Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates June as Community Development Awareness Month.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating June as Community Development Awareness Month.
Whereas, Community development organizations began in the 1960s to serve New Jersey's residents in lower-income neighborhoods throughout the State; and
Whereas, These non-profit community based organizations provide an array of services including day care and early-childhood education, senior care, after-school programs, summer camps, job training, financial literacy training, and small business lending; and
Whereas, Community development organizations serve as a third-sector, complementing the work of government and the private sector, and often work in partnership with the other sectors to address issues that government and for-profit organizations may be less equipped to address; and
Whereas, Community development organizations help to serve as a voice for the interests of the communities they serve to help residents address issues that might otherwise be overlooked by the rest of society; and
Whereas, These organizations have helped to build vibrant communities that create jobs, and to anchor capital in communities where investment is needed through developing affordable housing and attracting residential and commercial property development that is sensitive to local concerns; and
Whereas, Since 1989, non-profit community development organizations have generated $12 billion for New Jersey's economy, added 82,000 jobs through investments in real estate rehabilitation and new construction, and have contributed $5.5 billion in worker wages and contracts with New Jersey businesses; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of June of each year is designated as "Community Development Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey to foster an awareness and understanding of the importance of community development in our society.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Community Development Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the month of June of each year as "Community Development Awareness Month" in order to promote an awareness and understanding of the importance of community development in our society. For many years, community development organizations have helped to build vibrant communities that create jobs, and to anchor capital in communities where investment is needed. These organizations provide a variety of important services to the communities they serve, and function as a voice for the interests of residents who might otherwise be overlooked.
The joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Community Development Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.