New Jersey Offers $10 Million in Grants to Expand Regional Climate Change Planning

DEP launches new round of Resilient NJ funding to support municipal partnerships addressing climate risks across all 21 counties

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced the availability of $10 million in new grant funding under its Resilient NJ program, aimed at helping groups of municipalities collaboratively develop regional plans to prepare for and adapt to climate change impacts.

Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette revealed the funding initiative today, stating that grants of up to $300,000 will be awarded to selected municipal teams that propose to form self-identified regions and develop comprehensive Resilience Action Plans. The application window opens August 18, 2025, with submissions due by Tuesday, October 14.

“Municipalities across all 21 counties face unique climate challenges, including coastal and riverine flooding, wildfires, and extreme temperatures that extend beyond municipal borders,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “I encourage local leaders to take advantage of this opportunity for regional collaboration to advance actions that will make our communities more resilient to climate change.”

The Resilient NJ program, operated through DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience, is designed to increase local and regional capacity to address climate-related challenges. The goal is to enable municipalities to identify tailored strategies that reduce risk while also enhancing ecological, economic, and recreational assets. This grant round is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Building a Climate Ready NJ initiative and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“The Resilient NJ program has supported resilience planning in over 40 municipalities to date. The Resilience Action Plans produced through those efforts have resulted in over $26 million in additional implementation projects, demonstrating the value of the program,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “We look forward to expanding the reach of the Resilient NJ program and providing assistance to as many communities as possible.”

Up to six regional teams will be selected from across New Jersey’s 21 counties. To qualify, each team must include at least three contiguous municipalities and at least one community-based organization. County governments, regional planning commissions, and utility authorities may also participate. Teams are encouraged to cross county lines if regional coordination supports shared climate resilience goals.

Selected teams will be matched with multidisciplinary consulting groups—comprising planners, engineers, ecologists, and designers—who will assist in a structured planning process. Consulting support will be funded separately by the DEP. These partnerships will work to assess regional vulnerabilities, identify climate hazards, perform cost-benefit analyses of potential solutions, and draft and implement Resilience Action Plans.

A public webinar outlining the grant program is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. Selected teams will be notified by Friday, November 21, and projects may begin in early 2026 following the selection and pairing of consulting teams through a forthcoming Request for Proposals.

The Resilient NJ program is part of New Jersey’s broader efforts to build climate-ready infrastructure and governance systems in the face of increasing risks such as flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather. For application materials and program details, visit resilient.nj.gov. More information about the DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience can be found at dep.nj.gov/ocr.