New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Offers New, Fixed 30-Year Mortgage Interest Rate of 3.75 Percent

To further boost the positive upswing in the state's housing market, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) on March 1 announced a new, fixed interest rate mortgage of 3.75 percent with a 30-year term and no points for qualified first-time homebuyers and Urban Target Area borrowers. The new interest rate, which became effective March 1, is the lowest rate ever offered by the HMFA. The Agency has $170 million to lend at this historically low interest rate, which will fund approximately 1,000 conventional mortgages.
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Christie Administration Protects Municipal State Aid Levels for Second Consecutive Year

Governor Chris Christie's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget proposal protects municipal aid at Fiscal Year 2012 funding levels. Secure, stable funding for the second year in a row helps local governments to control property taxes and demonstrates that providing municipal aid in a predictable and sustainable manner for municipalities and protecting property taxpayers is a core priority of the Christie Administration. The municipal aid funding total for Fiscal Year 2013 is $1,466,700,000.
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DCA and Division on Women Host Women's Entrepreneurship Series

With the goal of spurring more entrepreneurial activity among women in the Garden State, the New Jersey Division on Women is hosting a three-part business entrepreneurship series that was created specifically for women. The first event on February 23 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village drew 200 women from around the state, each with the goal of growing an established business or launching a new one. The remaining events of the NJ WE Series are being implemented in recognition of the following national business awareness weeks in 2012:
  • May 21st - National Small Business Week
  • October 19th - National Business Women's Week

The 2012 NJ WE Series is a no charge event and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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NJ Governor's Conference for Women Announces Speakers

Business Coach Dr. Lois Frankel and Political Experts Peggy Noonan and Donna Brazile to Appear

Dr. Lois Frankel, noted author and lecturer, will deliver the keynote address at the 2012 NJ Governor's Conference for Women, which is slated for Tuesday, May 7-8, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Dr. Frankel, president of Corporate Coaching International, literally wrote the book on coaching people to succeed in businesses large and small around the globe. Her books Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office and Nice Girls Don't Get Rich are international bestsellers translated into more than 25 languages worldwide. Peggy Noonan, a columnist at The Wall Street Journal, and Donna Brazile, a syndicated columnist and TV political commentator, will headline the opening session of the Conference.
The Governor's Conference for Women is self-sustaining, funded entirely through sponsorship opportunities and registration fees. Registration is now open for the 2012 NJ Governor's Conference for Women.
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DCA and NJ Historic Trust Announce New Grant Rounds for Historic Preservation

Grants Available to Help Organizations Repair, Preserve and Use Historic Resources.

The DCA and New Jersey Historic Trust announced in February two new historic preservation grant rounds. The grants are available for eligible organizations that seek to repair, preserve and actively use historic buildings and resources. Guidelines and applications are now posted on the website of the New Jersey Historic Trust, a DCA affiliated agency.

The first grant round is in partnership with the New Jersey Cultural Trust Capital Preservation Grant Program. It will provide grants of up to $50,000 for repair, restoration, stabilization, and improvements at historic sites that are listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The second grant round is in partnership with the 1772 Foundation Capital Grant Program. It will provide matching grants up to $15,000 to nonprofit organizations that own or manage historic sites in need of exterior repairs. This year the Historic Trust is also launching a new initiative to provide small grants of up to $3,000 for projects that support heritage tourism. The Discover NJ History License Plate Fund for Heritage Tourism is available to municipalities, counties and nonprofit organizations.
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