FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2017
Pompton Lakes awarded sustainability grant
Highland Park, NJ – The Borough of Pompton Lakes was awarded a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey capacity-building grant funded by the PSEG Foundation. Five $20,000 grants, six $10,000 grants and twenty $2,000 grants were distributed to fund a variety of projects including a watershed management plan, rain and community gardens, a green pavilion with a living roof, an invertebrate conservation plan, wildlife habitat conservation, a plastic bag reduction campaign, an environmental resource inventory and green team capacity building.
“We are thankful to Sustainable Jersey for awarding the Borough of Pompton Lakes with a capacity-building grant. This will provide our town with an important boost in our goal of attaining Sustainable Jersey certification”, said Mayor Michael Serra
Pompton Lakes will be using the $2,000 grant to provide a stipend for the coordination and documentation of Sustainable Jersey Certification action points. Councilman Erik DeLine, chair of the Pompton Lakes Open Space and Recreation Committee received the award on behalf of the Borough.
“These grants support green teams and municipalities working at the local level to build vibrant and sustainable communities,” said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey. He extended his congratulations to all of the towns that received grants. “The grants we awarded today will build capacity as municipalities move sustainability programs forward and work toward the goal of a more sustainable New Jersey,” Solomon said.
The PSEG Foundation has contributed over $1.3 million dollars in funding to the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program. “We are proud to partner with Sustainable Jersey to support and help fund projects that provide sustainable neighborhoods, economic development and STEM education to empower a brighter future. These projects will have a lasting impact to neighborhoods throughout New Jersey,” said Ellen Lambert, president of the PSEG Foundation.
Proposals were evaluated by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey grants are intended to help municipalities make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey certification. Currently, 79 percent, or 444 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program.
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE JERSEY
Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 79 percent, or 444 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program and 261 school districts and 642 schools are participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.
Sustainable Jersey’s partners include the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program. Program underwriters include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program and the Surdna Foundation. The 2017 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants program for municipalities is funded by PSEG Foundation and the Gardinier Environmental Fund. South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas are Platinum Sponsors. NJM Insurance Group is a Gold Sponsor, Bayshore Recycling and Investors Bank are a Silver Sponsors and our Bronze Sponsors are Covanta, JCP&L, Direct Energy Solar, SolarCity and Sungevity.
Website: www.SustainableJersey.com; www.SustainableJerseySchools.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SJ_Program; www.twitter.com/SJ_Schools
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SustainableJersey
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Linked In: www.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-jersey
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