By: Najla Alexander
Carteret officials announced that the Borough has received a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Middlesex County Division of Housing, Community Development, and Social Services through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mayor Daniel J. Reiman recently stated that the reimbursement funds will help with the rehabilitation of the Blazing Star Cultural Arts Center. The project will go out to bid soon, the Mayor Said, and will include an ADA-compliant elevator, restroom, and other renovations and improvements to the municipally-owned historic building, including the first public access to the basement since 1999.
“Blazing Star is a hub where local artists and artisans gather to learn about and work on arts & crafts projects together,” Mayor Reiman said.
"It’s also where the Community Choir rehearses and often performs. Blazing Star is invaluable to the local community, so I am very grateful that CDBG funds will be used to help modernize and expand this important space.”
For the first time, the County used a competitive process to determine grant amounts rather than distribute the same amounts provided in previous years, Carteret officials say. To qualify, projects had to meet federal low-and moderate-income requirements or have a town-wide impact. Blazing Star met both requirements.
Originally, a YMCA developed by industry at the turn of the 20th Century, the building then served as the Borough’s public library from the 1930s to 1999, when the current library at 100 Cooke Ave. was opened, according to Carteret officials.
Carteret officials said Blazing Star was founded in 2015, as was Central Jersey Arts Council. CJAC hosts arts, crafts, cultural, and wellness programs each week for the entire Carteret community to enjoy. Most of these activities are free of charge.
Located at 63 Carteret Ave., Blazing Star is also home to the Carteret Historical Committee and the Carteret Gay-Straight Alliance, Carteret officials say.
For updates about Blazing Star, visit centraljerseyartscouncil.org/, carteret.net/, and @mycarteret on Facebook, Instagram, and X.