The City of Vineland has been awarded a $125,000 grant by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to participate in the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP). Through local planning and community participation, the program focuses on revitalizing neighborhoods that are beginning to decline. DCA picked communities based on qualities such as community engagement, staffing capacity, readiness to proceed, NPP mission fit, feasibility of goals, neighborhood assets, distress level, and past revitalization efforts.

Vineland’s Southeast Center City District is the target for the funding. It has multiple businesses along Landis Avenue. The program has a focus on the Landis Theater with hopes that the theater and its historic charm will serve as a basis for future marketing and branding initiatives.

A variety of technical assistance and training that the NPP offers accompanies the funding. This includes support of local governments, nonprofit groups, and neighborhood district stakeholders. The funds granted by the NPP must be used for neighborhood preservation and revitalization activities. Such activities include housing and economic development, direct small business grants and projects improving or creating public recreational areas.

Of the 20 NPP grants awarded in this round, seven were in southern New Jersey.