[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=””]PURPOSE OF FUNDING
To empower youth from overburdened communities in New Jersey by providing hands on experience and exposure to skills necessary for a career in environmental protection.

APPLICATION
System for Managing Grants Electronically (SAGE)

APPLICATION DEADLINE
March 12, 2026

NOTIFICATION DATE
Spring 2026

SOURCE OF FUNDING
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

STATUTORY CITATION
N/A

WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Organizations best suited for the grant opportunity include, local environmental groups, colleges and universities, neighborhood and community advocacy groups, and church and social organizations. It is required the Community Host Organization(CHO) location and Youth Participation outreach areas target one of New Jersey’s overburdened communities that meets at least two of the three overburdened community criteria: 1) percentage low income, 2) minority and 3) limited English proficiency. In addition, the location must be an Urban Aid Municipality. Please see Attachment 1 for a listing of qualified municipalities.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION
The CHO should include information relevant to their qualifications and ability to perform the work required under this Grant. Any experience administering similar programs should be highlighted. The CHO should have experience in providing job training, academic enrichment, and/or workforce development initiatives. The CHOs should describe in detail the community project they plan on completing with the youth. The cohorts can be tailored to youth at any educational level from high school to college students.

GRANT/LOAN LIMITATIONS
Up to $100,000 is available for each organization to partner with DEP to recruit, supervise and guide participants, aged 16 to 20, seeking to gain hands-on training in a variety of environmental careers during the six-week summer program. Up to $5,000 will be allotted for each project on specific community project days.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Youth Inclusion Initiative applications are accepted via NJ Department of Environmental Protection, System for Administering Grants Electronically (NJDEP SAGE).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
Application Q&A: The written questions period has closed, and all questions received by the deadline of February 5, 2026, are answered in this document.

Application Webinar: The DEP held an informational webinar on February 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. You can download the presentation from the webinar by clicking here, and view the webinar recording by clicking here. 

Youth Inclusion Initiative (YII) Grant Application 2026

NJDEP| Youth Inclusion Initiative | Home

FOR MORE INFORMATION 
YouthInclusion@deptest.nj.gov[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3069″ img_size=”662×441″ css=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1742218316454{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #999999 !important;}”]Fact Sheet: 

• DEP Youth Workforce Development 2021

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