Essex County Getting $1.8M From FEMA For Coronavirus Recovery – patch.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Almost $2 million in federal funds are on the way to help one of New Jersey’s hardest-hit counties recover from the coronavirus pandemic, officials recently announced.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Essex County a $1.78 million public assistance grant, according to a joint statement from U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and Representatives Albio Sires, Donald Payne Jr., Mikie Sherrill and Tom Malinowski.

The lawmakers said the money will make a big difference in Essex County, which led the state with 1,861 confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of Monday, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

Sen. Bob Menendez – “This federal funding is critical to ensuring that Essex County’s first responders and public health officials have the resources and protective gear they need to keep fighting COVID-19 and protecting the health and safety of residents.”

Sen. Cory Booker – “We have an obligation to ensure health care professionals and other frontline workers across New Jersey have the necessary resources to battle this public health crisis.”

Rep. Albio Sires – “New Jersey has been hit hard by the virus and federal resources are essential to our response efforts so I’m pleased that Essex County is getting much needed support.”

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. – “Essex County has the second-highest rates of infections in the state and had the highest rates for weeks. County medical officials need all the help we can give them and I hope this is the first of many grants they receive from FEMA.”

Rep. Mikie Sherrill – “Essex County has been among the worst impacted counties in New Jersey, and public servants at every level have worked tirelessly to bring the number of cases down and keep residents safe … This grant funding will help ensure Essex has the resources it needs to carry on that important work.”

Rep. Tom Malinowski – “This funding will ensure that our first responders and frontline healthcare workers across Essex County will be fully equipped to continue to fight back against this disease so we can safely reopen our economy with confidence.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.