Bill > A3584

Introduced Session

This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L. 117-2.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jim Kennedy (D)*,  William Sampson (D)*,  Sterley Stanley (D)*,  Clinton Calabrese (D),  Aura Dunn (R),  Shama Haider (D),  Yvonne Lopez (D),  Michele Matsikoudis (R),  Carmen Morales (D),  Jessica Ramirez (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Gabriel Rodriguez (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee (on 02/08/2024)

Official Document