After twice rejecting the request, federal officials now say the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association can seek $1 million in federal aid for repairing a boardwalk that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

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Officials tell the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/KUYdsb) that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association recently learned about the Federal Emergency Management Association's decision.

It's not yet known why FEMA reversed its decision, and association officials could not be reached for comment.

FEMA had twice denied the application on the grounds that public money should not be allocated for the restoration effort because the boardwalk is owned by a private organization with religious affiliations.

Ocean Grove is the historical section of Neptune Township. The middle section of its roughly mile-long boardwalk suffered damage when Sandy hit in October 2012.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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