Sweeney, Burizichelli, & Taliaferro Announce Community Service Block Grant For Third District Non-Profit

Jun 15, 2021

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Third Legislative District for awarding and recognizing Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center for their continuous efforts in serving the local communities. The grant will enable us to push forward.

Sweeney, Burizichelli, & Taliaferro Announce Community Service Block Grant For Third District Non-Profit

Senate President Steve Sweeney, Deputy Speaker John J. Burzichelli and Assemblyman Adam J. Taliaferro announced the receipt of a $250,000 Community Service Block Grant for the Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center in South Jersey.

The grants came from the Community Services Block Grants in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which awards non-discretionary funds to agencies for health, education, employment and housing and other services to individuals and families with low incomes in New Jersey.

“As we work to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce development will be crucial to our ability to fully recover, especially for our most vulnerable residents,” said Senator Sweeney. “This funding will go a long way towards ensuring our residents have the skills they need to re-enter the workforce and join the many industries anxious to hire new employees.”

The Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center provides youth and adults seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce with the knowledge, abilities, and values needed to compete more effectively in their offered career opportunities. The major employment sectors who often hire participants are food system employers, including food retailers, food service providers, food processors and distributors, general retail, hospitality, and healthcare, particularly senior health care.

“We have worked hard over the last several years to grow our state’s re-entry services, and we cannot achieve our goal of reducing recidivism without the help of our partners in the non-profit sector,” said Assemblyman Burzichelli. “The Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center does incredible work assisting this community in securing gainful employment and this funding will assist them in furthering that mission.”

The award will provide funds to cover staff costs for personnel that train and employ those reentering society from correctional facilities, provide food deliveries to disabled veterans, and provide transportation for seniors.

“We must do all that we can to keep the social and economic fabric of our communities strong,” said Assemblyman Taliaferro. “This is an organization that helps people to help themselves. We are grateful to have them serving residents in our communities.”