TRENTON , N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Susan Bass Levin today announced the award of a $36,000 Sharing Available Resources Efficiently (SHARE) Grant, which will benefit eight Monmouth County Municipalities that are part of the Monmouth County Public Health Consortium.  Freehold Township applied for the grant on behalf of the Consortium.

“Sharing services is an integral part of increasing government efficiency as well as a vital component of Governor Corzine's property tax reform plan,” said Commissioner Levin.  “SHARE helps to lower the costs of local services for each participant and these savings are passed along to residents in the form of lower property tax bills.”

The Monmouth County Public Health Consortium consists of Aberdeen Township, Colts Neck Township, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Hazlet Township, the City of Long Branch, Manalapan Township, Middletown Township, and the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission.

The grant will help provide health education services to the participating towns by supporting the creation of a Public Health Educator position. 

DCA’s SHARE program provides assistance for the study or implementation of any regional service agreement, or for the coordination of programs and services authorized under the Inter-local Services Act, the Municipal Consolidation Act and the Consolidated Municipal Services Act.  These grants are funded through the New Jersey Regional Efficiency Development Incentive Program and are available to local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Several changes were made to the SHARE program this year. A County Coordination Grant to support county government shared service assistance is now available.  Applicants will now receive preliminary notice of funding decisions within 10 business days of receipt of a complete application package.  Also, increased grant amounts may be authorized on a conditional basis to assist projects in cases where the nature or complexity of the project or the number of participants requires additional resources.

More information on the SHARE program can be obtained by calling 609-984-7764, or by going online at www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/. 

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