Berkeley Gets 133K Clean Communities Grant

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley is one of New Jersey's communities receiving a Clean Communities grant from the Department of Environmental Protection, Mayor Carmen Amato announced.

Berkeley received $133,439 in grant money, Amato said.

"This is good news for Berkeley taxpayers and local non-profit, civic and community groups," he said.

A portion of the money will go towards offsetting the salaries of employees who clean and maintain Berkeley's parks and beaches, Amato said. The rest will go to "mini-grants" for local non-profit, civic and community groups that use Berkeley's "Adopt a Spot" or "Adopt a Road" program.

In total, the DEP is distributing $21.4 million in Clean Communities grant, Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. This is about $700,000 more than 2021's disbursement.

“The DEP is thrilled that we are able to distribute additional grant funds this year to help communities improve their local environments and improve quality of life by removing litter, including from roadways and around stormwater collection systems,” LaTourette said.

"Adopt a Spot" or "Adopt a Road" locations must be pre-approved through an application process. Organizations will be limited to two applications for mini-grants and must be at two separate locations.

Berkeley's mini-grants will total $500 each. The funding also provides for equipment related to the clean-ups, education and enforcement of litter laws, Amato said.

Any nonprofit organizations in Berkeley that want to participate in the program should call Public Works at 732-341-1022 to sign up.

"It's a Win-Win situation for our Township," Amato said. "Nonprofit community groups take advantage of the funding and the township benefits that we are able to get areas of our town cleaned up."