{"id":11584,"date":"2025-07-17T10:45:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/?p=11584"},"modified":"2025-07-17T13:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T17:28:57","slug":"25_0036","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/25_0036\/","title":{"rendered":"DEP, Sustainable Jersey, and TCNJ Announce Second Round Award of Nearly $4.5 Million in Trees for Schools Grants (25\/P036)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong>
\nJuly 17, 2025[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong> Lawrence Hajna\u00a0(609) 984-1795
\nVincent Grassi (609) 984-1795
\nCaryn Shinske (609) 984-1795<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

DEP, SUSTAINABLE JERSEY, AND TCNJ ANNOUNCE SECOND ROUND AWARD OF NEARLY $4.5 MILLION IN TREES FOR SCHOOLS GRANTS<\/h3>\n

(25\/P36) TRENTON <\/strong>\u2013 Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, Sustainable Jersey, and The College of New Jersey today announced the award of nearly $4.5 million in grants to fund the planting of trees at 40 public schools, colleges, and universities across the state through the Trees for Schools<\/a> program.<\/p>\n

The tree planting projects will increase shade coverage to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures due to climate change, beautify school campuses, mitigate and filter stormwater runoff, and reduce the state\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

More than half of the projects are located in overburdened communities,<\/a> where excessive paving and limited tree cover can cause temperatures to increase, a scenario known as the urban heat-island effect. Grant awardees will participate in workshops and design projects, with the goal of planting more than 4,500 trees in Spring 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe planting of trees in urban areas is an incredible tool in our work to mitigate the impacts of climate change,\u201d Commissioner LaTourette said.<\/strong> \u201cExpanding tree canopies at school campuses will make it easier for students, staff and residents to find shade on hot days while providing numerous environmental benefits. My DEP colleagues and I are proud to support this work to promote the importance of trees in fighting climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trees for Schools grants make local sustainability real, practical, and achievable,\u201d said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey<\/strong>. \u201cCongratulations to the schools, colleges, and universities awarded a grant. They are stepping up, taking advantage of resources, and showing that meaningful climate action isn\u2019t an abstract idea. It\u2019s happening now, in communities across New Jersey. We look forward to working with these schools to expand their tree canopy and provide students with rich educational opportunities and a vital connection to nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grants range from $10,000 to $250,000 and cover costs associated with planning, site preparation, tree purchases, planting, watering, monitoring, and maintenance over a three-year period. The program, which launched on Arbor Day in 2023<\/a>, is a joint effort of DEP, Sustainable Jersey, and TCNJ. It is funded through New Jersey\u2019s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative<\/a> (RGGI), a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Proceeds from RGGI auctions are used to fund programs that benefit the environment.<\/p>\n

Grant Awards in Detail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement marks the second round of funding through the program; the first round of grants was awarded in 2023<\/a> and resulted in the planting of nearly 3,000 trees at 33 school campuses across the state. The second-round grant awards<\/a> are as follows:<\/p>\n

Atlantic County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atlantic County Vocational School District, $130,845<\/p>\n

Bergen County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hackensack Board of Education, $204,256; Englewood Public School District, $79,760; Ridgewood Public Schools, $72,000; Fair Lawn Board of Education, $145,227; Ramsey School District, $238,917; Hillsdale Board of Education, $66,050; Mahwah Board of Education, $70,410<\/p>\n

Burlington County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rancocas Valley Regional High School District, $104,075<\/p>\n

Cape May County<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Wildwood School District, $11,000<\/p>\n

Essex County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Newark Board of Education, $249,997; Verona School District, $51,705<\/p>\n

Gloucester County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paulsboro Public Schools, $10,000<\/p>\n

Hunterdon County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hunterdon County Vocational School District, $20,000; Readington Township Public Schools, $39,463<\/p>\n

Mercer County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Robeson Charter School, $212,150; The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), $250,000; Hamilton Township School District, $23,000; Princeton Public School District, $92,125<\/p>\n

Middlesex County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Metuchen School District, $167,880; South River Public School District, $54,219<\/p>\n

Monmouth County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freehold High School District, $50,000; Brookdale Community College, $243,983; Henry Hudson Regional School District, $95,205; Spring Lake Borough Board of Education, $31,245; Upper Freehold Regional School District, $117,300; Wall Township Public Schools, $192,005<\/p>\n

Morris County <\/strong><\/p>\n

Morris School District, $202,400; Madison Public School District, $91,200; Randolph Township Schools, $67,716<\/p>\n

Ocean County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ocean County College, $19,460<\/p>\n

Passaic County<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Paterson University, $249,796; Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools, $31,472; Passaic Valley Regional High School District, $173,568<\/p>\n

Salem County <\/strong><\/p>\n

Pittsgrove Township School District, $59,028<\/p>\n

Union County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elizabeth Board of Education, $249,872; Kean University, $235,342; Cranford Public School District, $21,243; Springfield Township School District, $10,363<\/p>\n

Warren County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lopatcong School District, $33,165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About Sustainable Jersey<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sustainable Jersey is a non-profit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. The organization operates a sustainability certification program to recognize those that have documented meeting rigorous standards. The program is managed by the Sustainability Institute at TCNJ<\/a>. See Sustainable Jersey<\/a> and Sustainable Jersey for Schools<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sustainable Jersey PHOTO\/Trees for Schools tree planting, Philip\u2019s Academy Charter School, Newark, from 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2025[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””] Contact: Lawrence Hajna\u00a0(609) 984-1795 Vincent Grassi (609) 984-1795 Caryn Shinske (609) 984-1795 [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] DEP, SUSTAINABLE JERSEY, AND TCNJ ANNOUNCE SECOND ROUND AWARD OF NEARLY $4.5 MILLION IN TREES FOR SCHOOLS GRANTS (25\/P36) TRENTON \u2013 Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, Sustainable Jersey, and The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":628,"featured_media":11585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"dep-single.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[193],"tags":[196,197],"class_list":["post-11584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-193","tag-sustainable-new-jersey","tag-tcnj"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/628"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11584"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11591,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11584\/revisions\/11591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}