Highlands Coalition to expand Small Grant Program

Grassroots organizations helping to protect cultural and historic resources in the New Jersey Highlands Region are invited to tap into an unlikely source of future funding support — the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.

The nonprofit coalition, whose primary mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the water supply and other natural and cultural resources of in the New Jersey Highlands region, has expanded its annual Small Grants awards to local organizations working to protect cultural and historic resources in the Highlands Region of the state.

The cultural grants, according to a release announcing the new program, can be used to support “brick-and-mortar” projects for specific historic sites or districts.

“An individual donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, stepped up to help us fund this new initiative,” said Coalition senior policy analyst Elliott Ruga. “The coalition strongly believes it is as important to preserve historic sites as it is to preserve open space.”

The Small Grant program will continue its traditional funding for groups working on protecting the water supply for more than half of New Jersey by implementing the Highlands Regional Master Plan or fighting damaging development in the Highlands, according to Executive Director Julia Somers.

“This is the eighth year for our Small Grants program, and we are delighted that generous supporters have allowed us to add new grants for projects that protect cultural, historic, and archaeological resources,” said Somers, who added that two more donors helped to fund the new initiative. “Protecting cultural as well as natural resources is an important part of the Highlands Regional Master Plan, so this is a logical extension of our grants.”

Environmental and cultural-historic organizations can apply for grants up to $5,000. Applications must be received by Aug. 10. Grants will be awarded in October at the coalition’s annual meeting.

The coalition defines grassroots organizations are defined as non-governmental organizations with a total annual operating budget of less than $200,000. It is not necessary that the organization be incorporated. The grants cannot be used for political purposes.

Grant applications should meet at least one of five criteria, listed below in order of importance:

•Focus on implementation of the Highlands Regional Master Plan, such as projects that identify, map or verify Highlands natural or cultural resources;

•Establish a precedent advancing strong environmental or cultural protection in the Highlands ;

•Assist an organization to fight against development in the Highlands that seriously threatens or damages natural or cultural resources;

•Support capacity building of Highlands Region grassroots organizations;

•Educate the public about Highlands cultural resources or water and other natural resources.

Applicants can view the full guidelines for the program at www.njhighlandscoalition.org.

Last year’s recipients included grassroots organizations working on projects helping to protect the Highlands resources that are the source of drinking water for 850,000 people in the Highlands and more than 4 million outside the region.

Last year’s grant awardees included the Roxbury Environmental Action Coalition in Roxbury, for its efforts to ensure a proper closing of Fenimore Landfill.

Additional funding sources for the grants include some proceeds from the annual highlands Festival at Waterloo Village.

“We’ll be holding our third-annual Highlands Festival at Waterloo on Sept. 19-20,” said Ben Spinelli, chairman of the coalition’s Small Grants Committee. “Festival visitors can hear great music, have fun and food, and meet grassroots groups who have booths, all the while knowing they’re helping to fund the work of those volunteer organizations.”

For more information, call Somers at 973-588-7190 or email her at julia@njhighlandscoalition.org.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.