BRIDGETON, N.J. — On Tuesday, October 8, officials from the Gateway Community Action Partnership have announced that the organization has received a five-year, $1 million grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation to support the Southeast Gateway initiative.
The project, which is a collaboration between Gateway CAP, United Advocacy Group and the Cumberland Empowerment Zone aims to provide community enhancements to Bridgeton’s Southeast Gateway.
“At Gateway, we do more than dream of improving the lives of individuals and families in our community, we work with other organizations that share our vision to make those dreams come true,” Albert B. Kelly, CCAP, president and CEO of Gateway said. “This step is a huge step in a dream becoming reality. It involved an entire community and like-minded organizations working together. Doing a lot of hard and necessary work to get us where we are at this point. Celebrating our collective success, but more importantly, celebrating our community promise becoming a reality.”
The 2018 Southeast Gateway Neighborhood Plan, which is revitalizing a predominantly African-American neighborhood, is based on the current needs of residents in the neighborhood which includes:
- Enhance public safety
- Advance community and economic development
- Ensure creativity and sustainability
Each need includes a variety of short- and near-term projects and initiatives that directly address the community’s needs.
The 2018 Southeast Gateway Neighborhood Revitalization Plan is built upon the 2005 Southeast Gateway Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. The award was announced at the newly constructed River Grove Community Center at 44 Spruce Street in Bridgeton.
Lois Greco, senior vice president and senior program officer of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation is looking forward to continuing the partnership with Gateway Community Action Agency and bettering Bridgeton.
“The Wells Fargo Regional Foundation is excited to continue our decade-long partnership with Gateway Community Action Agency and the residents of South East Gateway neighborhood,” Greco said. “With this grant, we continue to build upon the work outlined by the residents and add new partners to the initiative. We know great things are in store for this neighborhood!”
“Gateway has a long history of working with the residents in the Southeast Gateway Neighborhood,” Edward Bethea, CCAP, executive vice president, chief operating officer, and project administrator, said. “We look forward to continuing the work in a more collaborative and comprehensive fashion. Our partners are, also not new to SEG Neighborhood. In fact, each organization bring a unique perspective and vast resources that would enhance and accelerate the revitalization efforts.”
“As a member of the Southeast Gateway Neighborhood Plan’s development team, we have proudly represented the vision of the Southeast Gateway residents,” Judy Bryant, Southeast Gateway Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, Steering Committee, and Southeast Gateway Neighborhood resident, said. “We look forward to the Plan’s implementation that will continue the revitalization effort for this historic Bridgeton neighborhood. I always say, ‘The people of Bridgeton are not a dying breed.’”
For more information about the Gateway Community Action Partnership visit gatewaycap.org.
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