[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23549]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

 Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
decade of economic development and social service leadership provided 
to my State by the New Jersey Community Development Corporation. 
NJCDC's success has been widely and deservedly acknowledged. And the 
foundation for that success is the complete commitment to its mission 
of revitalizing urban areas through job creation, affordable housing, 
educational initiatives and effective and pragmatic social support 
services.
  Established in Paterson, NJ, the city planned by Alexander Hamilton 
as this country's premier urban industrial center, NJCDC has built a 
corporate model for grassroots advocacy and activism based on 
Paterson's tradition of cultural diversity and industrial vitality.
  The agency is the linchpin of a collaborative network of community, 
educational and government organizations and agencies. The results of 
this partnership are notable: an AmeriCorps project enlisting 
volunteers as mentors to at-risk youth and support companions for the 
frail elderly; community economic development and restoration efforts 
including the refurbishing of Paterson's historic raceway system and 
its Great Falls Historic District; the establishment of a 
transportation opportunities center to provide job training and jobs 
for a disadvantaged population; building and operating housing for 
homeless youth and the homeless mentally ill population; community 
residences and day programs to help developmentally disabled adults 
lead independent lives; educational initiatives including an 
alternative academy high school for inner-city students and a 
YouthBuild program; and one of my own priorities, financial literacy 
programs leading to economic security for inner-city and senior 
populations.
  All of this in the relatively short span of 10 years.
  I am pleased to enter this tribute into the Congressional Record, 
with every expectation for NJCDC's continued achievements.

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