TRENTON, N.J. – Today, Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA)Commissioner Susan Bass Levin announced the award of over $1.3 million in Smart Future Grants to 23 municipalities and organizations in New Jersey.

“Smart growth principles are an essential component to ensuring a high quality of life in New Jersey,” Governor Corzine said. “These grants will incorporate new development into a larger community plan to help save time, resources and precious open space.”

“DCA continues to promote well planned, well-managed growth in New Jersey,” said Commissioner Levin.  “Smart Future Planning Grants help implement smart growth strategies that create redevelopment and provide new jobs, while preserving open space, farmland, and environmental resources.”

Smart Future Planning Grants are part of the Smart Future Initiative, which promotes smart growth planning between municipalities and counties throughout New Jersey. They are funded through DCA’s Office of Smart Growth, which is leading the effort to promote sustainable development, protect the environment, preserve open space and revitalize older communities.

The FY2007 Smart Future Grants focus on five key categories: Main Street Community Design; Rural Sustainability; Regional Sustainability; Downtown Parking Solutions; and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Real Estate Market Analysis.

Main Street Community Design grants provide funds for communities to create design standards for their downtown to support revitalization and promote the community’s “sense of place”.

Rural Sustainability grants provide funding to develop a planned and balanced approach to development within rural areas of the state.  The community will develop a vision plan and design guidelines for rural center-based development, while being cognizant of environmental constraints and infrastructure capacity.

Regional Sustainability grants provide funding to assess policies and practices from a sustainability perspective.  The grantee will consider opportunities for shared services and enhancements to municipal facilities and internal purchasing practices with regard to energy conservation, reuse and recycling.  In addition, the Plan will establish education, outreach and incentives for residential and business communities to implement green strategies.

Downtown Parking Solutions grants provide funding for the production of a Downtown Parking Solutions report that helps to implement the community’s revitalization and/or economic development vision.  The project will take a holistic view of the study area to determine level of need and recommend strategies of incorporating parking solutions in a manner that promotes economic revitalization and is consistent with smart growth principles.

TDR Real Estate Market Analysis grants provide funding to create a technical advisory document and models to assist in the production of the Real Estate Market Analysis associated with a TDR program. 

 

2007 Smart Future Grant Recipients