The Murphy Administration has launched an online Climate Resilience Funding Directory to help municipalities, community-based organizations and state agencies identify resources for funding climate resilience projects, including local infrastructure improvements, hazard mitigation efforts and community resilience planning opportunities, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced today.
The Climate Resilience Funding Directory offers streamlined access to opportunities for state and federal grants, organized by criteria such as applicant type and cost-share requirements. In addition to connecting users with potential funding sources, the directory showcases success stories from resilience projects and examples of funded initiatives. This tool supports the Administration’s statewide climate resilience strategy efforts as established by Executive Order 89, which Governor Murphy signed on the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy in 2019.
“The Climate Resilience Funding Directory will become an important tool to ensure that local governments, organizations and state agencies take full advantage of every available funding opportunity to make our communities more resilient to the increasing severity of storms and flooding due to climate changes,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “New Jersey faces some of the nation’s worst impacts from climate change, and this resource will help support critical resilience work that will protect property and lives, while keeping New Jersey’s economy strong.”
“Having a clear roadmap to funding opportunities is crucial to help communities move from the resilience planning stage to project implementation,” said Chief Climate Resilience Officer Nick Angarone. “By exploring a variety of funding options, our communities can find ways to fund both immediate needs and longer-term resilience strategies. The Climate Resilience Funding Directory offers a vital link in support of these important efforts.”
The Climate Resilience Funding Directory was developed in response to the need for funding for the significant number of projects identified through Resilient NJ plans, and requests from municipalities for guidance on locating relevant funding to support resilience projects. In line with Executive Order 89, which calls for identification of grants and financing strategies for resilience and adaptation, the directory facilitates access to essential funding sources, bridging the gap between resilience planning and implementation.
About the Directory
Designed to support a wide range of users, the Climate Resilience Funding Directory primarily serves New Jersey municipalities, community-based organizations, and state agencies engaged in resilience activities. The tool is especially useful for local entities seeking financial support for climate adaptation and mitigation projects, aligning with DEP’s commitment to building resilience across the state.
In addition to a variety of financing resources, the Climate Resilience Funding Directory also includes links to stories about communities that have successfully received and used funding from some of the programs identified. Jersey City in Hudson County, for example, received $3.84 million in federal funds to implement the McGovern Park Resilience Project, which used green infrastructure methods to install a stormwater park with underground storage systems to mitigate flooding risk.
To explore the Climate Resilience Funding Directory and discover funding opportunities for climate adaptation and resilience, visit dep.nj.gov/climatechange/resources/tools-and-web-apps/ and click on the Climate Resilience Funding Directory card.
The DEP is seeking feedback to help enhance the functionality of the database and may plan future presentations to help communities become familiar and comfortable with the database. Questions and comments may be emailed to the Resilient NJ program at resilientnj@dep.nj.gov