South Orange was one of 15 Essex County municipalities to be awarded Community Development Block Grants and will receive $178,480 to help pay off SOPAC construction costs, it was announced today at the Hall of Records in Newark.

A total of $8.8 million was awarded to the 15 Essex towns, plus 42 non-profit groups. The grant is funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the county's Division of Housing and Community Development. Its focus is on "shovel-ready" projects that are ready to commence within 30 days of a contract being signed, according to the division's director, E. Michael Taylor.

According to Village President Douglas Newman, South Orange submitted a request for $325,000 last month specifically for SOPAC, and the grant is determined by a County formula.

Another local entity receiving funds was EIES of New Jersey, which will use its $8,450 grant to purchase more radios for its visually-impaired clients and to upgrade computer equipment, said volunteer coordinator Sherri DeRose.