City of Long Branch

General Information
Director
Jacob Jones
Assistant Director
Richard Thompson
Assistant Housing Technician
Tonya Medina
Data Entry Clerk
Rosemarie Nolan
Phone Numbers
732-923-2040
Fax: 732-263-0218
Emergencies: Dial 911
Location
577 Broadway
Long Branch,
NJ
07740

Hours
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Office of Community and Economic Development


Office of Community and Economic

Development, City of Long Branch

We are here to Help

During this very trying period of the spread of the Coronavirus, the 

Office of Community and Economic Development is available to 

offer help and assistance to the residents and businesses here within the

City.  We hope to be a resource through direct assistance or by indirect

means that can prove effective for those seeking help.  While we may

not have answers to all the present concerns, the office can offer

information, guidance or direct support for those where no other help

is possible.  We are working with the Greater Long Branch Chamber

of Commerce, the Public Library and Brookdale College Small 

Business Development Center to assist small businesses with 

information and guidance with securing grants or small interest loans

for some relief in the midst of this crisis.  We have also partnered with 

Monmouth County Community Development Continuum of Care

Program where referrals regarding homelessness and temporary   

housing needs may be met.  The OCED offers additional services and

benefits to eligible clients such as housing rehabilitation funds as well

as funding assistance to local non-profits and other service-provider

agencies with Long Branch.  The Office can be contacted by calling

732-923-2043 or by visiting www.visitlongbranch.org.  We

operate weekly from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We encourage you to 

contact us should you have questions or need more information.


7 Tips To Help You From Being Hacked While Working Remotely.pdf

CARES Act Flexibilities For CDBG Funds Used to Support Coronavirus Response.pdf

Coronavirus Relief Fund for State, Local, and Tribal Governments-.pdf

MEMORANDUM FOR CARES Act Flexibilities for CDBG Funds.pdf

The Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act.pdf


Office of Community and Economic Development

Programs and Services

Introduction

The Office of Community and Economic Development a Division of the Building Department of the City of Long Branch NJ came into existence in the mid-1970's (1974) when federal funds were made available to the City of Long Branch (We are currently in the 45th year of the CDBG Program). Through the efforts of local City officials and elected Representatives such as the late Congressman James Howard, the City of Long Branch was selected to be and entitlement municipality which means that the City receives funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Most other municipalities located in Monmouth County (with the exception of Asbury Park and Middletown also entitlement municipalities) must make an application to the County of Monmouth to receive HUD funding. Monmouth County's Office of Community Development receives HUD funding for a number of programs and dispenses grant awards to eligible projects presented by municipalities located within Monmouth County. For more information on this contact the Monmouth County Office of Community Development at 732-431-7490.

The OCED of the City of Long Branch has gown since its inception in 1974. In addition to offering financial assistance to eligible sub-recipients the office works in collaboration with other City Departrnents such as Police, Public Works, Recreation, Senior Center, the Public Library, Fire Department just to name a few. Annual allocations are set aside to meet needs that support programs and services benefiting low-to moderate individuals, families, groups and areas within the City of Long Branch.

The OCED provides the following services:

  1. Housing Rehabilitation Assistance, Code Violations Abatement;
  2. Relocation Assistance (For Code Violations in premises);
  3. Business Development Technical Assistance and Referrals;
  4. First-time Homebuyer Assistance, Housing Counseling Referrals;
  5. City Infrastructure Development Projects;
  6. Recreation Support and Recreational Parks Development Projects;
  7. General Community Development Projects;
  8. Assistance to Non-Profits for Community Improvement Purposes;
  9. Financial Support to Police, Public Works and other City Departments;
  10. Improvement Assistance to Senior Citizens and Youth Programs;
  11. Community Gardens Project, Community Facilities, Service Building;
    LB Community Garden Rules 2021
  12. Other Services and Programs (Business Dev., UEZ Program, Homelessness Referrals, City Publications, Signage, etc.)
  13. Commercial and Residential Property Analysis, Marketing Trends.

Additional Information may be obtained by calling 732-923-2043.

The Office of Community & Economic Development is once again housing the Urban Enterprise Zone Program, a NJ State administered program for Business Development, the Community Development Block Grant Program, Housing Rehabilitation, Parks Development (Green Acres) in addition to Residential and Commercial Relocations. The OCED provides a list of other services as well. Information can be obtained in the articles below or by calling 732-923-2043.  Applications for housing rehabilitation assistance can be picked up at the office and proposals for consideration for CDBG Program funds may be submitted to the office or emailed to rferragina@longbranch.org.

For the City of Long Branch, 2015 will be a year filled with new ideas and new growth.  Activity is high and synergy abounds as we look forward to the continued success of programs and services offered by the OCED (Office of Community and Economic Development).  We are anxious to complete many of the projects started and excited to welcome new ones that will make our community and City all the better.  In addition to adding new projects and services, we investigate the challenge of discovering new resources that can complement and enhance City services and extend added benefits to residents and others who are in need.

Community Development Block Grant Program

The OCED administers the CDBG Program and makes assistance available to low and moderate-income individuals and households.  From crime prevention strategies to financial assistance to non-profits, the OCED has an array of programs and services that will benefit people, places and infrastructure throughout Long Branch.  While our country bears the responsibility of committing resources to international causes, domestically and locally, we are challenged to not only make due with present allocation, but in fact, we must strive to do more with less and there is an imminent threat in Washington that funds could be diverted as the need abroad may dictate.  Despite this reality, we remain confident that federal programs and services will be available to those who are in need.  The OCED is committed to delivering such services in an efficient and fair system for eligible clients.

If your business was dropped from the UEZ Program in Long Branch because you were unable to fulfill the hiring requirement, please call Mr. Jones at 732-923-2040 immediately!  You may be eligible for reinstatement in the program without penalty and without having to hire additional employees.