Ocean County officials have selected a number of local groups to receive a slate of transportation funds committed to the area.
A total of 20 agencies across Ocean County will receive the funding, which funds transportation services primarily for seniors, the disabled and the needy to get around, said Freeholder Gerry P. Little.
"We are pleased to assist these non-profit agencies in helping their clients," Little said.
Each of the 20 recipients was award a $2,000 grant.
Applications were reviewed by both the state Transportation Department and the Ocean County Transportation Advisory Committee for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities before being forwarded to the Freeholders for action. Little said individual grants had to be capped at $2,000 each because of cuts in state funding.
“We receive money from the state’s casino revenue fund and the unfortunate economic downturn in the casino industry means we are not seeing the same amount of dollars we once did,” Little said.
Despite the cutbacks, Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said Ocean County remains the only county in New Jersey that provides a portion of its casino money to local non-profits.
Grants were awarded to: The Arc; Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey; Community Medical Center Foundation; Community Services, Inc.; Counseling & Referral Services of Ocean County; Eye Openers of Point Pleasant/Brick; Interfaith Health and Support Service of Southern Ocean County; Jewish Family & Children’s Services/Jewish Foundation of Ocean County; LADACIN Network; Long Beach Island Community Center; Manchester Township Senior Outreach; NJ Coalition on Women & Disabilities; Ocean County Board of Social Services; Ocean Housing Alliance; Our Special Kids of Toms River; The Special Children Center; Team Randy; Toms River Township Senior Center; 21 Plus; Vetwork.
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