Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program Round 2

The Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program Round 2 is a state grant opportunity administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Division of Climate Change Mitigation and Monitoring. Open to municipalities, counties, state agencies, non-profits, and private landowners, the program focuses on environmental projects that utilize natural climate solutions. The application window is open until December 31, 2026, with a rolling admission process where proposals are reviewed in the order received. To be eligible for funding, projects must pass an eligibility and completeness screening, a compliance review, and achieve a minimum technical score of 75 out of 100 points from a technical scoring panel. Applicants can maximize their scores by committing to the use of zero or low-emissions landscape equipment and vehicles. Grant recipients are required to obtain a Vendor ID through the NJSTART eProcurement System and designate a Contact Person, Fiscal Officer, and Project Manager via the SAGE grant portal. Funding is primarily reimbursement-based, requiring full payment of invoices and detailed backup documentation, though advance payment schedules may be approved during the agreement phase. Key deliverables include the submission of a final Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan and a maintenance plan within 18 months of the work period start. The NJDEP retains 5% of the total grant until a final report is submitted and all project requirements, including survivorship and establishment thresholds, are met. Failure to submit required quarterly and annual reports may result in the suspension of funding or a requirement to return grant monies.