Funding Opportunities and New Investments

June 23, 2022

Natural Climate Solutions Grant

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced a $15 million investment in nature-based infrastructure. The Natural Climate Solutions Grant program is funded through auction proceeds the state has received through RGGI, a collaboration of Mid-Atlantic and New England states that works to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Project grant awards will range from $250,000 to $5 million. Applications will be accepted through July 13.

Progress on the Clean Water Campaign

New Jersey faces a $6 billion clean water infrastructure funding gap over the next five years. Federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other state funding aren’t enough to close the gap. The good news is, New Jersey has $3 billion left in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. Investing $500 million this year and $500 million next year out of the remaining American Rescue Plan Funds would have a transformational impact on New Jersey.

While a lot of progress has been made in getting the message out, the work isn’t done. Governor Murphy, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and your state legislators need to hear from you during budget negotiations. Take action now! Send a quick email to support clean water, healthy families, and good jobs.

Environmental Justice and Stormwater Management Series: An Introduction to Flooding and Combined Sewer Overflows as a Social Justice Issue and Public Health Crisis

We’re all experiencing the effects of climate change. In the West, there are wildfires. Here in New Jersey, there are more frequent and violent storms. Across the state, we’re seeing flooding in places that rarely flooded before, and it is causing damages to homes and businesses that are often not covered by insurance.

While this trend of flooding is being experienced statewide, some communities are more vulnerable to these impacts than others, all because of the ancient combined sewer systems in said communities.

This webinar will feature experts from the US Water Alliance and New Jersey State Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who will explain how combined sewer overflows are a public health crisis neglected for far too long, and who will share opportunities to address the problem. The webinar will be the first of a series of Environmental Justice and Stormwater Management events that will pay special attention to the City of Camden, a municipality that has taken action in one of the most impacted areas in the state.

We hope you will join us on Wednesday, June 29 from 7:00–8:00 PM to learn more about how we all can raise our voices to help solve the problem of combined sewer overflows and flooding in New Jersey communities.

Join us on Wednesday, July 13, from 12:00–3:00p.m. in attending the first in-person Jersey Water Works Membership Meeting at Kean University. The annual Membership Meeting has allowed participants to connect, share updates, and advance the conversation about New Jersey’s water infrastructure. Your perspective is essential to the conversation. See further details and register here!

Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Partner Update

Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers partner, Groundwork Elizabeth, has made great efforts in advancing climate justice in Elizabeth. You can read more about their accomplishments here.

CREWS in the News

This month, we are featuring Groundwork USA and River Network. With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waters Program, Groundworks USA and River Network coordinate the Urban Waters Learning Network (UWLN). It is a nationwide peer-to-peer network of people and organizations working to conserve, restore, and revitalize America’s urban waterways. As part of an initiative that funds 24 grantees, the Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative is a program working to transform stormwater and wastewater systems with climate-resilient water management practices that emphasize equity.

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About This Campaign

Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers is an action-oriented campaign that empowers community organizations to engage residents and small business owners to shape their communities’ solutions to reduce localized flooding and the raw sewage dumped into rivers and streams due to combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It is organized by its partners and an advisory board, with the support of New Jersey Future.

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