Deadline Extended to May 31! Apply for a 2020 Smart Growth Award

January 13th, 2020 by Emily Eckart

Deadline extended to May 31!

Development shapes our landscapes, social lives, and environmental outcomes. New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards celebrate projects that lead the way toward better development. We’re looking for innovators who go beyond buildings. We want projects that create places and solve problems. Past winners have included an indoor vertical farm that addressed an urban food desert, an abandoned factory converted into affordable housing, a bike trail that reduced car travel, and a sustainable urban co-working space.

If you know a project, plan, or initiative that contributes to a brighter future for New Jersey, submit it for consideration today! The application process is through an easy online submission portal. You should get started now on your application now – -it takes some time to collect all the required information to put your project’s best foot forward. Winners will be celebrated at an event at the Newark Museum on September 30, 2020.

Entries will be judged by an independent panel of experts in various aspects of growth and development. Applications are judged against the following considerations:

Proximity to existing development or infrastructure
Creation or enhancement of a vibrant mix of uses: residential, office, and retail
Protection of open space, farmland, parks, and critical environmental areas
Creation of a range of housing options (size, type, and affordability)
Creation or enhancement of various transportation options
Improved resilience against natural hazards
Walkability and neighborhood interaction
Integration into surrounding community
Green design
On-site stormwater management