Gov. Christie: Jersey Shore Is Open for Business
The New Jersey governor held a table discussion with area business owners about the prospects of the upcoming summer season.
Gov. Chris Christie isn’t just confident that the Jersey Shore is ready to welcome back visitors to its beaches and businesses, he’s sure of it.
At McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch Thursday afternoon, Christie held a roundtable discussion with several area business owners to listen to their concerns and expectations for the summer, and to ask them to let him know what the state can do to facilitate the coast’s continued recovery following Hurricane Sandy.
Despite some lingering issues, the message was largely uniform.
“The good news I heard from them is that they’re open for business.”
Christie was speaking in the hard-hit central New Jersey coastline. Farther south in Ocean City, business leaders and city officials were ready toannounce even in December 2012 that “Ocean City is open for business.” Beaches, businesses and the Ocean City Boardwalk are ready for another banner season.
The goal now, Christie said, is to spread that message, to let the shore’s visitors know that their favorite summer destination is ready to welcome them for another successful beach season. Things won’t be the same, not this year at least, and some towns are further removed from recovery than others, but visitors shouldn’t let that be a deterrent when it comes to making their vacation plans. 
An ad campaign that will be featured online, on television and in print will emphasize the shore’s recovery. The state announced in February its intention to spend more than $25 million on a post-Sandy tourism campaign. The advertising effort, funded through the $50.7 billion Sandy relief package passed by Congress in January, will come out before Memorial Day and will target major metropolitan areas along the East Coast, Christie said.
He even volunteered to make an appearance in an ad or two if it would help, but said he would let someone else make that determination.
During a press conference that followed his business discussion, Christie provided an update about the Community Development Block Grant program, which will not only help residents rebuild and elevate their homes, but will provide business owners with funding to bridge their recovery efforts.
In all, $500 million of the first round $1.8 billion in CDBG money is dedicated to the state’s business owners.
Businesses should be able to apply for grant funding by May 1, Christie said, pending approval of the state’s funding plan by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the block grant program.
As soon as that approval comes in, Christie said the state will move towards accepting grant applications.
“The fact is, as we get closer to (Memorial Day), things are going well,” he said. “We need to continue that momentum.”
The version of the Jersey Shore visitors return to is still somewhat unknown. Towns like Long Branch show little remnants of the damaged caused by Sandy, at least along the beach front properties. Take a trip down Route 35 and that’s hardly the case. Seaside Heights, along with other shore towns, are rebuilding their boardwalks and business, but still, other towns like Mantoloking in Ocean County and Sea Bright in Monmouth County are far removed from recovery.
A lot of that has to do with Sandy’s direct impact, but Christie isn’t putting all of the blame on the late October superstorm. According to the governor, some of the credit for delayed recovery falls on the lap of the U.S. House of Representatives, who pushed off approving a Sandy relief bill until mid-January.
Following Sandy, Christie said every day Congress delayed in approving a bill would add a day of recovery to the back end. We’re seeing that now, he said, as towns rush to recover, some of them still overwhelmed by widespread damage caused by the storm.
Despite the deadline pressure, Christie said the tourism season needn’t be put off.
“There will be places that have a difficult time being ready by Memorial Day,” he said. “But they will be a stark minority.”
The source of this article can be found here: Ocean City Patch
In other related news:
Christie assures shore business leaders help is on the way
Chris Christies held a roundtable with local officials and business leaders in Long Branch Thursday. The governor reassured local businesses that the state would help them prepare for the first tourist season after Hurricane Sandy. (Christopher Robbins / NJ.com)
LONG BRANCH - Governor Chris Christie reassured local business leaders reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy and nervous about the upcoming tourist season that help is on the way.
That help will come in the form of an advertising campaign of radio, television and internet spots to ensure tourists that shore businesses are open for business.
“An advertising program has already been approved and is being created right now,” Christie said. “It will be rolled out prior to Memorial Day.”
The campaign would be in addition to a local effort posting signs on high-traffic street corners.
Christie also said he hoped federal dollars for a grant program to give businesses capital to resume work will be approved sometime next week, allowing the state to accept applications beginning May 1.
It will take more time, however, to repair and restore homes and buildings damaged by the storm – Christie discussed a program through the state Department of Community Affairs that will offer homeowners up to $150,000 in recovery funds on top of what they receive from FEMA and their flood insurance.
Christie promised money administered by the state would come with few strings attached.
“The only thing we’re going to do is mandate that the dune systems get rebuilt up-and-down the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook to Cape May,” he said, adding that the work would proceed regardless of whether property owners agree.
“I have legal tools at my disposal, and I will use all of them.”
Christie also promised to be more visible along the Jersey Shore this summer.
“They’re going to see more of me at the Jersey Shore than they ever wanted to,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being in Long Branch over Memorial Day weekend.”
Christie was in Monmouth County Thursday afternoon hosting a business roundtable at Long Branch’s Pier Village.
“I wanted to take a trip here to Long Branch as we get within a month or so of the summer season to check in with business owners, find out how they were doing… and also to tell them about the programs that are getting ready to come.”
The source of this article can be found here: NJ.com
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