CRI Assists NJ Pinelands Commission in Awarding Grants

The New Jersey Pinelands Commission established the Pinelands Conservation Fund (PCF) in 2004 to further the Pinelands Protection Program that has been in place for over twenty-five years.

Conservation Resources Inc. has been working with the Pinelands Commission to provide assistance with the Land Acquisition Program of the PCF.

In 2007, CRI assisted the Pinelands Commission with reviewing proposals and making recommendations for funding. A total of twelve projects were funded with PCF grants totaling $4 million. This will permanently preserve more than 3,200 acres of unique natural, cultural, historic and agricultural resources in the Pinelands Region of New Jersey. This fist round of funded projects were located in Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean Counties.

In May 2008, the Pinelands Commission’s Permanent Land Protection Committee dedicated an additional $867,666 to preserve 450 acres in Atlantic, Burlington, Gloucester and Ocean counties in the Pinelands.

The Pinelands Commission focuses funding on three distinct areas of the Pinelands:

• 18 Planning Areas AND Section 502 Target Areas

• Areas within specific Sub-Regional Planning Areas
  
  
• Contingency Projects
  

In addition, the Commission has decided that the PC can provide grants not to exceed a maximum of 33% of the cost for the acquisition of the land or land interest. However, these grants cannot fund incidental costs associated with such acquisitions. The Commission expects that most projects will be highly leveraged and involve several partners including the NJDEP Green Acres Program, Counties, Municipalities and non-profits.

EVALUATION PROCESS

The Pinelands Conservation Fund will be used to fund exemplary Land Acquisition Projects that meet the following criteria:

• Project must be located within the 18 Planning Areas, Section 502 Target Areas, the Toms River or Medford Evesham Sub Regional Planning Areas, or must qualify as a Contingency Project;

• The project must be sponsored and undertaken by a local or county government or a bona fide non-profit conservation group which has sufficient technical and financial ability to complete the project. PCF will contribute up to 33% of the total project cost.;

• The project must be eligible for matching public funds (e.g. funds from NJDEP Green Acres Program). Please note that Pinelands Development Credit restricted land IS eligible for PCF funding;

• The project must include an adequate legal mechanism to insure the permanent protection of the subject tract of land;

• The applicant has an agreement to purchase the property or can provide other satisfactory documentation that the project is likely to proceed in the near future.