North Jersey Receives $5 Million Federal Grant To Boost Growth Around Transit

November 21st, 2011 by Chris Sturm

HUD Grant Affected Area

New Jersey Future is pleased to be part of the project team that will manage a $5 million HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant award, announced today by Secretary Shaun Donovan. The grant will be administered by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The team consists of a variety of governmental and nonprofit organizations committed to improving northern New Jersey’s economic competitiveness by using the public transportation system to connect people to jobs more effectively.

This grant comes at a propitious time for New Jersey. The governor’s newly proposed State Strategic Plan calls for targeted economic growth in places where existing infrastructure can support development and redevelopment. This grant affords New Jersey an opportunity to put this plan into action, supporting truly sustainable communities where residents enjoy a variety of housing choices and transportation options, like biking and walking, in safe and affordable neighborhoods.

Most New Jerseyans feel that the state needs more communities where a variety of transportation options exist and neighborhoods are within walking distance of housing and jobs, according to a recent Monmouth University poll. New Jersey Future looks forward to working with the project team to remove legal and regulatory obstacles to building more sustainable communities.