Governor Murphy Announces $15 Million FEMA Grant to Boost Climate Preparedness

Federal funding aims to increase New Jersey's resilience against climate change and provide immediate relief to homeowners after storms.

NEW JERSEY - To conclude Climate Week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has selected New Jersey’s application, awarding the state $15 million in funding to enhance climate change preparedness and offer immediate storm relief to homeowners. New Jersey will contribute an additional $1.5 million, representing a 10% match for the FEMA award.

“This award is essential to ensuring that our local communities have the tools they need to get ahead of the next disaster,” said Governor Murphy. “As our state experiences the growing intensity of storms and sea-level rise due to climate change, this program will allow us to increase available resources so we can provide prompt assistance to New Jerseyans. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and New Jersey's congressional delegation for fully funding the STORM Act as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

The funding is part of FEMA’s Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program, which aims to assist local governments, particularly those in low-income and underserved communities, by providing low-interest loans for hazard mitigation and resilience infrastructure projects. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act established the RLF to enable states, tribes, territories, and Washington, D.C., to finance projects that reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters.

“As we highlight Climate Week, it is important for us to address the ever-expanding impacts that climate change has on the communities we serve. Increased severe weather activity not just threatens an increase in costs-- it threatens lives,” said FEMA Region 2 Administrator David Warrington. “At FEMA, we take climate change seriously and understand that funding opportunities of this type are critical to building resilience against the damaging effects that can occur throughout the region. We remain committed to putting people first and value our partnership with New Jersey to help communities build capacity for years to come.”

“The new STORM RLF financing program highlights the significance our federal and State officials have placed on climate mitigation infrastructure projects in our neediest communities,” said Robert Briant, Jr., Chairperson of the I-Bank. “Working with FEMA, New Jersey now has one more tool to help these communities protect their residents and assets before the next disaster strikes.”

Through this program, FEMA allows states to make funding decisions and directly award loans to local governments. The revolving loan funds are intended to support hazard mitigation projects that reduce disaster risks, helping communities, homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations build resilience to climate-related threats. This year marks the second consecutive year that New Jersey has received funding through the STORM Act, making it the second highest cumulative award recipient in the nation to date.

“This is a significant award for the state and provides an additional path to assist local governments and underserved communities,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and State Director of Emergency Management. “As New Jersey continues to experience stronger storms, this resource allows us to offer yet another method to carry out mitigation projects and make our state even more resilient.”

The funding is made possible through a partnership between the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) and the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM), within the Division of State Police. Together, they will administer these funds to finance hazard mitigation projects across New Jersey through the New Jersey Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (NJ CHAMP). For additional information, contact the I-Bank at information@njib.gov.