Bill > A415

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to establish a division, which is to be known as GrantsNJ, within the Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of providing a centralized resource for residents to access information about, and to apply for, grants offered by State agencies. The division is to coordinate with State agencies to identify potential public and private funding sources to supplement grants administered by State agencies for the purpose of maximizing available grant funds available to residents. The division is required to develop and administer a centralized, comprehensive, grants application Internet portal, which is to: (1) list all grants available to New Jersey residents; (2) organize available grants by type, including, but not limited to, categories of grants for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and municipalities; (3) summarize eligibility criteria and application links and deadlines for each grant; (4) provide tutorials and frequently asked questions to guide applicants through the application process; (5) provide multilingual and other accessibility support for applicants; and (6) provide any other relevant grant application information as determined by the division. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the bill directs the GrantsNJ division to enter into a memorandum of understanding with each State department, agency, board, or commission that administers grants for the purpose of that State department, agency, board, or commission: (1) providing a standardized Internet-based application form for each grant the State department, agency, board, or commission administers that is listed on the division's Internet website; and (2) assisting the division in developing the Internet portal described the bill. The bill provides that each State department, agency, board, or commission is to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the division, and is to make a good faith effort, to the extent not prohibited pursuant to federal law, to allow for inclusion of as many grants offered or administered by the department, agency, board, or commission as possible on the Internet portal developed pursuant to the bill. The bill directs the commissioner to develop and implement a public information campaign concerning the establishment of the Internet portal described in the bill and the availability of grants offered by State agencies to residents. The public information campaign is to include, but not be limited to, workshops and Internet-based webinars, and is to prioritize the dissemination of this information to underserved communities and small businesses. The bill requires that, no later than 12 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the GrantsNJ division is to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report that is to provide information including, but not limited to, grant utilization rates, grant accessibility improvements, metrics on the public information campaign, and the impact of grant funding on communities, including specific success stories.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Vicky Flynn (R)*,  Robert Clifton (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document