The council reviewed a first amendment to Paterson’s MOU with Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) to add legacy‑planning services for residents, funded with an additional $50,000 grant.

Program purpose and scope: Economic development staff said the amendment will allow the city’s financial empowerment center—operated in partnership with NJCDC—to offer legacy planning services including wills, medical proxies and powers of attorney, and to assist residents in organizing beneficiaries and legal documents. The center is currently one of the only CFE‑designated sites in New Jersey.

Reported performance metrics: Staff said year‑to‑date the center served 805 individuals in 2025 and helped clients reduce approximately $1.3 million in personal debt and open accounts or obtain credit improvements. The staff reported five clients have obtained mortgages through the program’s counseling since launch. Council members requested formal, attributable reports and demographic breakdowns to verify results while preserving client confidentiality.

Next steps: Council directed administration to circulate the program report and to provide a summarized demographic breakdown (age ranges, outcome categories) that does not disclose individual confidential data. The council placed the amendment on the regular agenda for final action.