Resilient Regional Grant Program

The Resilient NJ: Regional Assistance Program offers funding through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for multi-municipal regional teams to develop comprehensive, community-led resilience action plans. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Building a Climate Ready NJ initiative and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this initiative supports up to six regional collaborations addressing climate-related hazards across the state. These collaborative regional efforts are designed to align local planning initiatives with broader resilience goals, particularly in communities vulnerable to flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and other climate threats. Regional Teams must consist of at least three adjacent municipalities, at least one community-based organization (CBO), and one lead entity designated as the Prime. The Prime serves as the grant applicant, fiscal agent, and liaison between the DEP and participating entities. While municipalities must participate via staff, CBOs are expected to offer outreach and engagement expertise, especially for vulnerable or underrepresented populations. Each selected team will be paired with a Consultant Team, managed by DEP, to guide the technical and planning aspects of the effort. Grants range from $200,000 to $300,000 per region, with up to $150,000 available for CBO support. Funding can be used for staff participation, engagement activities, and certain planning-related implementation tasks, but not for external municipal consultants or engineering/construction costs. Each team must submit a comprehensive preliminary budget listing anticipated expenses, including personnel time, travel, supplies, and subcontracted services that are not consultant fees. Participation in this program requires a strong administrative capacity from the Prime and a commitment from all municipalities to adopt a resolution confirming engagement. Planning efforts will include visioning, stakeholder outreach, identification and assessment of regional assets, hazard vulnerability assessments, and prioritization of short- and long-term resilience actions. All regions are required to include the development of a climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment (CCRHVA) compliant with the NJ Municipal Land Use Law. Implementation activities must focus on planning-only tasks such as data collection, conceptual designs, studies, or policy updates. Construction and final engineering are not eligible. Applications are due by October 14, 2025. A virtual question-and-answer session will be held on September 3, 2025, with a deadline for written questions on September 12. Answers will be posted publicly on September 19. Notifications of award will be issued in November 2025, with Consultant Teams selected by winter 2026. Projects will begin in spring 2026 and must conclude by June 30, 2028. All applications must be submitted via PDF to Danielle Petoukhoff at Danielle.Petoukhoff@dep.nj.gov. Required documentation includes completed forms, letters of commitment, and a budget proposal. Selected applicants will need to complete additional compliance documentation prior to award disbursement.

DEP recommends strong inter-municipal collaboration, clearly defined Prime capacity, and selection of CBOs with deep community engagement capabilities