Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 27, 2007

2008 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT GRANTS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

MILLVILLE, NJ: The Cumberland County Improvement Authority is currently accepting applications for the 2008 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Program. The program assists non-profit groups and organizations with grant funds dedicated to preserving and improving the environment in Cumberland County. The Improvement Authority has budgeted $250,000 for the program this year and will award grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. The individual grant amounts will depend upon the number of applications that are approved.

“ Over the past five years, the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program has successfully helped dozens of grassroots organizations develop environmentally related programs which have provided a variety of benefits to the community,” said Steven R. Wymbs, Improvement Authority Executive Director. “In addition, through grant funding, matching funds, volunteer efforts, and various partnerships, over three million dollars has been put back into our communities in an effort to enhance the environment for years to come.”

“ The Environmental Enhancement Grant Program is truly making a difference by empowering groups with the ability to pursue some very creative ideas which benefit the environment and enhance recreational opportunities,” said Bruce T. Peterson, Freeholder Deputy Director and Improvement Authority Co-Liaison. “Staff has done a great job of working with the individual groups to bring many exciting projects to fruition which are having a very positive impact on the environment and recreational opportunities throughout the County.”

New playground equipment, bleachers, benches, and tables constructed with recycled materials; enhanced recreational areas including new locations for fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities; new educational programs about the environment; and new facilities such as one of the nation’s largest floating docks made from recycled plastic lumber are just a few of the community benefits from this groundbreaking program.Grant applicants for 2008 may be eligible to receive funding to conduct projects which can include anti-litter campaigns, recycling, air quality, water quality, solid waste management, watershed management, preservation efforts, environmental cleanup efforts to encourage preservation, soil conservation, establishment of outdoor recreation facilities by reclaiming public lands, improving storm water management practices, and the purchasing of recycled material for community enhancement and recreational projects. Other creative applications which preserve or improve the environment will also be considered for review.

“ We encourage applicants to schedule a pre-application meeting to review their ideas,” said Cumberland County Recycling Coordinator Dennis DeMatte Jr.”

“ In addition, applicants must complete all forms and provide the required paperwork in order to be approved for a grant. The Improvement Authority staff will monitor the grant recipient’s progress in order to make sure the program achieves its objectives. The grant money for a recipient is escrowed in a special account and will be released after the Authority receives documentation that pre-approved activities outlined in the grant application are completed. A proposed project must be completed within one year from the grant award date.”

“ Environmental education is a lifelong learning process. Through the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, the Authority is able to assist in the funding of community environmental projects that ensure the residents of Cumberland County are environmentally aware and are able to maintain an ecologically and economically sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy,” Wymbs concluded.
The application deadline for the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program is April 27, 2007. For more information, please contact the Cumberland County Improvement
Authority at 825-3700.”

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte Jr. at 825-3700.