Somerset County Freeholders, along with borough officials, announced a new Somerset County Flood Mitigation Funding Program on Sept. 29, 2016.
MANVILLE - Somerset County Freeholders, along with borough officials, announced a new Somerset County Flood Mitigation Funding Program on Thursday at a press conference held at the Lincoln Avenue ball fields in the Lost Valley section of the borough.
"Manville was one of the towns hardest hit by Hurricane Irene in 2011," said Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh. "The freeholder board is committed to assisting towns that have suffered repeated losses in major storms."
She credited Freeholder Mark Caliguire, liaison to the county Open Space Advisory Committee, for proposing the use of county open space funds to help with buyouts in flood-ravaged areas, according to a news release.
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The county will consider grant applications from any municipality for the purchase of residences that have experienced severe, repetitive flooding, or sustained substantial damage of greater than 50 percent, according to the news release. Only proposals where the house is being purchased will be considered and the property owner must be willing to sell.
There are two ways municipalities can receive funding:
- Match Funding Program - Somerset County will provide up to 25-percent of a project's total cost in matching funds to municipalities for projects that use New Jersey Blue Acres or federal funds.
- Primary Funding Program - If there are no federal or state funds available, Somerset County will provide the money. A municipality will need to provide matching funds.
Grant applications may be filed throughout the year and can be submitted to the Somerset County Department of Public Works' Division of Engineering. Applications that have merit will be presented to the Open Space Advisory Committee and then on to the freeholders, according to the news release.
The program's goals include:
- providing natural open space areas for floodwater storage
- decreasing the risk of potential loss of life to both citizens and emergency response personnel
- lower relief and recovery costs for local governments
- creating a buffer area that will protect inland homeowners and their property
- and lower property losses after storm events.
For further information, contact Tom Boccino at the Somerset County Engineering Division at 908-231-7509.