Sustainable Communities
Approaches to meeting present and future environmental, social and economic needs.
Funding Opportunities
The
Community Forestry Program of the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry
offers two grants. The Green Communities Grant awards $3,000 which can only
be used by municipalities and counties to offset the cost of hiring a forestry
consultant who will work with them in the development of a Community Forestry
Management Plan. The Community Stewardship Incentive Program provides up
to $25,000 to municipalities and counties to assist in the implementation
of forestry goals and objectives in their five year community forestry management
plan. CSIP recipients must provide a twenty five per cent of the grant amount
in cash or in-kind services.
The Community
Partner Incentive Program from New Jersey's Office of Clean Energy
pays municipalities $200 to $1,000 for getting residents to participate
in any of 9 different energy-saving programs, many of which also pay rebates
to the consumer.
Conservation Resources Inc. Small Grants program provides funding for non-profit conservation organizations working in the Garden State. These grants are designed to provide assistance to exemplary land acquisition, stewardship and restoration projects by providing seed money for the initiation of projects, to help cover certain costs which are not fully reimbursable by other existing grant programs, such as appraisal and survey expenses, and to provide matching funds to support non-profit stewardship and restoration projects.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
The Energy Efficiency and Conversation Block Grant (EECBG) Rebate Program
provides supplemental funding up to $20,000 for eligible New Jersey local
government entities (those that did not receive a Direct Block Grant from
the US Department of Energy) to lower the cost of installing energy conservation
measures. This program is administered by the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities (NJ BPU) and managed by TRC, the Commercial and Industrial (C&I)
Market Manager. Funding for the EECBG Rebate Program is provided through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). All eligible entities
will have
the opportunity to apply for an EECBG rebate until April 1, 2012. However,
projects must be installed and all required documentation submitted to TRC
before August 1, 2012 in order to receive funds.
For projects being implemented under the Pay for Performance Program, the
recommended measures must be installed and the one-year post construction
benchmarking report must be submitted by August 1, 2012
in order to receive a grant.
Grants to Green Communities. The Enterprise Foundation is offering grants to Green Communities to help cover the costs of planning and implementing green components of affordable housing developments, as well as tracking their costs and benefits.
The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program, a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company, the National Geographic Society, and the Conservation Fund, provides seed grants of up to $2,500 to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America. Greenways are corridors of protected public and private land established along rivers, ridges, abandoned railroad corridors, utility right-of-ways, canals, scenic roads, or other linear features. For 2010, the program anticipates awarding up to 50 percent of the grants to those greenways projects that involve natural, cultural, and/or socio-political historical themes. The application deadline is June 15, 2010.
Municipal Energy Audit grants from NJ's Board of Public Utilities for local government-owned buildings including offices, courtroom, town halls, police and fire stations, sanitation buildings, transportation structures, schools and community centers. The grants cover 75% to 100% of the cost of the audit, with additional incentives available for installed energy conserving improvements.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts applications for conservation assistance year round for farmers and conservation-minded landowners. Funding programs include: Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA); Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and others.
NJ BPU -Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program is a NJ BPU program that offers rebates to government agencies and educational institutions for purchasing vehicles that operate on substantially non-petroleum fuels. BPU also offers a complementary program, New Jersey's Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program, which is designed to provide cost-share funds to allow local governments to establish alternative fuel dispensing facilities in New Jersey.
NJDEP's Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grants Program This new program will make available about $2.5 million to municipalities, counties, local authorities, school boards and county colleges through a competitive grant process funded by proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The grant program is intended to support New Jersey's local government efforts to plan, develop and implement measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through programs that result in:
- energy efficiency
- renewable energy,
- distributed energy and
- sustainable land use planning.
Projects must demonstrate measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or energy demand.
Local governments and educational institutions submitted preliminary applications in September 2009 for the first round of grant funding and have been awaiting invitations to submit full applications for the grants. On December 8, 2009 NJ DEP announced that "it is appropriate to postpone making decisions regarding the DEP Greenhouse Gas Local Government Grants at this time. Additional information will be forthcoming once the new Administration has come on board and provided guidance regarding the funding process."It is anticipated that a second round of grant opportunities through this program will be announced in February 2010, based on proceeds from quarterly RGGI carbon auctions.
Future Grant Program announcements will be dependent on funding availability and may be on an annual rather than semi-annual basis.
Detailed grant info and application on NJDEP web site.
Presentations from ANJEC Informational Webinar Available.
NJDOT municipal bikeways grants NJ Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT’s) Bikeways Program has $3 million available for bicycle-compatible transportation projects.
NJDOT non-traditional municipal transportation projects grants- NJ Department of Transportation’s Centers of Place Program has $3 million available for local, non-traditional transportation improvement projects throughout the state.
NJ
Natural Gas Conserve to Preserve Community Rewards is a fundraising
opportunity enabling schools and nonprofits to earn up to $5,000 by signing
up households to use a free online tool that helps them track and analyze
their energy use. Available in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Morris Counties.
The New Jersey Wind Program web page provides information resources for those interested in learning about terrestrial sited wind generation and financial incentives offered through New Jersey's Clean Energy Program.
New Jersey Highlands Grants The Highlands Council has an active grants program by which it provides funds for projects that promote the goals of the Highlands Act or further the Regional Master Plan. The Council is currently accepting applications for five categories of grants: COAH Planning Grants, Agriculture Grants, Initial Assessment Grants, TDR Feasibility Grants, and Plan Conformance grants. Municipalities and counties interested in the grant programs should contact Herbert S. August, Manager of Grants Administration, at (908) 879-6737 or at grants@highlands.state.nj.us.
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is a USDA competitive grants program supporting agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities. Applicants for Sustainable Community Grants must be affiliated with Cooperative Extension, NRCS, a municipality, a state department of agriculture, a college or university, a community organization, or other institutional entity.
PSE&G Solar Loan Program Municipalities and other non-residential customers, which plan to install a solar photovoltaic system and are located within PSE&G’s electric service territory, may apply to PSE&G for a loan for part of the cost of the system. These Solar Loans can be paid from Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs).
The Recycling Bin Grant Program offered by Coca Cola and the National Recycling Coalition supports local community recycling programs by providing selected grant recipients with containers for the collection of recyclable beverage containers in various settings.
