Middlesex County, NJ

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

August 2021 Report
Middlesex County, NJ August 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

The County of Middlesex New Jersey (“County”) is pleased and fortunate to have 

been awarded more than $161M, in necessary State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds (“Funds”) to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far, the 

County has received the first allotment of those funds, in the amount of 

$80,129,310.50. 

As with all other counties in the United States, Middlesex County has been

adversely impacted by the current health crisis. As such, the County is

judiciously approaching the utilization of these critical Funds. The County will be 

leveraging its existing “Strategic Leadership Team” (“Team”) to research and 

arrive at well-calculated recommendations to County officials on the usage of the

Funds for the greatest benefit of the County and its constituents.

The aforementioned Team is comprised of all County department leaders, 

including the office of information technology, legal counsel, human resources, 

communications, marketing, and public & government affairs. This group will

provide valuable input to the deliberations regarding the management and 

disbursement of such Funds (see Middlesex County organizational chart below).
Middlesex County, NJ August 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

Additionally, the County’s Board of Commissioners are also tasked with the

development of the strategic plan along with the County’s Utility Authority and 

Improvement Authority (MCIA). 

Outreach to various community groups, elected officials, and the public has 

already started to solicit recommendations from the broadest universe of 

constituents on how to leverage the Funds. Moreover, the Team has engaged and 

are currently communicating with the private sector, and separately the County’s 

public College and Vocational Schools are working on a number of efforts that 

are underway (e.g., telemedicine in the health care sector). 

The County’s main objective, and biggest challenge, is to ensure that the 

broadest universe of individuals, including County staff, community groups and 

the public, are able to voice their ideas and are represented in the process 

applying the Funds for the greatest benefit of the County. 

As we continue to identify areas of targeted expenditures for the use of the Funds 

in the Public Health category, the following are examples, but not limited to, of

what we are evaluating: 

1. Salaries of County staff (public safety, public health, health care, human 

services) who have been working in response to the pandemic. For example, 

Health Office staff members who worked on testing, monitoring and contact 

tracing. Others worked on vaccinations programs and operations, including the 

management of supplies, equipment, facilities, administrative expenses, and the 

call center. 

2. County staff also worked on the emergency medical response to the pandemic, 

including transportation expenses, supplies and equipment.

3.The staff at the County’s Office of Sheriff manned testing facilities, vaccination 

sites, and aided in other public safety related efforts in response to the pandemic.

4. Communications and marketing expenses to publicly promote the availability 

of COVID testing and vaccinations.

5. Ventilation improvements in congregate settings, public health facilities, or 

other public facilities.

6. Purchase of PPE and disinfection supplies for facilities and public areas.

7. Capital investments towards public facilities such as hospitals and health 

clinics.

8. Enhanced services that address the mental health needs of the community 

exacerbated by the pandemic. 

9. Expand the use of telehealth services to assist our most vulnerable 

populations.
Middlesex County, NJ August 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

The County utilized CARES Act funds for two Small Business Emergency Grant 

programs aiding businesses employing less than 50 employees most impacted 

by the pandemic. More than $25M was distributed to over 1,000 businesses and 

the County is currently evaluating the need to assist these small businesses 

further with SLFRF funds.

The County is examining the potential financial support needed for small 

businesses to adopt safer operating procedures (e.g., enhanced cleaning 

methods, barriers and partitions, alterations to the facility for social distancing); 

to withstand periods of closure (considering the Delta variant and the fall and 

winter upon us), and determining other financial hardships driven by the 

pandemic (e.g., loss of revenue). The County is also evaluating new ways to help

transform business community to be more resilient during events like the COVID19 pandemic to prevent the disruption of services should the pandemic continue 

longer than anticipated, and/or in the event there are future emergency 

situations/pandemics. 

The County intends to investigate the disproportional impact that COVID-19 has 

had on its communities, to offer proper attention in the various areas of with the 

greatest need. For example, housing instability and service needs; childcare and 

child welfare services; access to health services; education; lead paint 

remediation; expanded use of telehealth in the impacted communities, etc. The 

County’s Office of Public and Government Affairs, in conjunction with the 

Finance Office and Information Technology Office, are spearheading 

collaborative efforts to conduct studies regarding these issues, supported by the 

Strategic Leadership Team.

The County anticipates utilizing SLFRF funds for a variety of improvements to the 

existing infrastructure including water and sewer. There is an opportunity to 

improve and repair wastewater treatment plants; improve resilience of 

infrastructure to severe weather conditions; protect waterbodies from pollution;

improve flood control; ensure compliance with federal and state environmental 

safety requirements; improve and address those conditions that causes the most 

risk to human health, etc.

Additionally, the County seeks to address the insufficient broadband capabilities 

across the County, but in particular, identifying the disparities for those unserved 

and underserved households who do not have adequate broadband capabilities

or access. This inadequacy can ultimately impact their connection to the internet 

and adversely affect the education of children. 
Middlesex County, NJ August 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

The pandemic has severely impacted Middlesex County, with millions of dollars 

lost in revenue from a variety of areas. For example, the lack of real estate 

transactions, decreased motor vehicles fees, sheriff’s revenue, Adult Correction 

Center revenue, reimbursement of elections expenses from municipalities, etc. It 

is anticipated that the County will employ SLFRF funds towards revenue lost 

during the past 18 months, and future periods of budget cycles. The 

reimbursement of loss revenue will contribute directly to our annual capital 

improvement program in future years.

Lastly, the County has successfully received Emergency Rental Assistance 

Program (“ERA” or “Program”) funding, $24M from ERA 1 and $28M from ERA 2. 

It has engaged the services of an outside consultant to assist in the development, 

management and oversight of the Program and has enlisted a digital web portal 

provider to enable applications to be processed and managed electronically to 

facilitate payments, track important data and to maintain a robust audit trail. 

Multiple community-based organizations have also been engaged to provide case 

managers to assist applicants and landlords in completing their applications, 

determining eligibility, and providing recommendations on rental and utility 

assistance payments to County officials. To date, the County has distributed 

more than $1,963,046.55 in rental and utility assistance to more than 172

applicants. 

While there have been no infrastructure projects identified thus far, when 

identified, the County will utilize appropriate labor practices to maximize 

employment opportunities and wages and other benefits for workers.

For future infrastructure projects utilizing SLFRF funds, vendors must comply 

with the following ‘workforce’ related requirements by state statutes:

• EEO/Affirmative Action compliance

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• NJ Anti-Discrimination Provisions

• Prevailing Wage (when applicable)

• Public Works Contractor Registration

In conclusion, the County is deeply committed to addressing the disproportionate 

impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on low-income and marginalized

communities. The County will continue examine and assess this issue closely 

and ensure that SLFRF funds are utilized to address the greatest areas of impact 

identified from this investigation.