Click here to read the Camden Higher Education & Healthcare Task Force Report - A 5-Year Winning Investment.   Click here to read CamdenWorks - a joint publication of the City of Camden, the CRA, the County of Camden and the ERB (English) Click here to read CamdenWorks - a joint publication of the City of Camden, the CRA, the County of Camden and the ERB (Spanish) ADVENTURE AQUARIUM WELCOMES TWO-MILLIONTH VISITOR After officially reopening its doors in May 2005 following extensive renovations, Camden’s Adventure Aquarium welcomed its two-millionth visitor on August 7.  Approximately $53 million in public and private funds were used to renovate the aquarium, which included nearly doubling the size of the facility and installing new exhibits featuring hippos, a shark tank and a free-flight aviary.  The aquarium also boasts five brand new interactive attractions, allowing visitors to touch jellyfish, stingrays, lobsters, shrimp and more. When Steiner & Associates began leasing the facility from the state in 2005, it expected 1 million visitors in the first year and 600,000 every year after, compared to the 300,000 who visited the aquarium when it was state operated.  Of the $53 million aquarium renovation project, $25 million came from a grant provided by the Economic Recovery Board for Camden (ERB), a subsidiary of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.  The Delaware River Port Authority administered $18 million in the form of grants and loans, and Steiner & Associates paid the balance using private funds. In addition to the aquarium, Steiner & Associates recently unveiled another waterfront project that consists of a four-story office building anchored by Susquehanna Bank.  The building will also feature restaurants, retail and office space.  Additionally, Steiner is planning a $3.5 million banquet and catering facility in the north section of the aquarium that is expected to be complete in late October.  *** NEW BRANCH IS MUSIC TO CAMDEN’S EARS Members of the Economic Recovery Board were treated to a special musical performance by a class of pre-k students at their February 27 meeting, held at the Camden branch of Settlement Music School.  As the wonderful performance suggested, the school is continuing to thrive a year after officially opening its doors in February 2006. Settlement's enrollment is up 75 percent, and the school now provides approximately 425 lessons a week to the nearly 400 students it serves, fulfilling its goal to create new cultural opportunities for the residents of Camden. The Camden School of Musical Arts, originally housed in an East Camden church, was founded in 1986 by a group of local ministers, music teachers and residents out of a common concern for the growing absence of music education in the public schools and in the community.   With $1 million in financing assistance from the Economic Recovery Board (ERB) and an additional $3 million from various foundations and individual donors, Settlement Music School was able to renovate the Market Street facility to serve as their branch in Camden.  This move significantly increased the school’s capacity and has succeeded in bringing music education to even more children in the community. Settlement Music School is the largest community-based school of the arts in the United States, and serves more than 15,000 students of all abilities without regard to age, race or financial circumstances.  The Camden branch includes 20 studios and a 100-seat recital hall on the second floor.  Individual lessons and group classes are available for all ages, all levels of skill and all backgrounds.  Additionally, the Camden branch offers featured programs, including a Jazz Ensemble, a Children’s Choir, and an on-site summer camp.

Upcoming Events ERB Board Meeting Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10 - 12 Noon Mount Calvary Baptist Church 1198 Penn Street Camden, NJ8102 Directions

Camden is in the midst of an inspiring renaissance. The Economic Recovery Board (ERB) has provided millions of dollars of public funds to this enormous undertaking, leveraging over $1 billion in private investments. We have invested in infrastructure improvements, and initiated economic development projects. These efforts create hope and prosperity for the citizens of Camden, providing property tax relief and economic development and employment opportunities throughout the City.

This effort needs input and support from you - the people of Camden - in order to succeed. Please make every effort to utilize this website and the other programs we have established so that we can continue to work in partnership for the successful recovery of the City of Camden. Thank you for your commitment to the Camden community and our efforts to revitalize the City.

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