Washington Borough Awarded Sustainability Grant 

From left to right: DONNA DREWES, Co-Director, Sustainable Jersey 

JOSEPHINE NOONE, Washington Borough Councilwoman 

LISA GLEASON, Corporate Responsibility Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, PSEG 

RICK DOVEY, Chair, Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees

 

WASHINGTON (April 20, 2016) – Washington Borough was recently awarded a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey capacity-building grant funded by the PSEG Foundation for its efforts in providing a valuable service to the community.

Various grants were distributed to fund a variety of projects including reclaiming paved surfaces for community gardens, protecting community tree cover, water conservation, green infrastructure, natural resources protection, park revitalization, promoting healthy lifestyles and green team capacity building. 

The Washington grant is going to the Washington Borough Green Team in cooperation with the Washington Borough Business Improvement District (BID) to expand the Washington Borough Farmers’ Market. With combined efforts, they hope to attract more people to the downtown and promote local farmers and small businesses. The farmers’ market has a wide range of offerings, which include: certified naturally grown fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised pork, lamb and chicken, fresh eggs, local honey products, fresh cut flowers, baked goods, and hand-crafted jewelry, candles, soaps and gifts. 

"We are very excited about this grant," said Josephine Noone, Borough Councilwoman and a coordinator of the Green Team and the Washington Farmer's Market. "The grant will help us promote the farmers' market more effectively with increased advertising and promotion.  It will also allow us to include more musical entertainment and other special attractions during the season. '

"We are really looking forward to a terrific farmers' market this year," added Noone. "We have an excellent variety of vendors. We welcome back our regular customers and look forward to seeing a lot of new faces. Our market will bring more foot traffic to the downtown area and increase sales for local businesses, which is a big part of why we have the farmers' market."

In addition to the Sustainable Jersey grant, the farmers' market also is supported by Smith Tractor, the Washington Diner, and St. Luke's Warren Campus.

“These grants support green teams and municipalities working to bring innovative sustainability projects forward that will shape the future of their residents for years to come,” said Donna Drewes, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Randall Solomon. She extended her congratulations to all of the towns that received grants. “The grants we’re awarding today will also help build capacity as municipalities move sustainability programs forward.”  

The PSEG Foundation has contributed over one million dollars in funding to the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program. “Environmental, social and economic issues are the cornerstone to the PSEG Foundation’s support and we are committed to leading the communities in which we serve towards a more sustainable future,” said Ellen Lambert, president of the PSEG Foundation. “These projects will have a lasting impact to neighborhoods throughout New Jersey.”  

Proposals were evaluated by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey grants are intended to help municipalities make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey certification. Currently, 77 percent, or 434 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program. 

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE JERSEY 

Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 77 percent, or 434 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program and 163 school districts and 428 schools are participating in the new Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program. 

Sustainable Jersey’s partners include the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program. Program underwriters include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program and the Surdna Foundation. The 2016 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants program for municipalities is funded by PSEG Foundation and the Gardinier Environmental Fund. South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas are Platinum Sponsors. NJM Insurance Group is a Gold Sponsor, Bayshore Recycling is a Silver Sponsor and our Bronze Sponsors are Investors Bank, Covanta, Energy Solve, JCP&L, GovPilot and Solar City.