Bloomfield Announces Plans For $26M In COVID Recovery Funds

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Towns and cities throughout New Jersey are each getting massive windfalls from the latest federal coronavirus stimulus package, all aimed at helping them recover from the pandemic. And in Bloomfield, there is now a plan on how a whopping $26.07 million will be spent, officials announced Monday.

Sen. Bob Menendez, Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia were among the attendees at a news conference in the township. Together, the officials described how Bloomfield will be spending its funds from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

• See related article: See What Each NJ Town Is Getting From COVID Relief Law

Venezia said that Bloomfield will be using some of the state and local funding it’s getting to plug millions of dollars in projected revenue losses, expand COVID-19 vaccinations, and avert layoffs for police and firefighters.

Bloomfield will also be using the funds to launch a massive effort to replace lead service lines throughout the township at no cost to local homeowners – much like its neighbor Newark did to combat lead water contamination.

• See related article: Newark Reaches Big Turning Point With Its Lead Water Crisis
• See related article: Newark Turns Page On Lead Water Contamination; Lawsuit Settled

Venezia said that Bloomfield plans to use $2 million in state and local funding from the American Rescue Plan to kickstart the five-year project. At an estimated cost of $8,000 per line, the federal funding would allow the town to replace lead lines leading to approximately 250 homes, or nearly 20 percent of the total project.

“Over the last several years, our administration has made major investments in the future of Bloomfield by updating our infrastructure,” Venezia said. “This includes continuing the process of replacing all lead service lines in our township at no cost to homeowners, paving roads and renovating our parks.”

“Like many local governments, our tax revenue suffered immensely as a result of COVID-19,” Venezia continued. “The American Rescue Plan will provide key funding for Bloomfield that will allow us to replace lead service lines, ramp up vaccinations and ensure that we don’t have to lay off any of our first responders.”

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Menendez and Sherrill both praised the town’s plan to use its American Rescue Plan funds.

Menendez said Bloomfield’s latest effort to replace aging lead water lines is an example of how communities can use the funding to “build back better.”

“We must build an economy that is more prosperous, more competitive and more equitable for all Americans,” the senator said. “Upgrading water infrastructure and protecting our children from lead exposure is a matter of public health, of environmental safety, and of racial and economic justice.”

“We fought particularly hard to make sure direct state and local aid was included in the American Rescue Plan, and this is exactly the reason why,” Sherrill said.

“Our communities have borne the brunt of the impacts of this pandemic,” the congresswoman continued. “This aid is helping them keep first responders on the job, ensuring they can provide essential services, and gives them the ability to pursue crucial projects for their residents that were put on hold.”

“Here, Bloomfield is providing a perfect example of how the American Rescue Plan will ensure that we’re able to come out of this crisis and lay the groundwork for the future as we recover,” Sherrill said. “We’ve been working with Mayor Venezia on this issue since our field hearing in 2019 and, now, thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, we’re delivering the resources to make water infrastructure upgrades like this possible.”

Bloomfield’s plan to replace lead service lines also got a thumbs up from Chris Sturm, managing director of policy and water at New Jersey Future.

“Replacing lead service lines is a smart investment that protects children's health and improves property values, and Bloomfield Township is showing us how this can be done,” Sturm said.

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