New Jersey Natural Climate Solutions Grants

RGGI-funded grants for projects that restore New Jersey's natural carbon sinks: living shorelines, tidal wetland flow and salt-marsh vegetation restoration, forest restoration, and urban forest canopy. Forest restoration projects can be on degraded forest or former agricultural fields and must be at least 1 acre and 120 feet wide. Private landowners can apply with a 25% match; governments, universities and nonprofits need no match.

• State, county, and local government units, school boards

• New Jersey universities and colleges; interstate agencies

• Private landowners owning property in New Jersey (private property project must provide 25% matching funds)

• 501(c)(3) nonprofits authorized to operate in New Jersey

Reimbursement basis on a completed expenditure report; match only required for private, for-profit entities or individuals. Forest restoration minimum 1 acre and 120 feet wide.

Published amounts: Round 2 will dedicate $60 million dollars for blue and green carbon projects. Private property project must provide 25% matching funds. Grant funds will be awarded on a reimbursement basis.

Submit electronically in NJDEP SAGE with the proposal narrative, project timeline, budget, draft monitoring plan, maintenance plan and NCS Application Tool site map (templates on the NCS grant page).

Deadline text on the page: APPLICATION DEADLINE Rolling; NOTIFICATION DATE Within 120 days after submission. Round 2 ($60 million) announced July 29, 2025; Round 2 awards announced Dec 19, 2025, Apr 22, 2026 and Sep 22, 2026.