Economic Development

on the issues

Economic Development

The Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight intends to continue several successful programs launched during Mayor Tony Vauss tenure, including, but not limited to our Homeownership Program wherein Township residents that are first-time homebuyers receive financial assistance towards the down payment of their home after successful completion of a first-time homeowner course; the HOME Rehabilitation Program wherein financial assistance is provided to qualified Township homeowners residing in their homes for certain repairs/rehabilitation to their personal residence; the Lead Safe Irvington Program that provides financial assistance to qualified homeowners for lead abatements to occupied properties that are found to be lead contaminated; the Community Block Grant Program (CDBG) that provides for public facility and infrastructure improvements around the Township, creates opportunities for affordable housing for qualified Township residents, provides grant funding for qualified organizations and businesses that provide a public service to Irvington residents, and provides services for special needs populations in the Township (disabled, veterans, mentally ill, and persons with HIV/AIDS); and the Annual Business Summit which is a Township sponsored event wherein business owners and prospective business owners have the opportunity to network, meet potential vendors and find out about the availability of locations, programs and funding throughout the Township.

As the Department transitions into the new calendar year, there are additional new programs and initiatives that are planned, including, but not limited to, the Irvington Job Fair, which will be a job fair for Irvington and area residents featuring available positions in the Township and other local businesses and entities. The goal is to give participants the opportunity to be interviewed, and potentially hired on the spot; various business outreach initiatives- which will include DEDGO staff engaging in business owners and employees in-person in order to advise of available programs and upcoming events, to hold workshops on applying for grant funding, and to discuss their continued wants and needs as they recover from COVID19; the Tropical Storm Ida Disaster Relief Program- A program to provide financial reimbursements to eligible property owners who were affected by Tropical Storm Ida.

An additional program is available to provide necessary repairs to a limited number of property owners affected by Ida; and the First Source Program which is a program created to assist in the facilitation of private sector employment opportunities to qualified unemployed, underemployed and/or socio-economically challenged Irvington residents by requiring that the business recipient of any economic benefit execute a First Source Agreement to make a good faith effort to hire qualified Irvington residents. DEDGO will maintain a list of qualified individuals and businesses for the private sector use.