For
Immediate Release:
August 12, 2020
Freeholders
announce first round of grants distributed; Skill Up Monmouth program
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of
Chosen Freeholders provided updates on Monmouth County CARES Economic
Assistance Grant program, the County’s COVID-19 testing program and announced
the launch of Skill Up Monmouth at a press conference held today.
“Last week we launched the Monmouth
County CARES Economic Assistance Grant program and we have already gotten an
incredible response. We have received more than 1,750 applications and handled
close to 800 phone calls regarding the program,” said Freeholder Director
Thomas A. Arnone. “We have approved nearly $1.7 million in grant dollars—and I
am really excited to report that the first round of grants are being direct
deposited today!”
“We said that we wanted to get
money into the pockets of our businesses and nonprofit organizations as quickly
as possible and I am so proud that we were able to do it in less than eight
business days,” said Freeholder Director Arnone. “As I have said before, no one
understands Monmouth County businesses like we do or how important it is for
them to get these grant dollars immediately.”
For more information about the
Monmouth County CARES Economic Assistance Grant program, go to www.monmouthcountycares.com.
“Not only do we feel that it is
important to fund our businesses, but we also feel it is important to do
everything that we can to help create a skilled workforce,” said Freeholder
Director Thomas A. Arnone “We are really excited to announce Skill Up Monmouth,
which is a program aimed to help our County residents to refresh their job
skills or learn new ones.”
Since the onset of COVID-19 related
shutdowns in March, tens of thousands of Monmouth County residents have filed
for unemployment. As a result, both the Board of Chosen Freeholders and
Workforce Development Board quickly recognized the need for continuing to
develop skillsets.
“To return to work during these
extraordinary circumstances, jobseekers and candidates will need new and better
skills in order to set them apart from other applicants,” said Freeholder Pat
Impreveduto, liaison to the Division of Workforce Development. “Today, I am
pleased to announce the new program, Skill Up Monmouth, which offers thousands
of free career training courses online, exclusively to residents of Monmouth
County.”
The majority of the courses work on
smartphones, so residents can access their account at any time remotely. To get
started, residents should visit sdmonmouthnj.metrixlearning.com
or call the Division of Workforce Development at 732-683-8850 ext. 6011.
Freeholder Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley offered
updates about the Monmouth County COVID-19 Testing Program at locations in
Asbury Park, Freehold Borough, Keansburg, Long Branch, Neptune and Red Bank.
“Fortunately, out of the nearly 1,454
tests administered during the duration of this free testing program, only 26
tests have come back positive,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley.
“These low positivity percentages can be attributed to wearing masks,
practicing social distancing and getting tested for the virus.”
The
testing site locations, dates and hours of operation are posted on the County’s
website at www.visitmonmouth.com.
Freeholder
Lillian G. Burry thanked the Monmouth County Park System for all of their hard
work throughout the pandemic.
“Many
County departments are responding to the physical needs of our residents and
doing an exceptional job. The Park System is helping those who are emotionally
distressed; those who are in a state of fear, isolation or loneliness and look
to the parks for relief,” said Freeholder Burry, liaison to the Park System.
“We are making sure that our parks our safe, while allowing our residents and
visitors to enjoy themselves and find peace and enjoyment in these uncertain times.”
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