State Grant Will Help Offset Repairs To Cranford Town Hall

Cranford Township has received a $500,000 grant from the State of New Jersey to help offset the costs to restore the Municipal Building and Police Headquarters damaged in 2011 during Hurricane Irene.

In a press release, Mayor Tom Hannen thanked the Department of Community Affairs for the funds.

"This provides some relief for Cranford's taxpayers, who have been working so hard after that devastating storm," said Hannen. “Also, this was a great catch for our Township Administrator Joe Hartnett, who worked to ensure that we received these funds after learning about the program in late February.”

The funds came through the state's Community Development Block Grant program, run by the Department of Community Affairs, with assistance from Union County.

“I’d like to thank Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski for her support for this,” said Hannen.

Floodwaters from the hurricane swamped the Municipal Building causing extensive damage. For more than a year most municipal offices operated from temporary trailers parked around the building.

The Township spent more than $1.8 million to restore the first floor, including mitigation measures to protect offices if floodwaters reach the building again. Most work on the first floor of the building (where there was the most damage) has been completed, the trailers are gone and municipal offices have moved back inside the building.

The second floor of the building is now undergoing repairs.