Renewing DCA’s Commitment to Community Revitalization

When I was Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, I visited all 40 state legislative districts to meet with local officials and people from all walks of life. By taking this tour, I gained an understanding of the unique needs, issues, and mindsets found in New Jersey. This experience, which helped me immensely in the state legislature, is continuing to pay dividends in my role as Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It also taught me that all communities in the state have at least one thing in common–they want economic development that makes sense for them. DCA is in a position to help with this goal.

Expanding local economies One way DCA is leveraging its assets to expand local economies is through the Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) Program, which provides communities with technical assistance and training to improve their downtown business districts. Another way is with the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP), which aims to revitalize declining neighborhoods through efforts such as job creation, housing rehabilitation, and creative use of abandoned properties.

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