The 508(c)(1)(a) New Millennium Faith-Based Initiative

Spanning the Delaware River, the “Trenton Makes” Bridge in giant neon red letters
proclaims to all, "Trenton Makes, The World Takes.". Hearkening back to the time
when Trenton was a center of manufacture, these days the sign seems a bit of an
anachronism. Trenton and many other American cities have decayed to the point that
they are shells of their former selves. Businesses and people slowly disappeared from
American cities over the decades since the sixties. No longer centers of thriving
industry, they are now crime-ridden, politically corrupt, and decaying. Despite this, cities
are now the focus of revitalization efforts. If done properly, revitalization can be a way to
alleviate the poverty and crime suffered in many American inner cities. Revitalization is
a recent innovation that takes advantage of the existing enterprise and infrastructure in
cities and tries to bring value back to the community there. Efforts to revitalize cities
meet with varied success.
It is important to elevate the standard of living for the existing community, not
just shove it aside in the pursuit of a gentrified city. Giving the existing people a
chance at independence raises the standard of living for all residents in the city
and preserves the rich heritage and character of the city.
In the effort to attract people back to the cities, revitalization increases the
independence of all Americans, utilizes existing infrastructure, and encourages cultural
growth.
One cannot speak of a city's and a people's
independence without speaking of their economic
independence. The ability of people to obtain jobs
and meet their basic needs is a huge determinant
of how well that people's culture will flourish. It is
difficult to pursue the arts or education if one is
impoverished. The rebuilding of inner cities can
raise the quality of life for many Americans by
bringing businesses that provide jobs and
opportunity back to the cities. Also, a city that has
a thriving business community has a healthy tax
base to support its public education system. The
public school is an integral part of revitalization.
Providing students with a high-quality, technologybased
education prepares them to become
successful, contributing citizens. Inner city school
systems are notorious for their high dropout rates
and general difficulty in producing good students.
By revitalizing inner cities, parents are given
access to jobs and can provide a better home environment for their children.
The use of existing infrastructure in revitalization efforts reduces suburban sprawl.
Areas that were long ago developed for housing and business are made attractive
through remodeling, which is less costly and environmentally destructive than building
new homes in the suburbs. Encouraging city living also encourages use of mass transit
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