Lakewood Will Get $27.3 Million In New COVID Relief Plan

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Lakewood will receive $27,330,871.98 in federal funding after Congress approved the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez announced.

Known as the American Rescue Plan, the package includes a $1,400 stimulus payment for most U.S. taxpayers, extension of unemployment benefits, assistance to small businesses and more.

The plan, which was approved by a vote of 220-211 in Congress, includes $10.189 billion in direct aid to the Garden State. President Joe Biden signed the bill on March 11. Read more: COVID-19 Relief Bill Goes To Biden's Desk: What NJ Needs To Know

Money in the bill will be allocated to areas with the greatest need. Local governments will be able to use the money for expenses related to the coronavirus, to cover lost revenues due to the pandemic to maintain critical services and avoid layoffs of essential workers; provide additional assistance to residents and small businesses; and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

The package contains $360 billion in state and local aid to help keep essential workers on the job, assist struggling families and small businesses, and make critical investments in infrastructure.
The state will receive $6.434 billion, plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state, according to the senators.

An additional $1.823 billion will be split among the 21 county governments and $1.741 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities.

"This badly needed federal funding will not just keep the lights on at City Hall, it will also help our communities get more vaccines in people's arms, keep our first responders, teachers and other essential workers on the job, maintain our infrastructure and critical services, help our small businesses stay afloat, and put us on a smoother path towards economic recovery after the pandemic," Menendez said in a statement.

"In the midst of the greatest public health and economic crises of our lifetimes, it is unacceptable New Jersey schools, hospitals, small businesses, and workers faced the additional threat of budgetary shortfalls," Booker said.

Local governments can use the funding to pay for COVID-related expenses, cover loss of revenue due to the pandemic and avoid layoff of essential workers. It can also be used to provide additional assistance to residents.

Ocean County will see $195,209,869.49 in aid, with the county government getting $117.76 million and the county's municipalities splitting $77,449,869.49.

Here is a breakdown of what other towns in Ocean County are receiving:

• Brick $7,537,053.81
• Barnegat Light $57,662.31
• Barnegat $2,323,682.97
• Bay Head $95,972.87
• Beach Haven $118,369.82
• Beachwood $1,111,202.78
• Berkeley Twp. $4,129,289.26
• Eagleswood $157,466.24
• Harvey Cedars $33,890.11
• Island Heights $164,931.88
• Jackson $5,671,043.83
• Lacey Twp. $2,877,712.65
• Lakehurst $266,012.83
• Lakewood $27,330,871.98
• Lavallette $183,301.31
• Little Egg Harbor $2,132,817.79
• Long Beach $301,671.12
• Manchester $4,295,007.00
• Mantoloking $24,459.82
• Ocean Gate $199,902.55
• Ocean Twp. $892,734.34
• Pine Beach $214,539.15
• Plumsted $841,948.29
• Point Pleasant Beach $447,054.80
• Point Pleasant Boro $1,844,015.08
• Seaside Heights $285,855.74
• Seaside Park $ 151,572.30
• Ship Bottom $113,261.74
• South Toms River $361,985.70
• Stafford Twp. $2,735,275.94
• Surf City $117,780.42
• Toms River $10,098,712.32
• Tuckerton $332,810.73

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