News, updates and upcoming events from TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY.

News and Updates
December 14, 2012


This Week's Contents:

Project Updates:
  • Outcomes from the Executive Committee and Steering Committee meetings
  • Revised application materials available for the Local Government Capacity Grant Program
Upcoming Events
  • Local Demonstration Project Information Session - January 9, 2013
  • Information Session for NGO Micro-Grant - January 10, 2013
  • Sustainable Jersey to hold Forum on Climate Adaptation Efforts - January 16/18, 2013
  • "Bridging the Gap" - CBO Workshop - January 17, 2013
Learning Opportunities and Resources
  • Regional Plan Association Announces New Jersey Climate Adaptation Directory
  • Rebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore Conference Recap Now Available
Funding Opportunities
  • Cultural Organizations May be Eligible for Sandy-related Aid
Other News
  • President Obama's Executive Order and Congressional funding request related to Hurricane Sandy
  • New Jersey Future seeking Nominations for Smart Growth Awards

 

Project Updates


Outcomes from the Executive Committee and Steering Committee meetings
The second Executive Committee meeting for TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY was held on November 29, 2012 and the second Steering Committee meeting was subsequently held on December 11, 2012.  Major outcomes of these meetings included the following:
  • Standing Committee leadership selected:  Together North Jersey has finalized the selection of leadership for its three Standing Committees.  For more information on these committees, please see here.
  • Membership criteria adopted:  Formal membership criteria for joining Together North Jersey were approved by the Executive Committee and Steering Committee.  Membership criteria are available here.
  • Inter-Region Partnership group established:  The Inter-Regional Partnership group, led by Project Team partner RPA, was formally approved by the Executive Committee.  For more information on this and other partnership groups, see here.
  • Preferred Sustainability Status:  The Executive Committee approved criteria for evaluating applications for Preferred Sustainability Status.  For information on this program and the application process, see here.
  • Code of Ethical Conduct adopted:  A formal Code of Ethical Conduct has been approved and added to the bylaws of Together North Jersey.  To view this document, see here.
Once approved by the respective bodies, full meeting minutes will be available on the TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY website.   If you are interested in minutes from previous meetings, please contact Miriam Salerno (miriam.salerno@ejb.rutgers.edu)

Local Government Capacity Grant Program- Updated Materials are Available
Updated application materials and NOFA are now available on the Together North Jersey website.  As previously mentioned, the deadline for full proposals with detailed budgets has been extended until January 11, 2013.  Local Government Capacity Grant Program (LGCGP) will provide financial and/or technical assistance to county and municipal members of the TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY Steering Committee to conduct outreach, analysis, coordination and planning activities that help build the capacity of local governments to support and materially advance the development of a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.  Click here to download the Notice of Funding Availability.  Questions regarding this program should be directed to Scott Rowe at NJTPA, srowe@njtpa.org.


Upcoming events

 
Local Demonstration Project Information Session - January 9, 2013
The Third Info Session originally scheduled for November 7, 2012 at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg will be rescheduled for January 9, 2013 from 9 am to 12 pm.  Attendance is not required but we strongly encourage prospective applicants to attend to learn about the program and the application process. If you already attended an Information Session you are welcome to come to the final Information Session that will be held on January 9th to discuss further application details.  The information session will be held at Raritan Valley Community College, Conference Center, Room A 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ.   As a reminder, he deadline for the first round of LDP applications has been extended from Monday, January 7th to Monday, February 4th. This round will result in the selection of up to seven LDPs. Because of the disruption caused by the Hurricane and continuing recovery efforts in storm-ravaged areas in the region, Together North Jersey is announcing a second round of applications, due Monday, April 8th. This round will result in the selection of the remaining projects.  For more information on the RPSD or LDP, please click here.

NGO Micro-Grant Information Session - January 10, 2013
An information session for the NGO Micro-Grant program will be held on January 10, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Policy, 33 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, NJ.  This information session will be an opportunity to learn more about the program and the types of activities that will be funded.  We encourage all potential applicant to attend - though it is not required.  NGO organizations are also  encouraged to register their organization on the NGO Micro-Grant Mailing List  to receive the complete Notice of  Funding Availability information package when it is released and to ensure receipt of subsequent communications related to the Notice (e.g., Addendums, Frequently Asked Questions, etc.). Questions about this program should be directed to David Aimen (david.aimen@ejb.rutgers.edu, 848-932-2855).  More information about the program can be found on the Together North Jersey website.

Sustainable Jersey to hold Forum on Climate Adaptation Efforts
Whether Hurricane Sandy was a “wake up call” or a confirmation of the importance of existing efforts to prepare for the effects of extreme weather events, Sustainable Jersey is here to help.  We will be hosting 2 forums on “Climate Change and Flooding: What to Expect and How to Prepare.”  There will be two dates for the forum.  One will take place on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 ~ 9AM – 12PM in New Brunswick and one on Friday, January 18, 2013 ~ 9AM – 12PM at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), Atlantic City.  Registration for both session can be found at www.SustainableJersey.com under News Events and Trainings. 

"Bridging the Gap" - CBO Workshop - January 17, 2013
The purpose of this workshop is to “bridge the gap” between planners and community based organizations and to promote awareness of APA-NJ’s Community Planning Assistance Program.  The workshop will provide a platform for community based organizations to better understand the role of city and regional planners in community development, and acquire access to information that can help them become strong and sustainable entities within their mission area.  The workshop will also give planners an opportunity to learn more about CBOs, what they do, and their planning needs.  The workshop is co-sponsored by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association and TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY.  For more information, including registration info, click here.


Learning Opportunities and Resources

Regional Plan Association Announces New Jersey Climate Adaptation Directory
Regional Plan Association has created The New Jersey Climate Adaptation Directory to help identify the impact of climate change on society and the environment and to guide the adaptation planning process.  To access the directory, please visit: http://www.rpa.org/projects/nj-climate-adaptation-directory.html.  The directory is housed in a Google spreadsheet that will be updated frequently with new datasets and reports as they become available. The landing page has forms to submit new resources and to identify data gaps. Please feel free share this with your networks, as RPA hopes to continue to build this as a resource for practitioners working on adaptation issues in the state.  For questions about the directory, or for more information, please contact Rob Freudenberg at robertf@rpa.org.

Rebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore Conference Recap
All presentations from New Jersey Future’s Rebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore conference are now available on the conference page on New Jersey Future’s website, as is a recorded video of the event and storified live-tweeting accounts of each of the sessions.  www.NJFuture.org


Funding Opportunities


Cultural Organizations May be Eligible for Sandy-related Aid
Local, regional and state government cultural institutions as well as private non-profit organizations may be eligible for disaster assistance. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance grants and Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans to repair or replace facilities and to salvage collections damaged by Hurricane Sandy may be available.  Interested organizations can find out more about the process at a public forum for cultural, private non-profits on Saturday, December 15, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The forum will take place at Wilson Hall Auditorium at Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, NJ 07764.    All organizations seeking assistance need to submit a simple, one-page application, which is available by following the “Disaster Public Assistance” link on the website of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management: http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/.


Other News


President Obama's Executive Order and Congressional funding request related to Hurricane Sandy
President Obama has issued an Executive Order establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force (Task Force), chaired by Secretary Shaun Donovan to  provide the coordination that is necessary to support rebuilding objectives.  In collaboration with the leadership provided through the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), the Task Force will identify opportunities for achieving rebuilding success, consistent with the NDRF's commitment to support economic vitality, enhance public health and safety, protect and enhance natural and manmade infrastructure, and ensure appropriate accountability. The Task Force will work to ensure that the Federal Government continues to provide appropriate resources to support affected State, local, and tribal communities to improve the region's resilience, health, and prosperity by building for the future.

The Administration has also requested $60.4 billion from Congress in Federal resources for response, recovery and mitigation related to Hurricane Sandy damage in all affected States.  This includes efforts to repair damage to homes and public infrastructure and to help affected communities prepare for future storms.  The letter to Congress can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/supplemental__december_7_2012_hurricane_sandy_funding_needs.pdf.pdf

New Jersey Future Seek Nominations for Smart Growth Awards
Are you involved with an outstanding smart-growth plan or project? Enter it today in New Jersey Future’s 2013 Smart Growth Awards contest! Nominations are now open. Download more information and a nomination form here (PDF or Word.)  Please note our earlier deadline — Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Winners will be honored at our annual Smart Growth Awards gala celebration in Newark on June 6, 2013.Since 2002, New Jersey Future has honored nearly 70 projects with Smart Growth Awards. Winners are selected from a statewide public nomination process by an independent jury of professional developers, architects, planners and redevelopment experts.  More information and entry materials are available on the awards page of New Jersey Future’s website. Information on past winners can be found here.


 


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