WILDWOOD, NORTH WILDWOOD AND WILDWOOD CREST AWARDED $95,800 LEAP GRANT FOR STUDY

July 21, 2020

Summary:

• The LEAP Challenge Grant funds a consolidation study for islandwide EMS and Fire Services at no cost to city taxpayers.

• The three towns will develop a “steering committee” consisting of Administrators and one Elected Official.

• The full committee will prepare an RFP to procure an outside consultant.

• The aim of the study is to have stronger fire departments with reduced costs to tax payers.

More about LEAP and the mission:

Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) Challenge Grant Funds to be used to study possible consolidation of fire services between North Wildwood and Wildwood, EMS among North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest

NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ – The City of North Wildwood, City of Wildwood, and the Borough of Wildwood Crest were recently awarded a LEAP Challenge Grant of $95,800 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to study efficiencies resulting from the potential consolidation of various emergency services.

“We are appreciative of the DCA’s LEAP award and very pleased that our application was so favorably received,” said North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello. Mayor Rosenello also added, “This grant will provide us with the opportunity to study the most efficient means for us to provide critical public safety services to the Wildwoods.”

Under the study proposal -- referred to as SCoRES, or the Shore Communities Regional Emergency Services Consolidation -- the participating municipalities will examine the possible cooperative agreements among the three EMS communities, and the North Wildwood and Wildwood career fire services.

According to Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, “The similarities between the resort towns underscore the need for the forthcoming study process, especially for the fire services component. We share the same island and we all experience the same dramatic increase in population each summer.” Byron also added, “It’s easy to determine that the sharing of resources could yield positive results for everyone, especially the taxpayers.”

A similar sentiment regarding the possible ways to enhance EMS was expressed by Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera, who stated, “With three small communities providing the full range of emergency medical services – staffing, training, equipment, billing and more – it only makes sense to see how we might be able to deliver these services more efficiently.”

Contact: Ronald Simone at 609-522-2030 x 1260