New Jersey, especially the northern part of the state, was one of the early epicenters for the first coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
The state’s cut of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed the House of Representatives Wednesday and scheduled to be signed into law Friday will be close to $10.2 billion. That’s eighth in terms of money out of the 50 states in the union. But what is that money for?
In addition to the $1,400 stimulus checks, the American Rescue Plan contains $360 billion in state and local aid to help keep essential workers on the job, assist struggling families and small businesses, and make critical investments in infrastructure, according to a joint Wednesday statement from Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, both Democrats who voted for the plan. The state itself will receive approximately $6.434 billion plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state. An additional $1.823 billion will be split among the 21 county governments and $1.741 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities.
The funds are meant for state and local governments to pay off expenses related to COVID, cover lost revenues from the pandemic to maintain critical services and avoid layoffs to essential workers, as well as providing additional assistance to residents and small business. There are all funds for education, water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
“Our state and local governments have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. As a result, they have borne the brunt of the economic pain and desperately need help,” Sen. Menendez said. “This badly needed federal funding will not just keep the lights on at city hall, it will also help our communities get more vaccines in people’s arms, keep our first responders, teachers and other essential workers on the job, maintain our infrastructure and critical services, help our small businesses stay afloat, and put us on a smoother path towards economic recovery after the pandemic.”Check out more of our PIX11 News’ coverage of the Garden State
“In the midst of the greatest public health and economic crises of our lifetimes, it is unacceptable New Jersey schools, hospitals, small businesses, and workers faced the additional threat of budgetary shortfalls,” added Sen. Booker. “With state and local governments across our country facing the painful decisions of potentially laying off thousands of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other essential workers, and cutting essential services, the full support of our federal government has never been more important to fight this pandemic. The federal funding in this COVID relief package will help provide the relief that New Jerseyans desperately need, and I was proud to work with Sen. Menendez in getting it across the finish line.”
Rep. Bill Pascrell, a North Jersey Democrat who voted for the bill, also highlighted that the bill provided provisions for things like unemployment insurance lasting through September; expanded child tax credits; support for pension plans and student loan forgiveness; expanding tax credits related to Obamacare; grants for firefighters; money for vaccines, testing and tracing; increased SNAP benefits; rental and housing assistance; and paid leave for federal and postal workers, among other things.
“At moments of enormous national crisis, government has risen to the moment. The American Rescue Plan does so once more,” said Rep. Pascrell. “This is one of the most significant pieces of legislation Congress will pass this generation.”
What follows is the amount of money each county and town in the Garden State is scheduled to receive from the stimulus bill, according to Sens. Menendez and Booker, as well as Rep. Pascrell
Ocean County ($195.209 million, $117.76 million to county government)
| Brick | $7,537,053.81 |
| Barnegat Light | $57,662.31 |
| Barnegat | $2,323,682.97 |
| Bay Head | $95,972.87 |
| Beach Haven | $118,369.82 |
| Beachwood | $1,111,202.78 |
| Berkeley Twp. | $4,129,289.26 |
| Eagleswood | $157,466.24 |
| Harvey Cedars | $33,890.11 |
| Island Heights | $164,931.88 |
| Jackson | $5,671,043.83 |
| Lacey Twp. | $2,877,712.65 |
| Lakehurst | $266,012.83 |
| Lakewood | $27,330,871.98 |
| Lavallette | $183,301.31 |
| Little Egg Harbor | $2,132,817.79 |
| Long Beach | $301,671.12 |
| Manchester | $4,295,007.00 |
| Mantoloking | $24,459.82 |
| Ocean Gate | $199,902.55 |
| Ocean Twp. | $892,734.34 |
| Pine Beach | $214,539.15 |
| Plumsted | $841,948.29 |
| Point Pleasant Beach | $447,054.80 |
| Point Pleasant | $1,844,015.08 |
| Seaside Heights | $285,855.74 |
| Seaside Park | $151,572.30 |
| Ship Bottom | $113,261.74 |
| South Toms River | $361,985.70 |
| Stafford Twp. | $2,735,275.94 |
| Surf City | $117,780.42 |
| Toms River | $10,098,712.32 |
| Tuckerton | $332,810.73 |
Credit: PIX 11
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