New Jersey American Water Awards Nearly $1 Million to Support Community Development Projects Across Camden and Salem Cities

New Jersey American Water today announced the distribution of $950,000 in Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) funding to two local New Jersey nonprofit organizations: Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. and Stand Up for Salem, which were announced in coordination with the N.J. Department of Community Affairs (DCA). These grants will be used to fund affordable housing development and maintenance; community outreach initiatives and organizing support; historic preservation; and business development and career trades training.

New Jersey American Water’s 2024 NRTC funding, totaling $950,000, will support 10 projects across these two nonprofit organizations, in collaboration with numerous local partners, as follows:

• $247,000 to Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. (CLHI): CLHI partners with and supports North Camden residents through various community restoration and improvement initiatives. This grant will help support the community development work outlined in North Camden residents’ neighborhood plan. Community projects will focus on developing and maintaining affordable homeownership housing for residents, supporting community engagement through events and initiatives, installing decorative board ups at abandoned properties to beautify North Camden, and restoring the 290-year-old historic Benjamin Cooper House and transforming it into a museum for community use.
• $702,500 to Stand Up for Salem: Stand Up for Salem supports community-driven neighborhood planning and revitalization in the Center of Salem neighborhood of Salem City. This grant will fund a variety of local projects to revitalize Center of Salem and help the neighborhood reach its full potential. These projects include initial training and workforce development sessions at the new Career Trades Training Center, a business incubator for local entrepreneurs and small businesses, a home repair assistance program for low-and moderate-income homeowners, and local community organizing and engagement efforts.

“At our core, we’re dedicated to delivering more than just water services,” said Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water. “Our mission extends to nurturing the very fabric of the communities we serve through strategic investments in programs, organizations, and initiatives that create tangible benefits for residents. We are proud to continue our legacy of giving back and we support the vital community development and revitalization work that Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. and Stand Up for Salem are doing locally.”