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Bill

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Bill

A 5145

Establishes "Municipal Community Center Grant Program."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Vicky Flynn and 2 co-sponsors

Provides grants to municipalities for building, expanding, or upgrading community centers to expand access to civic, cultural, and recreational services.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 5145

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Municipal Community Center Grant Program in New Jersey.
  • Aims to provide financial assistance to municipalities to support the development, expansion, or improvement of community centers that serve residents’ civic, cultural, recreational, and social needs.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of the Municipal Community Center Grant Program (program) within the relevant state agency and the authorization of annual funding for grants.
  • Eligible applicants: municipalities or municipal entities (and potentially designated non-profit sponsors working with a municipality) seeking grants for qualifying community center projects.
  • Eligible uses of grant funds may include:
    • Construction, expansion, renovation, or modernization of municipal community centers.
    • Acquisition of real property or capital improvements that enable operation and service delivery at a community center.
    • Equipment purchases and facility upgrades necessary to support programs and activities.
    • Accessibility improvements to ensure compliance with relevant laws and to expand access for residents with disabilities.
  • Program administration:
    • Establishment of grant application procedures, scoring criteria, and reporting requirements.
    • Possible prioritization criteria (e.g., projects in underserved or high-need communities, projects that maximize public access or collaboration with local organizations).
    • Compliance and audit requirements to ensure proper use of funds.
  • Funding provisions:
    • Specific appropriation amount(s) and duration for the program, including any maximum grant amounts per project and the eligible share of project costs.
    • Potential matching fund requirements or in-kind contributions.
  • Accountability and oversight:
    • Requirements for project milestones, progress reporting, and final audit or evaluation to determine ongoing eligibility for funding.

Who would be affected

  • Municipal governments and their administrative staff responsible for planning, applying for, and managing grants.
  • Residents who live in municipalities pursuing community center projects, as the program intends to expand access to civic spaces, programming, and services.
  • Local organizations and partners that may collaborate with municipalities on community center initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Establishment of program rules, application windows, and competitive award cycles as determined by the bill and the administering agency.
  • Deadlines for grant applications, grant awards, and quarterly or annual reporting.
  • Potential sunset or review provisions to reassess program effectiveness after a defined period.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Could increase the number and quality of municipal community centers, enhancing space for events, recreation, senior services, library-type programs, and cultural activities.
  • May address disparities in access to community facilities by targeting underserved municipalities.
  • Effectiveness depends on funding levels, clear eligibility criteria, transparent scoring, and robust oversight to maximize public benefit and prudent use of state dollars.

Note: The summary reflects typical elements of a grant program bill. For precise provisions (eligibility details, funding amounts, match requirements, reporting schedules, and timelines), refer to the bill’s official text and fiscal impact statement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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