New Brunswick, NJ - New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) is excited to announce that it has been awarded $866,507 in total funding from the New Jersey Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program (NRTC) for the advancement of community-based revitalization projects in the Esperanza and Livingston Avenue South neighborhoods of New Brunswick. The NRTC program, administered by the NJ Department of Community Affairs, provides businesses with a 100% tax credit for funds provided to nonprofit organizations working to implement neighborhood improvement strategies in distressed neighborhoods. This is the sixth consecutive NRTC award that NBT has received for the Esperanza Neighborhood and the first for its newly launched initiative in Livingston Avenue South.

“The NRTC program has been instrumental in catalyzing our work with residents and stakeholders to tackle neighborhood priorities,” said Charles Bergman, Director of Neighborhood Strategies, “This funding will lead directly to new homes, stronger families and small businesses, and tangible improvements in the neighborhood.”  

Promoting access to safe, affordable housing and equitable economic development are at the heart of our 2026-27 NRTC revitalization projects. Funding will support:

1. The creation of three newly constructed, affordable two-family homes, which will be sold to moderate-income homebuyers and also provide three new rental apartments for low-income households;

2. The continuation of NBT’s Esperanza Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program and its expansion into the Livingston Avenue South Neighborhood, to support first-time homebuyers buying homes in the neighborhoods;

3. The expansion of NBT’s recently announced partnership with the NJ Small Business Development Center at the College of New Jersey, to bring free, high-quality business coaching and financial resources to local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

4. The launch of a new home repair program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Middlesex and Morris, to provide free or low-cost home repairs to income-qualified homeowners;  

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“We're excited to partner with New Brunswick Tomorrow to revitalize the Esperanza and Livingston Avenue South neighborhoods of New Brunswick,” said Liz DeCoursey, CEO of Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity. “Neighborhood Revitalization is Habitat’s program for responding to community aspirations of reviving local neighborhoods and enhancing quality of life for current and future residents. This project will include critical home repairs, including aging in place and home weatherization for residents of both neighborhoods.”

Additional funding will be distributed across an array of revitalization strategies, including:  

• Financial literacy programming for families and aspiring homebuyers  

• Support for emerging food entrepreneurs via the continuation of our Food Business Incubator program and scholarships to the Promise Culinary School at Elijah’s Promise;  

• Community building and cultural expression through community festivals and public art installations with coLAB Arts;

• Quality, free summer programming for New Brunswick youth through the Bobadilla Summer Soccer Academy and coLAB Arts’ Summer Arts Institute.  

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NBT is pleased to have attracted NRTC investment from the following business entities (listed in alpha order): Magyar Bank, MidPenn Bank, NJM Insurance, OceanFirst Bank, People’s Security Bank & Trust, PNC Bank, Provident Bank, and Santander Bank.  

Magyar, NJM, OceanFirst, PNC, and Provident have all contributed to NBT’s NRTC projects in the past, while MidPenn, People’s Security, and Santander are contributing for the first time.  

“The ongoing support from participating NRTC investors is critical for maximizing our positive impact in our community,” said Jaymie Santiago, President and CEO of New Brunswick Tomorrow, “As we celebrate our 50^th anniversary year, we are grateful for the funders that enable us to continue our mission of creating a stronger, more inclusive community in New Brunswick.”  

New Brunswick Tomorrow and its partners look forward to putting this grant to work in the Esperanza Neighborhood and creating a more equitable and thriving New Brunswick for everyone.

About New Brunswick Tomorrow

New Brunswick Tomorrow is a social impact organization dedicated to enriching the lives of New Brunswick’s people by improving quality of life for all who call New Brunswick home. NBT fosters networks of institutions and community organizations, serving as a catalyst in developing solutions that improve the issues that matter most to city residents. For more information, visit www.nbtomorrow.org.

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