The Jersey City Independent "

A barbecue will be held tomorrow to celebrate the progress of a local initiative to improve Greenville.

The event will also celebrate a $50,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation that will benefit the I Love Greenville Community Plan.

The planning effort aims to designate Greenville as an area eligible to receive up to $1 million in Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credits under the state Department of Community Affairs and secure funding for implementation activities from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation (GSECDC), which will be co-hosting the event, says such resources would help to further address social services and the economic development needs of the community. The GSECDC has heavily invested in Greenville, completing most of its 208 units of affordable housing in the neighborhood.

I Love Greenville has held four public meetings in the past year to solicit public comment from over 500 residents and its 20 Steering Committee members have also been meeting monthly since January to complete the requirements of the plan.

“GSECDC is proud to facilitate this process and commends all of the participants, particularly the residents and steering committee members, for their commitment to positive change in Greenville,” said Director of Housing and Community Development John Restrepo. “Planning efforts like this command attention and funding and I sincerely thank Wells Fargo Regional Foundation for supporting this effort.”

Tomorrow’s festivities begin at 11 am at Christ the King Church, located at 768 Ocean Ave. There will be food, games, face painting, a DJ, raffles and a bounce house. At 2 pm, representatives from GSECDC, elected officials, Steering Committee members and the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation will speak. The festival runs through 3 pm. For more information, click here.