TRENTON, N.J. (March 12, 2020) – There is just one month remaining to apply for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Brownfields Loan Program. The program offers low-interest financing of $100,000 to $5 million for all aspects of brownfields revitalization projects, including assessment, investigation, and demolition. It is one of the only funding sources available to cover pre-construction planning, demolition, asbestos, PCB removal, and lead-based paint remediation.

Applications for the Brownfields Loan Program are due Tuesday, April 13th 2021. More information and the application are available at https://www.njeda.gov/bfloans/.

To help potential applicants prepare to apply, the NJEDA is hosting an informational webinar on March 17th 2021. NJEDA Senior Brownfields Advisor Elizabeth Limbrick will provide an overview of the Loan Program and walk through the application. Register for the webinar at https://bfloaninfo.eventbrite.com.   

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About the Brownfields Loan Program

Historically, remediation has been a major barrier to successful brownfield redevelopment projects because of the lack of funding sources available to support site assessment, planning, and cleanup. The Brownfields Loan Program is a unique investment tool that addresses this challenge by filling in these funding gaps to make the remediation phase of revitalization projects financially viable. 

Loans made through the program will be awarded through a competitive application process. Projects will be scored based on details of the brownfield site and the proposed redevelopment project. Projects that promote environmental resiliency, public health, and community well-being will receive higher scores and may also qualify for interest rate reductions if approved for financing.

Projects that receive financing through the Brownfields Loan Program will be eligible for the Brownfields Impact Fund and Brownfields Revitalization Tax Credit programs when they become available.

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About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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TRENTON, N.J. (November 13, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board of Directors today approved the creation of the Brownfields Loan Program. This program will make low-interest loans of up to $5 million available to brownfield redevelopment projects for all aspects of brownfield revitalization, including assessment, investigation, and demolition. It will be one of the only funding sources available to cover pre-construction planning, demolition, asbestos, PCB removal, and lead-based paint remediation. More information is available at https://www.njeda.gov/brownfields.
 
“Revitalizing contaminated sites and putting them back to productive, locally-appropriate use is an essential component of Governor Murphy’s commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities across New Jersey,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Brownfields Loan Program and the NJEDA’s other collaborations with NJDEP Commissioner McCabe and other partners to support brownfields redevelopment will play a crucial role in building a greener, fairer New Jersey by incentivizing investors to consider brownfields remediation and making resources available to get these projects off the ground.”
 
“Remediating brownfields turns burdens into opportunities. By cleaning up contaminated properties and replacing them with valuable assets that benefit New Jersey’s communities, we create new paths for economic growth,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “Projects like these are important to our environmental protection, environmental justice, and economic recovery goals, but need financial resources. The NJEDA’s Brownfields Loan Program will open the door to more successful remediation by filling in one of the most pervasive funding gaps that holds back these projects.”
 
Historically, remediation has been a major barrier to successful brownfield redevelopment projects because of the lack of funding sources available to support site assessment, planning, and cleanup. The Brownfields Loan Program is a unique investment tool that will address this challenge by filling in these funding gaps to make the remediation phase of revitalization projects financially viable. The NJEDA expects this to reactivate long-stalled projects and create new opportunities for commercial, retail, and mixed-use developments that in turn will create jobs and make New Jersey’s communities more vibrant, cleaner places to live and work.   
 
The Brownfields Loan Program will offer low-interest financing of $100,000 to $5 million for all aspects of brownfields revitalization projects, including assessment, investigation, and demolition. Loans will be awarded through a competitive application process beginning in early 2021. Projects will be scored based on various details about the brownfield site itself and the proposed redevelopment project, including the location, the length of time the site has been vacant or underutilized, and how well the proposed redevelopment aligns with local plans. Projects that provide beneficial end uses that promote environmental resiliency, public health, and community well-being will receive higher scores.
 
The Brownfields Loan Program is part of NJEDA Community Revitalization, a suite of solutions designed to support development that transforms underutilized and contaminated spaces into community assets, with the goal of achieving a greener, fairer New Jersey. This includes ensuring that residents living in communities that have historically suffered from disinvestment, environmental contamination, and health disparities benefit from brownfields redevelopment. In addition to the Brownfields Loan Program, NJEDA Community Revitalization initiatives include the Brownfields Impact Fund, the proposed Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Credit, the expanded Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI), and the Brownfields Center at NJIT.
 
“The Brownfields Loan Program is a critical component of the NJEDA’s holistic approach to environmental protection and remediation,” said NJEDA Senior Brownfields Advisor Elizabeth Limbrick. “As one of the only sources of funding available for covering costs associated with pre-construction planning, demolition, and asbestos and lead-based paint remediation, the loan program will be a critical tool to help projects get through the early stages of brownfield remediation and move on to the important work of transforming contaminated sites into community assets more quickly and at lower cost.”
 
More information about the Brownfields Loan Program and other NJEDA Community Revitalization solutions is available at https://www.njeda.gov/brownfields.  
 
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 

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TRENTON, N.J. (May 6, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that it will receive an $800,000 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Brownfields grant. The NJEDA can use this funding to capitalize a revolving loan fund or to provide subaward grants to communities, developers, and nonprofits carrying out cleanup and redevelopment activities at brownfield sites. EPA also awarded grants to the cities of Camden and Jersey City and the nonprofit Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. In total, the Agency provided nearly $2.1 million to support brownfield remediation in New Jersey.
 
“Supporting communities as they work to clean up and revitalize contaminated properties is crucial for creating vibrant cities and neighborhoods and stimulating economic growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “EPA RLF funding will allow us to provide more comprehensive and effective support for communities and organizations working to return contaminated properties to productive use. This is always valuable, but it will have a particularly significant impact now, when resources are stretched thin everywhere due to COVID-19.”
 
Governor Murphy identified brownfield remediation and redevelopment as an important component of smart planning that will allow New Jersey to meet its goals for economic growth, minimize the environmental impacts posed by former industrial properties, and help communities become more sustainable and resilient. To facilitate brownfields redevelopment, Governor Murphy has proposed a new set of programs, including a remediation and redevelopment tax credit, as well as an enhanced brownfields loan program through NJEDA.
 
In addition to these proposed programs, in March 2019 the NJEDA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) entered into an MOU to expand the Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI), a program that embeds NJDEP staff in targeted communities to help them navigate complex environmental stressors and set a pathway for successful remediation and redevelopment. The CCI currently operates in twelve communities around New Jersey: Bayonne, Camden, Perth Amboy, Trenton, Bridgeton, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Paterson, Paulsboro, Salem City, and Vineland.
 
While the EPA RLF grant will be used to provide low-interest loans and sub-grants to support brownfield cleanup and redevelopment throughout the State, the NJEDA’s RLF program will target the twelve CCI communities, which have high instances of brownfields, poverty, health disparities, and need for revitalization. Funds will go toward revitalizing vacant and abandoned properties to provide community assets such as housing, recreation and open space, health facilities, and commerce opportunities. As borrowers repay these loans, the fund will re-lend that money to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital for community improvement projects.
 
“Economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “This grant award will spark community revitalization, strengthening our communities and our ecosystems at the same time. New Jersey’s Community Collaborative Initiative, which started in Camden, is a valuable example of how funding redevelopment creates economic activity and I’m pleased that the DEP and NJEDA can replicate that model in cities throughout the state.”
 
In addition to the $800,000 grant to the NJEDA, EPA also awarded $500,000 Brownfields Cleanup Grants to the Cities of Camden and Jersey City to support the cleanup and revitalization of the Borden Chemical manufacturing facility in Camden and the Mill Creek industrial site in Jersey City. The Agency also awarded $299,451 to Cooper’s Ferry Partnership Inc. to identify sites for assessment in the North Camden neighborhood, assess those sites for hazardous substances, complete cleanup and reuse plans, and carry out community outreach activities.
 
“The EPA Brownfields program has helped New Jersey’s communities by transforming once-vacant properties into beacons of hope, especially for many economically disadvantaged neighborhoods,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “Vacant or contaminated land may not feel or look like a community asset waiting to happen, but with the right knowledge, skills, vision and investment, these properties offer local governments and neighborhoods some of the best opportunities to transform their futures. Through the Brownfields program, we can reverse blight and replace it with regeneration – and with even one property’s reuse, we can spur community-wide revitalization.”
 
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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TRENTON, NJ (January 16, 2020) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board of Directors today approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to establish the NJ Brownfields Center at NJIT (Brownfields Center). The Brownfields Center will provide a variety of technical assistance and resources to assist New Jersey communities with the process of transforming their brownfield sites into community assets.
 
“Returning contaminated sites to productive use is an essential component of Governor Murphy’s commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities across New Jersey,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “NJIT has an impressive history of helping communities successfully take on transformative redevelopment projects. We are excited to work with them and our partners at the municipal level to make New Jersey a safer, healthier place to live and work.” 
 
Governor Murphy identified brownfield remediation and redevelopment as an important component of smart planning that will allow New Jersey to meet its goals for economic growth, minimize the environmental impacts posed by former industrial properties, and help communities become more sustainable and resilient. To facilitate brownfields redevelopment, Governor Murphy has proposed a new set of programs, including a remediation and redevelopment tax credit, as well as an enhanced brownfields loan program through NJEDA.
 
In addition to these proposed programs, in March 2019 the NJEDA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) entered into an MOU to expand the Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI), a successful program that embeds NJDEP staff in twelve targeted communities to help them navigate complex environmental stressors and set a pathway for successful remediation and redevelopment.
 
The Brownfields Center at NJIT will expand upon these efforts to offer similar assistance to communities beyond the twelve CCI municipalities, as well as providing additional tools to all brownfield communities in New Jersey. The Center will provide guidance and resources to  county and local government entities to help them overcome  challenges and navigate the brownfield redevelopment process, as well as educate and engage communities around brownfield issues. Under the terms of the agreement approved today, the NJEDA will provide $200,000 to launch the Brownfields Center and NJIT will provide quarterly updates on the use of funds and progress in communities receiving assistance.
 
NJIT is uniquely positioned to support this initiative. The university’s Brownfields Program has helped hundreds of communities advance brownfield sites toward redevelopment by providing  technical assistance to brownfield communities across the Northeast under a cooperative agreement with the United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Brownfields Center at NJIT will build upon this model of success by focusing on the challenges New Jersey communities are facing and targeting its assistance to accelerate brownfield remediation and community revitalization across the state.
 
“We are thrilled to partner with the NJEDA to provide critical guidance and resources communities need to transform their brownfields sites into community assets,” said Dr. Atam P. Dhawan, Senior Vice Provost for Research at NJIT. “Brownfield remediation can be an intimidating process, and it is important that we do all we can to support communities that are stepping up to the challenge. Our programs have a proven track record of success, and the additional resources the NJEDA is providing will help us drive positive change in even more communities that need it.”
 
 
To read Governor Murphy's full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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State and local officials gathered today to launch the Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) program in Paterson. 

PATERSON, N.J. (December 5, 2019) – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe and New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) CEO Tim Sullivan today joined Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh at the Great Falls Visitor Center to launch the Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) program in Paterson.
 
“Gov. Murphy’s economic development plan is focused on making targeted investments in our communities, including the remediation and redevelopment of legacy industrial sites where contamination has inhibited growth,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Commissioner McCabe and her team at DEP to bring the Community Collaborative Initiative to Paterson and other cities where it can help pursue sustainable economic growth and environmental policy goals.”
 
The CCI program embeds DEP staff at the ground-level within communities, where they use their expertise to help local leaders address environmental concerns effectively and appropriately. The NJEDA recently partnered with the NJDEP to expand the program into five new communities, including Paterson. The CCI representative in Paterson will help City leadership overcome complex obstacles and open pathways to successful remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites, including the Allied Textile Printing (ATP) site and Hinchcliffe Stadium.
 
“We are excited to get to work in Paterson. The Community Collaborative Initiative exemplifies Governor Murphy’s commitment to revitalizing communities in a sustainable way that protects our environment and takes their unique needs into consideration,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “CCI is a successful model for addressing multiple environmental and community challenges throughout the state and we look forward to applying it here.”

The CCI program has a strong track record of success in the communities where it has been operating: Bayonne, Camden, Perth Amboy and Trenton. In Camden, CCI staff collaborated with local leaders and DEP experts to jumpstart the process of transforming a 61-acre landfill into restored shoreline and uplands, with improvements such as the creation of new tidal wetlands and recreational amenities for residents. CCI has had similar success in Perth Amboy, where embedded staff facilitated the launch of a project to clean up a 6-acre scrap heap and build a new park on the site. In Trenton, CCI staff helped to advance the development of the Assunpink Greenway Park – a 99-acre redevelopment project that will include soccer fields, a waterfront walk and other amenities.
 
“Not only are brownfield sites dangerous eyesores, they also take up space that could be put to more productive use. A key component of Governor Murphy’s commitment to investing in communities is helping communities transform these contaminated sites into productive community assets,” said NJEDA Senior Brownfields Advisor Elizabeth Limbrick. “I am excited to work with Mayor Sayegh, DEP Commissioner McCabe, and the CCI team to bring the NJEDA’s resources for brownfield remediation and revitalization to bear in Paterson to bring new life to spaces that have been vacant or underutilized for years.”   
 
Recognizing CCI’s successful track record, the NJEDA and DEP in March formed a partnership to expand the initiative to include Bridgeton, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Paterson, Paulsboro, Salem City, and Vineland. Under the partnership, NJEDA funding will supplement the existing two full-time equivalent DEP employees dedicated to CCI with an additional six full-time equivalent employees. These new full-time employees will work with community leaders, developers, and government officials in the newly-added cities to facilitate brownfield remediation that aligns with the communities’ priorities and plans for the future.
 
“We are thrilled that the DEP and NJEDA have selected Paterson as one of the communities to be included in the expanded CCI program,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. “We look forward to partnering with our CCI representative to complete a variety of critical remediation projects, including reopening Hinchcliffe Stadium and revitalizing the historic Allied Textile Printing site.” 
 
 
For more information about the Community Collaborative Initiative, visit www.nj.gov/dep/cci/.
 
To read Governor Murphy's full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

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 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.
 
About the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
As a national leader in environmental protection, the New Jersey DEP is committed to using the best science available to safeguard public health, support its diverse natural resources and create vibrant and sustainable communities that provide economic opportunity for all. To learn more about the DEP, visit www.nj.gov/dep/ and follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP and Facebook.

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TRENTON, N.J. (April 9, 2019) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today approved the creation of a new Brownfields Loan Program that will provide low-interest financing to help complete remediation of vacant or underutilized brownfields sites, paving the way for these sites to be revitalized and put back to productive use. The program is part of Governor Phil Murphy’s efforts to drive targeted investments in underserved communities.
 
“Investing in communities is a pillar of our plan for a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy, and the brownfields loan program is a crucial tool we can use to build cleaner, safer communities where businesses and families can thrive,” said Governor Murphy. “Cleaning up contaminated sites and repurposing them for productive use allows us to achieve our goals for economic growth while protecting our environment and minimizing sprawl.”
 
The expanded brownfields loan program will provide low-interest bridge financing to make the remediation phase of a project financially viable. The program will make financing of up to $5,000,000 available to potential brownfield site purchasers and current brownfield site owners to cover the costs associated with site investigation, assessment and remediation, and building and structural issues such as demolition and asbestos removal. While the brownfields loan will only finance the remediation aspect of the project, all projects must include a redevelopment plan for the reuse of the remediated site.
 
To be eligible for funding, the NJEDA will conduct an analysis of the project application to determine if the project is economically feasible or if a funding gap exists. The remediated property must also have an appraised value of at least 100 percent of all debt financing (including the proposed brownfields loan), and the project must submit an environmental report from a licensed site remediation professional or other qualified professional to verify that contamination exists on the site. Projects must also demonstrate local support through a letter of support from the mayor of the municipality in which the project is located.
 
Funding will be made available through competitive application rounds, and projects that meet this base eligibility will then be scored by Authority staff according to various details about the brownfields site and/or proposed redevelopment project. This will include the site location, the length of time the site has been vacant or underutilized, and alignment of the redevelopment project to local redevelopment plans. Priority of funding within a competitive round will be determined by highest overall scores, and all projects must meet a minimum score in order to be considered for funding.
 
The standard interest rate for projects that meet these baseline eligibility requirements will be fixed at 3 percent. However, the NJEDA will review proposed redevelopment plans and may apply interest rate reductions if the redevelopment project supports certain community development goals, including mixed-use residential development with an affordable housing component, food delivery sources in urban food deserts, primary health care services, tourism destination projects, electric vehicle charging stations, smart growth parking (convertible to commercial space), and incubators and collaborative workspaces.
 
“Transforming contaminated sites into productive projects that enhance the areas where they are located is one of the most effective investments we can make in New Jersey’s communities,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The brownfields loan program and proposed remediation and revitalization tax credit will play a crucial role in getting these projects off the ground and bringing new life to communities around the state.”
 
Applications for the Brownfields Loan Program will be available in the coming months.
 
To read Governor Murphy's full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 EDA resources for businesses call EDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov  and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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TRENTON, N.J. (March 12, 2019) – As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s efforts to build a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy through targeted investments in communities, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced an agreement today to expand the Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) to enable DEP staff to provide ground-level support on brownfields redevelopment and urban revitalization efforts to a wider range of targeted urban areas. In addition to the cities where CCI is currently operating – Bayonne, Camden, Perth Amboy and Trenton—the initiative will be expanded to new municipalities around the state. The list of additional cities, which has not been finalized, will include Newark and Paterson.

“Building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy requires taking an innovative approach to community revitalization that acknowledges economic prosperity and environmental sustainability are not competing goals but mutually reinforcing ideals,” said Governor Murphy. “CCI has already made significant progress toward achieving both of these goals by working with local leaders to protect the environment and transform dangerous eyesores into valued community assets.”
 
The CCI embeds DEP staff at the ground-level within communities, providing a more direct connection to the necessary expertise that will enable communities to address environmental concerns effectively and appropriately. By making this expertise more easily accessible in targeted communities where multiple environmental stressors exist, the initiative fosters the communication, relationships, and insights necessary to open pathways to successful remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites.
 
CCI is already producing impressive results in Bayonne, Camden, Perth Amboy, and Trenton. In Camden, CCI staff collaborated with local leaders and DEP experts to jumpstart the process of transforming a 61-acre landfill into restored shoreline and uplands, with improvements such as the creation of new tidal wetlands, recreational amenities for residents, and a solar field. CCI has had similar success in Perth Amboy, where embedded staff facilitated the launch of a project to clean up a 6-acre scrap heap and build a new park on the site. In Trenton, CCI staff helped to advance the development of the Assunpink Greenway Park—a 99-acre redevelopment project that will include soccer fields, a waterfront walk, and other amenities.
 
“The Community Collaborative Initiative exemplifies Governor Murphy’s commitment to revitalizing New Jersey’s communities in a way that puts environmental sustainability front and center and remains true to residents’ priorities,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “The program has already been a tremendous success, with significant benefits for New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations. We are excited to collaborate with the NJEDA to replicate this success around the state.”
 
Recognizing CCI’s successful track record, the NJEDA is partnering with the DEP to expand the initiative into more New Jersey cities that will benefit greatly from this initiative, such as Newark and Paterson, among others. Under the agreement, NJEDA funding will supplement the existing two full-time equivalent DEP employees dedicated to CCI with an additional six full-time equivalent employees. The six new full-time employees will be selected from current DEP staff, with replacements hired by DEP through a state-approved vendor. The NJEDA’s total funding commitment is approximately $1 million.
 
“Governor Murphy’s vision for a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy focuses on making smart, targeted investments in our communities in a way that recognizes each of their unique assets and challenges,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. “With this expanded partnership, DEP and the EDA will be able to help more cities and towns throughout the state do the long-term planning necessary to remediate and redevelop brownfields. We are thrilled to be partnering with Commissioner McCabe and her team on this comprehensive approach to tackling longstanding environmental and economic challenges.”
 
To read Governor Murphy's full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan
 
About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 EDA resources for businesses call EDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov  and follow @NewJerseyEDA on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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