EVESHAM, NJ – Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Andy Kim (NJ-03) joined Governor Phil Murphy today to announce $60 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for the Local Government Emergency Fund to aid counties and municipalities that were excluded from the federal government’s direct CRF allocation plan. The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted county and local governments in New Jersey and they are facing increased costs in health benefits, health and human services, public safety, overtime, equipment and supply expenditures. These relief funds will help to address necessary and unexpected expenditures necessitated by the pandemic.

The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is also providing up to $10 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to support the state’s County Boards of Social Services with COVID-related expenses such as technology to adapt to remote work, expanding to meet growing demand and supplies and materials to meet COVID-19 health and safety standards.

“The CARES Act has delivered critical federal resources to our state, and distributing this CRF funding to those county and local governments who have yet to receive relief will have a profound impact,” said Congressman Norcross. “These resources will provide our local governments with the vital funding needed to help cover unexpected costs from the pandemic and keep our first responders and other essential workers safe and on the job. I’ll continue to fight for New Jersey in Congress to ensure our communities get the tools and supplies we need to combat this outbreak and keep residents healthy and secure.”

“Our state has been hit hard by this crisis, and we need to do everything we can to help our communities stay safe and healthy,” said Congressman Kim. “I’m proud to have voted to help deliver this funding back home, but the work isn’t done. I’ll keep working with my colleagues in Congress to find bipartisan solutions that will help New Jersey, and won’t stop pressing until this pandemic is over and working people are back on their feet.”

“Local governments have stepped up to meet the needs of their communities throughout this pandemic, and we are strengthening their efforts today with $60 million dollars in direct relief,” said Governor Murphy. “We know these funds will be a welcome lifeline of support for essential government services and New Jersey’s taxpayers.”

“This CRF funding is going to make a world of difference for short- and long-term municipal recovery efforts,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). “DCA will work to distribute this relief funding equitably and fairly to our communities as we rebuild the State’s economy. No one will be left behind.”

"The County Boards of Social Services have been on the front lines supporting New Jersey residents enrolling in vital assistance programs like Medicaid, NJ SNAP and Income Assistance Benefits," said DHS Commissioner Carole Johnson. "The dollars will provide much needed support as they continue to respond to the needs of New Jerseyans during the ongoing pandemic."

Qualifying expenditures for the Local Government Emergency Fund include public safety and health-related expenses, COVID-19-related overtime, increased residential and health-related garbage collection and services, remote working technology, signage and information technology related to the COVID-19 response and recovery and public health-related retrofit expenses for reopening.

For a full list of municipal allocations broken down by county, please click here.

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Contact: Carrie Healey, Communications Director
carrie.healey@mail.house.gov