CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY (May 18, 2021) In what he describes as “Great news for Cumberland County”, Joseph Derella, Director of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, announced that the New Jersey DOT has awarded Cumberland County and its municipalities $3,752,000 in grant funding for the improvement of several county roadways used to move freight in the County. Derella stated, “Cumberland County received approximately 12.5 percent of the $30,000,000 available for New Jersey’s 21 counties and local governments.”
Deputy Commissioner Director Darlene Barber, in explaining the grant program stated, “The NJ DOT has set up a competitive process to fund projects that promote economic development through the improvement of freight transportation.” Barber added, “Our success in obtaining this important funding is a tribute to the hard work of the Cumberland County Department of Public Works Director John Knoop, III and his team working in collaboration with the City of Vineland, Commercial Township and Maurice River Township.”
Carol Musso, County Commissioner Liaison to the County Department of Works, described two County funded projects, $1,202,000 for the resurfacing County Road 646 (Port Elizabeth-Cumberland Road) in Maurice River Township and $800,000 for County Road 614 (James Moore Road) in Commercial Township as, “an important improvement in our transportation infrastructure relied upon by our aggregate materials industry.” Musso added, “The $1,300,000 grant for Port Norris Roadway Improvements-Phase 3 includes the replacement of the County’s wooden bridge on Miller Avenue and was made by Commercial Township as part of ongoing improvements to river front transportation infrastructure relied upon by the materials industry.”
The City of Vineland is also receiving a $450,000 grant to resurface Forest Grove Road in the Vineland Industrial Park. Director Derella stated, “The Vineland Industrial Park is a hub of economic activity in Cumberland County and it is vitally important to maintain its transportation infrastructure.” Derella concluded, “Our success in receiving these NJDOT grants is yet another example of the County and our municipalities working together to support economic development that benefits all of our residents.”