PETERSBURG — Township Committee has hired a lobbying firm to advocate for federal funding to help pay for beach replenishment and other projects.
Members adopted a resolution authorizing a one-year, $60,000 contract with Warwick Group Consultants LLC of Maryland for federal lobbying and advocacy services.
According to a letter from Dan Ginolfi, senior public policy adviser, federal earmarks are an opportunity that every community should pursue but many do not.
“Our priority is to deliver federal resources to Upper Township to restore its beaches and implement infrastructure projects by leveraging our existing relationships with congressional offices and our knowledge of the federal appropriations process,” Ginolfi stated in the letter. “Since earmarks were reinstated in federal appropriations bills in 2020, we have secured over $182 million in federal funding for beach nourishment, stormwater management, living shorelines, roadway improvements, pre-disaster mitigation, flood infrastructure, emergency operations centers and more.”
Warwick Group has been a leader in coastal advocacy for more than 40 years, according to Ginolfi, and has helped more than 150 clients secure legislation and federal funding to make their communities safer and more resilient.
“We are best known for our work with Congress and the Corps of Engineers on beach erosion, where we have authorized and funded dozens of beach nourishment projects throughout the country,” the letter states.
The firm will meet with Upper Township officials this fall and winter to determine the types of projects they seek.
“This gives us a head start with legislators who will anticipate a request from your community,” he stated.
The consultants will narrow possible projects down to one or two and meet with the district’s congressional delegation in their Washington, D.C., offices, as well as coordinate virtual and in-person meetings.
“We will confirm eligibility with the appropriate agencies and deliver all other necessary approvals to your delegation to support your requests and finally complete the required paperwork to document the submission,” Ginolfi stated.
Once that is complete, the firm will hold meetings with committee staff and report on the status of the federal appropriations process until passage.
According to the letter, the fee will be divided into 12 equal monthly payments of $5,000. It also includes a 30-day opt-out clause after three months of service.
During a Township Committee meeting Nov. 24, township resident Lou Barbito asked about the contract.
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio said the “state increasingly does not want to help us ever with any type of funding — they are always crying poor and they never have enough money. We are looking to use the federal government to help get some grants and get some projects going in the township.”
He said Ocean City, Avalon, North Wildwood and two other local municipalities employ the Warwick Group.
“They’ve had pretty good success; their return on investment is 20 to 1,” he said. “It’s great to have state and county help but it’s also good to try to utilize some federal help as well.”
Casaccio said the firm would mostly work toward grants for beach replenishment funds but also things such as the planned office of emergency management building.
“We’re not having much luck at the state,” he said, adding U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has had the documents “on his desk for quite some time” but nothing has moved forward.
Barbito asked if it were standard procedure to “overstep the state and go to the federal government.”
Casaccio reiterated that there are five other municipalities in the county that do so and “had very positive things to say about them.”
“I was quite impressed and I feel they could help us secure some much-needed funding for the township,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen II said “we can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
“Not only are we going to try to get help from the state but this will also help us tap into federal as well,” Nappen said.
On a related topic, Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike said the township received a letter from the Department of Environmental Protection stating that the state is committed to beach replenishment for the Strathmere section of the township and Ocean City.
“State funds are allocated. We’re just waiting on the federal funds to avail themselves to move forward with this beach replenishment project if it is to come in 2026,” he said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff