Fighting COVID-19
Resources for Plainfield Residents
Greetings!

 
We have experienced major changes in our lives as a result of the pandemic. Many of us have adjusted to working from home, and our children have adjusted to new ways of learning. The pandemic has revealed our strengths and willingness to adapt in difficult situations, even while the future remains uncertain.

The spread of the virus in our city has slowed down significantly, and I believe it is due to your cooperation in following the recommended guidelines. I want to thank all Plainfield residents for their efforts. Our community is safer and healthier because of you.  

At City Hall we’re maintaining essential services while taking steps to safeguard the health of our employees. We want to encourage you to try and complete your business online as much as possible. If you can’t find what you want online, please give us a call before coming to City Hall, chances are we can get the information to you and save you the trip.
While this crisis lasts, we will be sharing this resource edition of our newsletter every Wednesday. Please stay tuned and share this information with your loved ones and friends.

Stay safe and may God continue to bless you.

Creating One Plainfield. One Future.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
Queridos amigos y vecinos,

Hemos visto cambios importantes en nuestra ciudad como resultado de la pandemia. Muchos de nosotros nos hemos adaptado a trabajar desde casa y nuestros hijos se han adaptado a nuevas formas de aprendizaje. Esta pandemia reveló nuestras fortalezas y disposición para adaptarnos a situaciones difíciles, incluso cuando el futuro es incierto.

La propagación del virus en nuestra ciudad se ha ralentizado significativamente, y creo que se debe a su cooperación para seguir las pautas recomendadas. Quiero agradecer a todos los residentes de Plainfield por sus esfuerzos; nuestra comunidad es más segura y saludable gracias a usted.

Aquí en Plainfield continuaremos ejerciendo la máxima precaución según nuestra situación. Partes de nuestra ciudad están densamente pobladas y debemos seguir las restricciones hasta que estemos seguros de que los números no volverán a aumentar. A medida que el Estado encuentra su camino de regreso a la normalidad, les animo a todos a continuar siguiendo las medidas de higiene y distanciamiento social lo mejor que puedan. Sigamos avanzando hasta que esta pandemia haya terminado de verdad.

Mientras dure esta crisis, compartiremos esta edición de recursos de nuestro boletín todos los miércoles. Estén atentos y compartan esta información con sus seres queridos y amigos.

Manténgase a salvo y que Dios continúe bendiciéndole.


Sinceramente,


Adrian O. Mapp, Alcalde
COVID-19 Testing in Plainfield |
Pruebas de COVID-19 en Plainfield
COVID-19 TESTING FOR
PLAINFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOMORROW!
Plainfield COVID-19 Relief Fund/ UEZ Relief Fund
The goal of the Plainfield COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund is to provide assistance to residents who are experiencing economic hardship as a result of this pandemic. The emergency relief will assist with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, food, or other items deemed as essential. We are committed to supporting our residents during this challenging time.

In order to qualify applicants must provide the following:
1. Proof of Residency
2. Proof of Hardship

Completed applications should be sent to COVID19fund@plainfieldnj.gov

Skip the Trip to City Hall
Food That's in When School is Out
Plainfield Coalition of Emergency Food Providers
Amazon Employment Information Session
Partnership with Evangel Church | Just Text HOPE!
Since many of our residents may be without food and other necessary supplies during this crisis, we have partnered with Evangel Church to have boxes of hope delivered to our vulnerable residents in our community. These supplies are ONLY for vulnerable residents including the elderly, quarantined, or individuals who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. If you fall under these categories, please 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝟗𝟎𝟖-𝟑𝟐𝟓-𝟓𝟏𝟔𝟑 to have a box of hope containing much needed supplies delivered to your door.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 - 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥!
Dado que muchos de nuestros residentes pueden estar sin alimentos y otros suministros necesarios durante esta crisis, nos hemos asociado con Evangel Church para entregar cajas de esperanza a las personas que necesitan. Los suministros son solamente para las personas en cuarentena, individuales mayores, o individuales que han perdido su trabajo. Se les pide que manden un mensaje de texto con el escrito "HOPE" al 908-325-5163 para que reciban una caja de esperanza que contenga los suministros necesarios en su puerta.

Tenga en cuenta que este es un número de solo texto. ¡No llames!
New Jersey Redevelopment Authority
The New Jersey Redevelopment Authority has named Plainfield one of 64 Municipalities to participate in the Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Program. The goal of the program is to assist small businesses that are leasing commercial space in mixed-use and commercial buildings or renting in a store front property. In order to be eligible, applying businesses must not occupy more than 5,000 square feet and must have been operating and current on rent prior to March 1, 2020. If awarded, funding will be released directly to the business with authorization from the landlord.
 
Applications are now live. For more information regarding the NJRA Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Program, please visit https://www.njra.us/Small-Business-Lease-Emergency-Assistance-Grant-Program .
 
COVID-19 Safety Practices for
Critical Infrastructure Workers
Should You Wear Goggles For Coronavirus Protection?
We know that masks are a great method for helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. But, now experts are saying that more widespread use of eye protection in certain situations may be a good idea.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) don’t currently recommend goggles for everyone, the country’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci recently told ABC News that “if you have goggles or a face shield, you should wear it.”

Does that mean you should add eye protection the next time you head to the grocery store? Well, the answer depends on a few of things – we’ll walk you through it.
Don't Worry- You're Covered! Sick Leave for NJ Working Parents and Guardians
Employee Mental Health and Well-being During
the COVID-19 Pandemic
Employers recognize their workforce as a highly valuable resource. Over the past few years, employers of all sizes and representing diverse industries began to focus on more effectively addressing workplace mental health. No longer was it an afterthought, but a business imperative.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation is experiencing a surge in people showing signs of depression, anxiety, and other serious mental health distress. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows nearly a tripling of people experiencing signs of depression and anxiety.
Seven Tips for Talking with Your Kids About Coronavirus
Virtual Narcan Training September 2020
Governor Murphy Highlights School Aid and Expanded Preschool in His Revised Budget Proposal
Governor Also Announces $100 Million in Additional Funding to Help Schools Safely Reopen

SOMERVILLE – Governor Phil Murphy today visited Somerville High School to highlight state education funding in his revised Fiscal Year 2021 state budget proposal, which will remain steady from FY2020 despite the historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In his revised budget proposal, which was unveiled on Tuesday, Governor Murphy announced that funding for school districts will remain consistent with the figures announced in July, keeping the state on track to fully fund public schools. Additionally, the revised budget proposal includes almost $68 million in new funds over FY2020 for preschools in New Jersey.

Governor Murphy also announced $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding to ensure schools can reopen safely.

“Supporting our public schools has been one of the bedrock priorities of my Administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed our commitment to our students, educators, and staff,” said Governor Murphy. “The pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for our schools, but I am proud that we can continue to support our districts, ensure the health and safety of students and school staff, and provide a high-quality education for all children. Together, we will weather these challenging times and build a state that is stronger, fairer, and more resilient.”

“Considering the fiscal devastation that the pandemic has wrought, it is a remarkable achievement that we are proposing a budget that stabilizes school aid and allows for growth in programs to benefit our youngest learners,” said Kevin Dehmer, Interim Commissioner of Education.

Fiscal 2021 Budget Highlights

The Governor’s revised budget proposal for the 2020-2021 school year includes an additional $67.8 million in preschool education aid, for a total preschool allocation of $874.2 million. Of that increase, $10 million will go to expanding high-quality preschool programs into new school districts, with the remainder of the increase in preschool aid helping districts with existing preschool programs to expand to enroll additional students.

Overall, the Governor’s spending plan would ensure school districts receive the same levels of funding that were announced in July. The budget proposal would continue the phase-in to full funding of the state’s public school system required by a recent law designed to address inequities that resulted from years of overfunding some districts while failing to adequately meet the needs of others.

Governor Murphy and Interim Commissioner Dehmer discussed the education funding during a visit today to the Somerville School District, which would see a nearly 14 percent increase in preschool education aid from Fiscal 2020 for a total increase of $111,357, and a 3.5 percent increase in K-12 aid from the previous year for a total increase of $267,698.  

$100 Million for School Reopening

Governor Murphy allocated $100 million in federal CRF funding to support school reopening. A district may use the funding to meet the health and safety standards that the Department of Education established in its school-reopening guidance, The Road Back. In addition, districts that already meet the health and safety protocols can use the funds to ensure continued satisfaction of those standards.

Additional Budget Proposal Highlights

In addition to stable state aid and growth in preschool education aid, the Governor’s budget plan includes the following increases:
  1. $400,000 in funding to continue support for STEM Dual Enrollment and Early College High School funding, which led to the launch of P-TECH schools across New Jersey.
  2. $800,000 for the Computer Science for All initiative to support the goal of increasing student access to cutting-edge computer science instruction.
  3. $750,000 to continue the Minority Teacher Development Grants designed to diversify the teacher pipeline. (The grants are referred to as the “High Poverty School District Minority Teacher Recruitment Program” in the budget.) Research says that a diverse teaching workforce benefits all children; however, 56 percent of New Jersey’s students are children of color while only 16 percent of New Jersey’s educators are teachers of color.
Additional information on district allocations of state aid is available on the Department of Education’s School Finance webpage.

Last But Not Least
While the City of Plainfield is currently operating on a modified work schedule and trying to avoid person to person contact we are still here for you and are ready to help. We're only one call away and can assist you in finding resources specific for you. You can also visit our website at plainfieldnj.gov for a range of services you can complete online in the comfort of your home, which helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please see the graphic below to skip the trip to city hall and continue to stay safe.

Please call us at 908-753-3000 for assistance!