Program Will Award Grants of up to $75,000

TRENTON, N.J. (March 31, 2023) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) plans to create a $750,000 grant program to help New Jersey startups develop innovative solutions designed to improve food security statewide.

Through the Food and Agriculture Research & Development (R&D) Pilot Seed Grant Program, CSIT will provide grants of up to $75,000 to startups working on food and/or agriculture-related innovation in the life sciences, technology, and food and beverage (non-retail) sectors.

The grants will enable awardees to accelerate their R&D to transform new discoveries from the research stage into commercially viable products and services that address food security needs of communities across New Jersey. Projects do not need to be located within a food desert community, but applicants should describe how their proposal will impact residents in food desert communities and food-insecure New Jerseyans more broadly. Complete eligibility requirements can be found here.  

“Food insecurity is a critical issue and New Jersey startups are developing innovative solutions in areas surrounding food processing, food access, and information on nutrition,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership, we are supporting this next generation of entrepreneurs as they work to address the needs of the hungry. From companies like Campbell’s Soup Company and Wakefern Food Corporation to B&G Foods and Mars Chocolate, New Jersey is already home to numerous food and beverage giants, and we look forward to watching startups in this vital sector grow and expand their footprints in the Garden State.”

Sheft noted that this program will bolster New Jersey’s leadership role as it gains further recognition as one of the nation’s key hubs for food innovation and technology. New Jersey has many assets that are helping attract and retain companies in this growing sector, specifically its strategic location, expansive transportation infrastructure, and easy access to the Port of New York and New Jersey, which serves as the second busiest port in North America and is the largest on the East Coast.

CSIT will host an informational webinar on the Food and Agriculture R&D Pilot Grant Program prior to the application opening. Details of that webinar will be posted on CSIT’s website once it is scheduled. A recorded version of the webinar and copy of materials presented will be made available on the CSIT webpage following the event.

CSIT expects to begin accepting applications for this program later this Spring. 

A commitment of $750,000 from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to CSIT to fund the Food and Agriculture R&D Pilot Seed Grant program was approved by both Boards this month. The funding allocation from the NJEDA was appropriated through New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2022 state budget, which dedicated $3.5 million to the Authority for “Food and Agriculture Innovation.”

“The Food and Agriculture R&D Pilot Seed Grant Program is an important tool in furthering Governor Murphy’s vision to make New Jersey a leader in innovation while increasing access to healthy food for every resident,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This program will also harness the brainpower of New Jersey entrepreneurs – one of our state’s greatest assets – to aid in our whole-of-government approach to combatting food insecurity.”

In keeping with Governor Murphy’s goal of creating the most diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem in the country, bonus scoring will be awarded to applicants that are New Jersey-certified women-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned businesses or have a primary place of business/research and development located either within an opportunity zone eligible census tract or within Trenton, Paterson, or Atlantic City. Bonus scoring will also be awarded to applicants using intellectual property initially developed at a New Jersey university, under an executed license agreement with such university. To increase the percentage of first-time CSIT awardees, staff will implement a new scoring bonus for applicants that have not previously been awarded a CSIT grant or voucher.

“Given the food insecurity in New Jersey and throughout the world, the Commission is proud to launch this important pilot program which will support entrepreneurs as they innovate to address this challenge,” said CSIT Chair Debbie Hart. “This program literally has the potential to change the world starting in the neighborhoods of New Jersey.”

The CSIT Board approved the creation of the Food and Agriculture R&D Pilot Seed Grant Program at its meeting last week.

About CSIT
In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the state as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit http://www.njeda.gov/csit and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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PUBLIC INPUT INVITED AT UPCOMING SESSIONS ON POSSIBLE INVESTMENTS FOR NEXT RGGI FUNDING CYCLE

(March 30, 2023) TRENTON — Following through on the Murphy Administration’s recent outline of six pillars that will serve as the foundation for a cleaner, greener, and more resilient New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced $70 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceed awards to help reduce the upfront costs of electric trucks, buses, and equipment in overburdened communities. The state agencies also announced a series of sessions in April for the public to comment on possible future investments with RGGI funds.

The $70 million investment will fund the purchase of 156 electric vehicles, including 114 school buses, eight garbage and dump trucks, 26 shuttle and transit buses, and four forklifts, all operating in approximately 20 overburdened communities across the state. The auction proceeds will also fund four projects, led by Via, Blink, Envoy and Zipcar, to bring electric ride-sharing options to communities that lack access to reliable transportation.

Today’s announcement builds on more than $240 million awarded statewide since 2019 for nearly 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations, 700 electric trucks and buses, and 12,000 electric passenger vehicles.

Drawing on the success of RGGI proceeds spent to date, New Jersey also announced the release of the 2023-2025 RGGI Auction Proceeds Scoping Document to outline potential initiatives that NJDEP, NJBPU, and NJEDA could each sponsor during the 2023-2025 funding cycle. The three state agencies are seeking feedback from the public on the prospective initiatives described in the scoping document and for other possible investments with RGGI proceeds. A series of interactive public workshops will be held on April 4, 11, 13 and 18 to collect input that will be considered in finalizing the RGGI Strategic Funding Plan for years 2023-2025.

The NJDEP, NJBPU, and the NJEDA jointly released the first RGGI Strategic Funding Plan in April 2020, detailing how auction proceeds would be invested in climate change, clean energy, and environmental justice projects for the years 2020-2022. More than $100 million from auction proceeds was dedicated across the state during that time. The Strategic Funding Plan is reviewed every three years and updated to ensure that investments are aligned across agencies to meet the Murphy Administration’s clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.  

To further those efforts, New Jersey recently accepted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s offer to participate in the historic Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant Program, through which the state will receive $3 million for green initiatives. Specifically, the federal funds may be used to accelerate climate pollutant emissions reduction programs that will improve air quality and public health and better serve communities.

New Jersey is also committed to decarbonizing residential and commercial buildings to improve indoor air quality and public health, while leveraging federal rebates and grants through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce costs to ratepayers.

New Jersey is especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, many of which are already familiar to residents due to increasingly mild winters, hotter summers, more extreme precipitation, increasing inland flooding across the state’s watersheds, and sea-level rise resulting in more “sunny day” tidal flooding along the Atlantic coast.

RGGI is a cap-and-trade pact among 11 northeastern states dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generating sector. New Jersey invests its RGGI auction proceeds in programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drive forward projects that boost clean energy and create jobs, protect the health of residents in environmental justice communities, and increase the resiliency of coastal communities. 

For a list of projects to be funded with the $70 million in RGGI auction proceeds, visit NJ DEP- StopTheSoot.org

For more information on New Jersey’s vehicle electrification goals and strategies, visit www.drivegreen.nj.gov

For more information on New Jersey’s RGGI Strategic Funding Plan, visit NJDEP | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) | Strategic Funding Plan | Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability (AQES)

To sign up to attend RGGI Scoping Document Stakeholder Events, visit https://www.nj.gov/rggi/engage.html

If you are interested in receiving updates from NJBPU on RGGI funded programs, visit https://www.nj.gov/bpu/about/contact/subscribe.html.

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Update: Feedback on all C-PACE-related documents released by the NJEDA this year will be accepted through August 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Draft Program Guidelines for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program to be shared for public feedback

TRENTON, N.J. (March 27, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will host a virtual public information session on the Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program on Friday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. The session will provide an overview of the draft C-PACE program guidelines, which will be made available prior to the session. 

The draft C-PACE guidelines will be posted here.  Feedback can be sent to gardenstatecpace@njeda.com through May 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. The draft C-PACE guidelines will include eligibility criteria, responsibilities of participants, the application process, technical standards, fees, and local program requirements.

Members of the public, including media, can register for the April 14 information session here.

The C-PACE Program will provide a new form of financing to New Jersey property owners for renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, and certain types of resiliency-related improvements. The program will enable eligible commercial, industrial, agricultural, and certain multi-family residential real property owners to access financing to undertake these kinds of improvements on their properties and repay the financing through the payment of an additional assessment to their municipality, similar to a property tax, sewer, or water bill.

As part of his administration’s ongoing commitment to address climate change, in August 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (A-2374) requiring the NJEDA to establish the C-PACE program to facilitate the financing of eligible projects in municipalities that adopt an opt-in ordinance.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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A meeting of the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board has been scheduled for Friday, March 24, 2023, at 10:00 am.

A copy of the proposed agenda can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/csit.

+1 551-220-2262
Conference ID: 292 913 81#

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Webinar will Help Potential Applicants Secure Funding of up to $175,000 for Zero-Emission Vehicles

TRENTON, N.J. (March 17, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will host a webinar to offer details of the expanded New Jersey Zero-Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP) on Thursday, March 23. Specifically, the webinar will provide business owners with important information on expanded eligibility, updated application processes, and technical assistance services in advance of the opening for Phase 2 of NJ ZIP. The application for NJ ZIP – Phase 2 will open to businesses and institutions statewide on April 18 and will be available at http://www.njeda.gov/njzip.      

NJ ZIP provides vouchers of $20,000 to $175,000, based on vehicle class, to business and institution owners to support the purchase of new, zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Additional bonuses will also be available. The $45 million enlargement of the program for Phase 2 includes expanding eligibility statewide and the purchase of heavy-duty in addition to medium-duty vehicles.

NJ ZIP first launched in 2021 as a pilot program available only to businesses and institutions in the greater Newark and Camden areas, and subsequently expanded to the greater New Brunswick and greater Jersey Shore areas. Phase 1 of the program only supported medium-duty vehicles. More than $39 million in vouchers has been approved through Phase 1 of the program to date.

In line with Governor Phil Murphy’s recent pledge to convert to 100 percent zero-emission vehicles statewide by 2035, NJ ZIP aims to expedite the adoption and use of clean-energy vehicles for business owners to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and bolster the state’s clean energy economy.

Complete program eligibility and details can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/njzip/

The webinar is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. on March 23. Those interested can find out more about the program and register for the webinar at https://njeda.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lJ8tDiYyRmS8IQIO74sfRg. A recorded version of the event will be posted at https://www.njeda.gov/njzip/ following the webinar.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Please be advised that the next Capital City Redevelopment Corporation Board Meeting will be held in person and via teleconference on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 11:00 am. 

Members of the public who wish to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting, pertaining to agenda items, may attend in person or call into the meeting by using the conference number, and are encouraged to call in prior to the meeting start time to avoid any delays.

IN PERSON:

NJEDA Board Room

36 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625

TELECONFERENCE:

CONFERENCE NAME:                                CCRC BOARD MEETING

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER:              551-220-2262

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE:                    621 124 85#

The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting at our website: www.njeda.gov/ccrc.

MARCH 13, 2023 – Newark, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy took the stage at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall this morning alongside NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Asbury Park Mayor John Moor, and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small to announce…

A Special Telephonic meeting of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is scheduled for 10:00 am, Friday, March 17, 2023.
 
The Members will convene to via conference call only, to discuss and vote on items related to emergency lending mechanisms to support NJ companies impacted by the closure of Silicon Valley Bank.


Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in on the conference line.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak during the public comment segment of the meeting. The following conference number is being provided:
 
MEETING NAME: NJEDA BOARD MEETING (MARCH 17, 2023)

PARTICIPANT DIAL-IN NUMBER: 877-692-8955

PARTICIPANT ACCESS CODE: 7736826

 
Members of the public are encouraged to call in prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to begin to avoid any delays. 
 
The agenda can be found 48 hours prior to the meeting at our website: www.njeda.gov. 

Programs will provide approximately $35m in short term support for New Jersey companies impacted by Silicon Valley Bank

Trenton, N.J. (March 12, 2023) – In response to Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) collapse last week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will be opening, and launching, a series of programs designed to provide emergency assistance to New Jersey-based companies banked by SVB.

Specifically, this package of assistance includes the re-opening of the NJEDA’s Entrepreneur Support Program, the launch of the NJEDA’s Angel Match Program, and the scheduling of a special board meeting for consideration of an emergency liquidity facility. All programs will provide necessary financial support for companies experiencing liquidity challenges due to the SVB collapse and are designed to help companies meet payroll, pay rent, and continue their day-to-day operations. Both programs will open on the NJEDA’s website early this week, with Angel Match launching on Monday, March 13th with pre-qualifications opening at 9:00am, and the Entrepreneur Support Program launching on Wednesday, March 15th.

“Ensuring the success of New Jersey’s businesses is a vital component in building a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy,” said Governor Murphy. “Now, more than ever, it is essential that our state supports companies that contribute to our economy, innovation ecosystem, and the dynamism of our cities. By offering a suite of programs for New Jersey entrepreneurs impacted by the SVB collapse, we will continue to keep residents employed and support companies that are vital to our innovation ecosystem.” 

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has made monumental strides in growing our innovation economy and scaling companies of the future,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Today’s announcement serves as a testament to New Jersey’s commitment to the success of our entrepreneurial sector, with the state pivoting almost overnight to launch programs that provide critically necessary support for entrepreneurs during times of economic uncertainty.”  

Funded at $5 million, the New Jersey Entrepreneur Support Program offers a guarantee to support repayment of an investor loan advanced for working capital purposes and is designed to encourage investors to support businesses within their portfolios during this liquidity crisis when investor support is particularly crucial. It provides an NJEDA guarantee of up to 80 percent for an eligible new loan or convertible note by a qualified investor into a New Jersey qualified business, not to exceed a $200,000 guarantee per company.

Funded at $20 million, the Angel Match Program will help early-stage businesses bridge funding gaps as they scale their operations and refine their products. The program, which will match up to $500,000 in direct investments, is designed to fuel the growth of early-stage companies while increasing the pool of available capital, stimulating further investments into New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem. The funding may be used for product development, marketing, research and development, and other working capital needs. This will extend the capital support from investors during this time of uncertain banking resources.

Finally, the NJEDA board will consider the creation of a $10 million emergency liquidity facility that will review financial support requests for New Jersey-based companies with over $250,000 in deposits at SVB. This product is anticipated to support impacted companies with a loan of up to $500,000 to provide short-term financing options for at most 12 months.  The Authority’s board will consider the program approval at a board meeting to be scheduled in the coming week. Further details will be announced prior to the board meeting.

“During this challenging time, we remain committed to ensuring that investment dollars continue to flow to New Jersey’s emerging technology and life sciences companies,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “Entrepreneurial businesses are critical to our state’s overall economy. The suite of programs announced today will connect them with the working capital they need to keep their operations running and will keep our innovation economy moving forward.”    

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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