced with 176 new townhomes and a 50-unit senior facility in two separate phases. 

“This is such a tremendous achievement for the City of Camden, its partners and of course our residents.  Camden has invested an incredible amount of effort to ensure our application was competitive and received favorably by federal officials.  I applaud HUD for working with the City and our partners throughout the application process and for deciding to awarding Camden with the Choice designation,” said Camden Mayor Dana Redd. “I also commend Senator Menendez, Senator Booker, and Congressman Norcross for their unwavering support and advocacy for Camden at the federal level.  The Choice designation will be transformative, leveraging funding and support services for  the targeted community while impacting development efforts citywide.”

The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant will be supported by nearly $280 million in addition private and public resources to enhance the neighborhood’s high poverty housing and struggling schools. The Camden City School District will spend up to $50 million to build two new state-of-the-art Renaissance schools in the Mt. Ephraim South neighborhood.

“These funds will revitalize a part of Camden that will soon enjoy a much better quality of life, giving people improved access to the downtown area and better connect neighbors with the City’s mass transit & transportation hubs, which will take them to school, their jobs, employment training, and all that Camden has to offer,” added Congressman Donald Norcross.

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Congressman Donald Norcross is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee, and serves as Assistant Whip in the 114^th Congress.

 http://norcross.house.gov