(Bayonne) The Bayonne City Council recently approved a request by the Administration of Mayor Mark Smith to authorize a redevelopment study of the southern portion of a city block bounded by East 21^st Street, Broadway and Library Court. The redevelopment study is a pre-cursor to designating the area as “an area in need of redevelopment” which would permit the city to use all available redevelopment tools to spur redevelopment of the area. Included in the study area is a vacant parcel of land that was the site of a proposed movie theater but has been a vacant construction site for many years.

Mayor Smith said the cityâ€s earlier designation of property on Broadway between 23^rd and 24^th Street has attracted the interest of several qualified developers who are looking to make major investments in the Broadway Shopping area. Ultimately, the Rendina Companies of Jupiter, Florida was selected to be the conditional re-developer of that parcel but the other developers remain interested in other sites.

Mayor Smith describes his approach to Broadway redevelopment as a Block-by-Block strategy that will see sections of the avenue redeveloped quickly. “Long vacant properties are the obvious first target,” said Mayor Smith, ‘in the case at hand on East 21^st street I think everyone will agree that weâ€ve all looked at that hole in the ground for far too long. Now that the economy has turned, itâ€s time we got something going there.” The Mayor said the city would like to work with current property owners to get projects under way but he said his administration will not allow property owners to warehouse vacant and substandard properties. “The days of the people of Bayonne waiting for things to happen are over”, said Smith, “Now that the economy is improving, weâ€re going to push the envelope and make things happen.”

The redevelopment process begins with the city council authorizing a redevelopment study. During the study, the cityâ€s planning professionals will meet with the property owners and engage them in a conversation about what can be done to redevelop the property. If the study determines that the area is indeed “an area in need of redevelopment” and the city council agrees, the area in question will benefit from the stateâ€s redevelopment tools. The city would seek to work with current property owners and interested developers to craft a project that the community benefits from and more that project from concept through to actual completion. “The goal,” Mayor Smith said,” is to revitalize our shopping district, create new jobs and tax ratables and incentivize d

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Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that grants and loans are available for qualified businesses and non-profit organizations that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.  Mayor Smith said, “I urge businesses and non-profits that qualify for these programs to apply, so that they can continue to rebuild and recover from Hurricane Sandy.  The City of Bayonne would like everyone eligible in our community to benefit from these helpful grants and loans.”

            The first program is called Stronger NJ Business Grants.  This $260 million program is available to help small businesses and non-profits that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.  Under this program, grants and forgivable loans of up to $50,000 per impacted location are available.  Businesses with multiple impacted locations may be eligible for an award of up to $250,000.  Eligible costs for reimbursement under this program may include: working capital (operating expenses), inventory, equipment, machinery, furnishings, and prospective construction. 

            To be eligible for a Stronger NJ Business Grant, a business must meet at least the following conditions: 1.) It must have been in existence on the date of Sandy in New Jersey, October 29, 2012. 2.) It must have at least one location in New Jersey and be registered to do business in New Jersey.  3.) The business must have less than $1 million in liquid assets.  4) It must be a small business with annual revenues of at least $25,000.  5) The business must have sustained a minimum of $5,000 in Sandy-related physical damage per location seeking assistance, which may include damage to real property or non-perishable, non-consumable inventory. 

            The second program is called Stronger NJ Business Loans.  This $100 million program is available to help small businesses and non-profits that were impacted by Sandy, as well as businesses looking to expand within storm-impacted communities.  Low-cost loans up to $5 million per eligible location, with 0% interest for the first 24 months and no principal payments for up to two years, are available for renovation, new construction, or equipment. Loans up to $500,000 are available to support working capital needs for eligible businesses.

            To be eligible, businesses within the nine most storm-impacted counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union) must: 1) be a small business with annual revenues of at least $25,000; 2) evidence a minimum of $5,000 in physical damage to real property or non-perishable and non-consumable inventory, and/or 3) positively impact the economy of their community through either capital investment or the creation or retention of jobs.

            Businesses located outside the nine counties must meet the $5,000 physical damage requirement, and have at least one impacted location in New Jersey; have been in existence on the date of Sandy, October 29, 2012, and be able to provide one full year of financial statements prior to the storm; and be a small business with annual revenues of at least $25,000.

            Non-profit entities eligible for funding are those involved in commercial or industrial activities, or those that have facilities that provide a public service that furthers economic development.  These eligible non-profits may apply only for construction funds.  Religious-affiliated non-profits, such as churches, may utilize the finding only for renovation or new construction of portions of a physical structure with non-sectarian uses.

            For more information on Stronger NJ Business Grants and Stronger NJ Business Loans, please visit njeda.com or call 1-855-726-3929.

            The Stronger NJ business assistance programs are made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program.  

 

 

 

 

 

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            Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that produce market vouchers are available for low-income seniors through the Bayonne Office On Aging.  The vouchers would enable qualified seniors to purchase New Jersey-grown fresh fruit and vegetables at the Bayonne farmers†market and other approved locations.  Participating farmers at the Bayonne farmers†market sell New Jersey produce that is eligible for the voucher program.  The Bayonne farmers†market takes place on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at West 23^rd Street and Del Monte Drive, which is located between Broadway and Avenue C.  The Office On Aging will indicate the locations of other approved farmers†markets to the voucher recipients.

The program is targeted for seniors, 60 and older, whose income level is at or below 185% of the federally defined poverty level.  For a married couple, the maximum income level would be $2,392 per month.  For a single senior, the maximum income level would be $1,772 per month. 

            Interested seniors are asked to apply for the vouchers at the Office On Aging in  Room 17 of City Hall during designated application hours.  Those hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays only, starting on Friday, July 12.  Those hours will continue on Monday, July 15.  Applications will be accepted until all vouchers have been distributed.  Applicants must have valid identification for Bayonne residency and proof of age and income.  They must also sign statements attesting to their income qualifications for the vouchers.

            Each qualified senior will receive four $5.00 vouchers to be used only with the famers signed up with the program.  The vouchers may be used only with these qualifying farmers for the purchase of fresh, locally-grown New Jersey fruits and vegetables. Some consumer items, such as nuts, buttered corn, bakery products and pre-cooked, frozen dinners, are not eligible for the voucher program, even if they are sold at farmers†markets.        

The voucher program is a joint venture with the New Jersey 5-A-Day Program, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Hudson County Office On Aging.

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Pete Amadeo, Recreation Supervisor, stated that the fees for this year will be: children under 12 years old – $1.00, over 13 years old – $2.00, and seniors -$1.00. The City offers seasonal passes for families of 4 (children under age 17) $200 and each additional child is $15; children 12 years and under $25; 13 years and older, $100; and seniors, $40. You must have a City of Bayonne ID in order to be admitted to the pool. Any Bayonne resident who does not possess a City of Bayonne ID will be charged $5. Any guest of a Bayonne resident will be charged $10. City of Bayonne resident ID cards can be obtained at the Bayonne Recreation Division at Room 13 in City Hall, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The fee for a Bayonne resident ID is $5.00.

The pool is located on West 16^th Street, west of Avenue A, on the upper level of DiDomenico-16^th Street Park.

Last year, 17,615 people of all ages were admitted to the pool, not counting campers and other participants in group activities.

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JURIED EXHIBITON OPEN TO BAYONNE ARTISTS

Mayor Mark A. Smith is pleased to announce that the City will host its First Annual Citywide Art Show at the Bayonne Community Museum located at 229 Broadway. The opening reception will be on Friday, April 13, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The show will be open to viewers on weekdays, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Monday, April 16, through Friday, April 27, 2012.

 All artists who are residents of Bayonne are invited to submit images of their work for consideration to be included in the show. A jury of Bayonne residents headed by Anthony Sienkiewicz, painting instructor at the 4^th Street Senior Center Art Club, will judge the entries and choose the works to be exhibited.

“I am very excited about this inaugural show. The exhibition will give the opportunity to Bayonneâ€s many talented artists to showcase their works in a beautiful setting at the Bayonne Community Museum,” said Mayor Smith. “I invite all artists who live in the City of Bayonne to participate and for everyone to come out and see all of the wonderful paintings, drawings and sculptures created by our own hometown residents.”

A prospectus for the show is below:

PROSPECTUS

First Annual Bayonne Citywide Art Show

Bayonne Community Museum

229 Broadway

Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

ELIGIBILITY: Any visual artist aged 18 and older residing in the City of Bayonne.

SPECIFICATIONS: Original works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, collage, computer graphics, photography and sculpture. Works cannot be larger than 36” x 36” unframed or greater than 36” in height if a sculpture. Sculpture with stands preferred. All works must be suitably framed, matted and wired for hanging.

SUBMITTING WORK FOR CONSIDERATION: Artists interested in exhibiting may submit between one (1) and five (5) images via e-mail to bayonneartshow@gmail.com for consideration by the jury. E-mail submissions are strongly encouraged; artists unable to submit image(s) via e-mail may bring works to Ferdez, located at 237S Broadway (between 8^th and 9^th Streets), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The deadline for submitting work will be Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. Anything submitted after this deadline, whether by e-mail or otherwise, will not be considered for inclusion in the show.

Images submitted via e-mail should be no larger than 300 dpi or greater than 1 MB. The jury will consider all works submitted and select the artists to be included in the show. All submitting artists shall include the following: name; address; title(s) of work(s), dimension(s) of work(s); medium(s) of work(s). Artists who bring their works to Ferdez must bring a self-addressed stamped envelope with them.

If an artist is selected, the jury will choose one (1) or two (2) of the selected artistâ€s works to be included in the show. All decisions of the jury are final. All submitting artists will be informed by Thursday, March 22, 2012 whether they will be included in the show. Artists who submit works via e-mail will be informed in the same manner. Artists who bring their works to work(s) to Ferdez will be informed via U.S. mail.

RECEIVING OF WORKS BY SELECTED ARTISTS: Drop-off is on Saturday, March 31, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Monday, April 2, 2012, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. All works must be delivered during these times to the Bayonne Community Museum, 229 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

OPENING RECEPTION: The open reception will be held on Friday, April 13, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

PUBLIC VIEWING: The show will be open to the public on weekdays, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Monday, April 16, through Friday, April 27, 2012.

REMOVAL OF ALL WORKS: All work must be picked up at the Bayonne Community Museum on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

LIABILITY: All works will be handled with utmost care, but the City of Bayonne shall not be held responsible for the loss or damage to the works submitted.

INFORMATION: Anyone seeking further information can call Anthony Sienkiewicz at (201) 858-3745 or can e-mail bayonneartshow@gmail.com.

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 -Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone’s FREE FESTIVAL

 

     Three Bayonne Mayor’s Enjoy the  Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zones 5th Annual ” FREE FESTIVAL ” (L) Terrence Malloy; Executive Director of the Bayonne UEZ and former Mayor of Bayonne  along with (Center) current Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith; and (R) Joe Doria ;Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs for the State of New Jersey, and former Mayor of Bayonne

see more FREE FESTIVAL photo’s here http://insidebayonne.com

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