$50M for Coastal Resilience Grants

Municipalities, counties and local government agencies may now apply for grants for projects that improve storm resiliency as part of $50 million in federal funding now available through the Department of Environmental Protection, the Christie Administration announced.

The state is making U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding available for projects that reduce local flood risks and enhance resiliency. The funding comes from HUD’s second round of Superstorm Sandy aid for New Jersey, released earlier this year to help the state meet a broad range of post-storm needs.

This initiative will focus on critical risk reduction initiatives, which include, among other things, addressing flood risks posed by coastal lakes and inland waterways, enhancing storm water management systems, and incorporating both man-made flood barriers and nature-based solutions, such as restoration of wetlands and creation of living shorelines, where appropriate.

“The Flood Hazard Risk Reduction Measures Grant Program is part of the Christie Administration’s ongoing commitment to making New Jersey more resilient in the face of future storms,” DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. “These competitive grants provide an excellent opportunity for municipal governments, county governments, improvement authorities and other local agencies to move forward with shovel-ready projects that will provide direct protection to communities and neighborhoods.”

Projects must be in the counties most impacted by Superstorm Sandy, as determined by the federal government, including Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union.

The DEP will host an information session on the CDBG Flood Risk Reduction Grant Program on Friday Nov. 14 from 2p.m. to 4 p.m. at its headquarters Public Hearing Room, 401 E. State Street, Trenton. The deadline for submissions of project applications is December 15. The DEP expects to announce grant awards around the middle of January.

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Press Release