Title
Dept/ Agency: Administration/Office of Business Administrator
Action: (X ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Application/Acceptance for Grant Funds
Purpose: Application/Acceptance with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government program
Entity Name: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Entity Address: 290 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866
Grant Amount: $1,000,000
Total Project Cost: $1,000,000
City Contribution: $0
Other Funding Source/Amount: n/a
Grant Period: February 1, 2025 - January 31, 2028
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
List of Property: (if applicable)
(Address/Block/Lot/Ward)
Additional Information:
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Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (“EJG2G”) program at the state, local, territorial and tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms; and
Whereas, according to Climate Central, the City of Newark (“City”) was recently identified as the City experiencing the second worst heat island effect in the country, and the matter of reducing the City’s heat island index is urgent; and
Whereas, on April 14, 2023, the City in partnership with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (“NJIT”) applied for the EJG2G grant as an additional resource for the City to further address its heat island index needs; and
Whereas, on May 8, 2024 the City entered into an agreement with NJIT to continue to collaborate and leverage available research that develops projects that seeks to support technology, innovation, and infrastructure in Newark; and
Whereas, on January 8, 2025, EPA awarded the City grant funding in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00); and
Whereas, the grant funds will be used to implement a stormwater, green infrastructure, air quality workforce development training and OSHA training for Newark residents; and
Whereas, the grant will enable the City to make significant contributions towards climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts; and
Whereas, the City’s Office of Sustainability will work with NJIT, Princeton University, the South Ward Environmental Alliance (“SWEA”) and Newark Doing Infrastructure Green (“Newark DIG”) to facilitate the engagement of marginalized communities; and
Whereas, the Business Administrator wishes to accept the EJG2G grant funding and enter into and execute a grant agreement in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00); and
Whereas, no matching municipal funds are required for acceptance of the additional EJG2G grant funding; and
Whereas, no commitment of city resources or staff is required for acceptance of the EJG2G grant funding; and
Whereas, the Governing Body of the City of Newark desires to further the public interest by obtaining a grant from the EPA in the amount of approximately One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) to fund diverse partnerships and a workforce development program for Newark residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator and/or the Chief Sustainability Officer are hereby authorized to submit an application to the EPA requesting Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (“EJG2G”) program funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for the Newark Workforce Development for Mitigating Air Quality, Urban Heat Island, and Storm water Issues in Newark in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00).
2. The Business Administrator, or his or her successor, is authorized to execute a grant agreement, any ancillary grant documents, or any amendments thereto and to take any other actions necessary to receive the grant funds.
3. The City of Newark (“City”) hereby agrees to match 0% of the Total Project Amount, in compliance with the match requirements of the agreement. The availability of the match for such purposes, whether cash, services, or property, is hereby certified 0% of the match will be made up of in-kind services (if allowed by grant program requirements and the agreement).
4. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of this application from the date of application submission to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
5. The grant award in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) is hereby accepted (a copy of the grant agreement/award letter is attached hereto and made a part hereof.)
6. The Municipal Council hereby ratifies its authorization of the execution of the grant documents and agreements from the date of their execution to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
7. No municipal funds are required for the receipt of acceptance of grant funds.
8. No commitment of City resources or staff is required for the receipt or acceptance of the grant funds.
9. The City (as “Grantee”) agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws, rules, and regulations in its performance pursuant to its agreement.
10. The Business Administrator and/or the Chief Sustainability Officer shall cause to be filed fully-executed copies of the grant award letter, any grant agreement and any associated grant documents in the Office of the City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor and the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Business Administrator and/or the Chief Sustainability Officer, and the actions taken, to submit the 2023 Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Grant Program, with the Environmental Protection Agency, and further ratifies and authorizes the execution of the grant agreements necessary to receive the grant funds in the amount of One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00) and further authorizes the acceptance of the grant funds.