Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hhs Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jersey City HHS outlines multiple grant closeouts and unspent funds; staffing and timing cited
Summary
Health and Human Services staff informed the council about unexpended grant balances across multiple programs — senior nutrition, WIC, summer food, injury prevention, SAMHSA mental health training and a workforce grant for immigrants — and explained that staffing gaps, grant deadlines and partner capacity caused leftover funds.
City Health and Human Services officials told the Jersey City Municipal Council they will cancel or reprogram several unexpended grant balances totaling amounts across multiple programs after explaining why funds went unused.
HHS staff described several separate items: a small remaining balance on a New Jersey breastfeeding mini-grant; unspent funds in 2023 senior nutrition accounts (about $60,224.07) and an additional 2023 senior nutrition allocation of $18,270 with $4,345.46 remaining; $107,856.62 left in 2023 WIC due to two nutritionist positions left unfilled; and a $101,052.035 balance in the 23–24 summer food service program being carried into the current year for food costs.
Cynthia Vasquez, Division Director for Injury Prevention, said a $406,046 award left roughly $33,004.86 unspent because the department could not hire a clinical nurse in time to implement a planned mobile testing clinic and the state denied a transfer request. Vasquez also explained that a SAMHSA mental health training grant encountered administrative issues: one account was duplicated in the financial system and another tranche ($125,000 award) left roughly $41,007.40 unspent when the department missed deadlines to issue a purchase order before the grant period closed.
HHS immigrant affairs staff reported a Department of Labor workforce training grant that closed with $46,817.70 remaining. They attributed that remainder to strong partner capacity (five established immigrant nonprofits and Hudson County Schools of Technology), which meant partners did not need additional funds, and to turnover in two part-time personnel posts.
Separately, the Division of Environmental Health reported unused funds in a childhood lead prevention grant because the department was unable to hire three positions (lead inspector, phlebotomist, and a nurse); staff said salary offers were not competitive with local private employers and the city is coordinating with the state and human resources to address pay issues.
Council members asked for details on timing, procurement and staffing; HHS staff provided grant-period dates where available (for example, the SAMHSA cycle ran 12/31/2022–12/31/2023) and said some unspent funds were rolled into the next program year when permitted. Several cancellations were presented as administrative cleanups to close out older grant accounts before reprogramming or reallocating funds.
No formal council votes on these cancellations were recorded during the caucus; the items were presented for council consideration as part of the evening’s grant-account adjustments.
