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New Jersey State Library Receives Over $34 Million for Community Digital Enhancement
Federal Funds to Boost Statewide Community Facilities with a Focus on Digital Connectivity
The New Jersey State Library (NJSL), aligned with Thomas Edison State University, proudly initiates the Community Center Digital Connect program, a pivotal move towards enhancing community resilience through significant capital improvements in educational, employment, and health service access statewide.
This initiative, buoyed by over $34 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF), aims to bridge disparities intensified during the COVID-19 crisis.
Announced by Governor Phil Murphy on March 15, 2024, this allocation is part of a near $180 million boon from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Project Fund, earmarked for New Jersey to advance a spectrum of infrastructure projects critical for public health, safety, and digital connectivity.
The CPF, born out of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, is set to propel the quality of life, economic dynamism, and resilience across communities in the United States.
Governor Murphy underscored the Community Center Digital Connect Program as a strategic response to the pandemic-induced challenges, emphasizing its role in fostering community empowerment through enhanced connectivity. This, he noted, is crucial for uplifting literacy, education, employment opportunities, and public health standards statewide.
"The State Library’s Community Center Digital Connect Program is a prime example of the strategic investments we are making with federal pandemic funds to address key challenges in building more resilient communities,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This critical funding will help alleviate the disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and empower our communities through connectivity to ultimately improve literacy and education, boost employment, and protect public health across our state."
State Librarian Jen Nelson articulated the NJSL's commitment to working with libraries, community, and health centers to mitigate the pandemic's fallout, emphasizing the endeavor to grant residents access to modern infrastructure crucial for vital services, including broadband.
The program's outreach spans the entire state, touching diverse communities from Phillipsburg in Warren County to Atlantic City in Atlantic County, thanks to a meticulous selection process based on community needs and a competitive grant application mechanism overseen by the NJSL.
“We are excited to work with the selected libraries, community and health centers to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and communities across the state,” said Jen Nelson, State Librarian, New Jersey State Library. “Our mission is to empower residents by providing community-based access to high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband, which is essential for accessing critical services.”
For a comprehensive understanding of the Community Center Digital Connect program and insights into the projects earmarked for these transformative funds, interested parties are directed to the NJSL’s dedicated portal at www.njstatelib.org/CPF.
This initiative represents a significant step towards not just recovering from the pandemic's impacts but setting a foundation for a more connected, resilient, and equitable New Jersey.
