Mercer to receive $4M in fight against COVID-19

TRENTON » New Jersey counties with less than 500,000 residents, including Mercer, will receive new funding to combat COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday.

“There is no denying that COVID-19 has placed an incredible amount of strain on resources across all levels of government,” Murphy said Thursday in a press statement. “I’ve been clear from day one of this crisis that we’ll spare no expense to protect the health and safety of New Jerseyans, and that requires us to provide our communities with the support they need. Together, this funding will help us save lives and emerge stronger as one New Jersey family.”

Mercer County will receive more than $4 million, largely a reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses to date, according to a breakdown of how the state intends to disburse approximately $37 million across 12 counties to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The 12 counties include Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren — all of which were ineligible for Coronavirus Relief Funding because their populations are below 500,000, according to the Murphy administration.

“I am grateful for the governor’s recognition of the needs of all New Jersey localities in response to the coronavirus,” Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat who represents parts of Mercer County and beyond, said Thursday in a press statement. “New Jersey was one of the hardest hit areas in the world. No corner of the state went untouched by COVID-19. This funding will allow Mercer and Somerset County to begin the process of economic recovery and preparation for any future waves.”

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, also a Democrat, thanked the Democratic governor for coming through with new funding in the fight against COVID-19.

“This funding will enable Mercer County to recoup some of the COVID-19 related expenses we’ve already incurred and allow us to resume testing into the fall, which we expect will be a critical period as colder weather drives people indoors,” Hughes said Thursday in a statement. “Having not been eligible for CARES Act funding, we appreciate this support from Gov. Murphy’s administration and anxiously await future federal assistance.”