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 Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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 Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
 

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 Facebook, Twitter, 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. (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 Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.