NJCDC Receives $1,000,000 Grant from Regional Foundation to Support Its Great Falls Neighborhood Plan
Support from the Regional Foundation will help NJCDC implement strategies in the new resident-driven plan to revitalize Paterson’s Great Falls Neighborhood
Paterson, NJ, – RealEstateRama – The Board of Directors of the Regional Foundation has approved a grant to New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) in the amount of $1,000,000 over five years. NJCDC, a place-based community development non-profit located in Paterson, will use these funds to implement resident-led revitalization efforts in the Great Falls Neighborhood.
The Regional Foundation’s grant will be used to support the implementation of the new Great Falls Neighborhood Plan, released in March 2023. The resident-led and resident-driven plan illustrates how housing, education, creative placemaking, and open spaces can support the revitalization of this highly diverse neighborhood of Paterson, New Jersey. NJCDC aims to redistribute nearly half of its grant investment through its role as the backbone of a collaborative between Paterson Public Schools, the National Park Service, and multiple grassroots organizations working on issues that include food insecurity; supporting women & children; and promoting educational and youth development programming. NJCDC will also refresh its Community Advisory Board (CAB), hire paid Neighborhood Captains, and work closely with residents on progress throughout the grant period. Resources have also been allocated for participatory grantmaking, wherein the CAB will select local partners to receive mini-grants to further the overall Great Falls Neighborhood Plan.
“NJCDC is committed to the equitable and resident-driven revitalization of Paterson’s Great Falls Neighborhood,” said NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci. “We are grateful to the Regional Foundation for their ongoing support of our mission, including an initial investment that allowed us to facilitate a resident- and stakeholder-led planning process for the neighborhood’s future. With this funding from the Regional Foundation, NJCDC looks forward to collaborating with community partners and neighborhood residents to transform lives in the Great Falls Neighborhood.”
“The Regional Foundation is excited to partner with New Jersey Community Development Corporation in support of its success in Paterson’s Great Falls neighborhood”, stated Kevin Dow, Regional Foundation Executive Director. “Often, progress in economic and neighborhood development is dependent on a wide range of organizations working with one another towards a common goal. NJCDC’s neighborhood plan is an example of how an organization can weave together a strong collaborative among community stakeholders to enhance neighborhoods for the residents who live there.”
The Great Falls Neighborhood Plan includes six strategies chosen by residents and stakeholders, which will guide revitalization in Paterson’s Great Falls Neighborhood over the next ten years. This support from the Regional Foundation will allow NJCDC to continue our work in the Great Falls Neighborhood, creating opportunities for neighborhood residents. In particular, with this support, NJCDC is able to emphasize our focus on prioritizing resident-led initiatives and encouraging greater resident engagement.
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About NJCDC
New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) is dedicated to creating opportunities to transform lives within the Great Falls Neighborhood of Paterson, New Jersey. NJCDC is a private, non-profit community development and social service agency focusing on education, youth development, affordable and supportive housing, and community building. Founded in 1994, NJCDC serves over 4,000 children, teens, and families daily, and strives to fulfill its vision that all 8,000 children living or going to school in the Great Falls Neighborhood will reach adulthood ready for college and a career.
About Regional Foundation
The Regional Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children and families living in low-income communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware by concentrating resources on comprehensive, neighborhood-based economic and community development initiatives. Our community investment tools include Neighborhood Planning Grants, Neighborhood Implementation Grants, and Program Related Investments to support long-term, resident-driven neighborhood revitalization.
