West Orange Wins $10,000 Green Grant

Sustainable Jersey officials announced Tuesday that West Orange has won a $10,000 municipal sustainable grant for water conservation education and outreach. 

The 2010 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program funded by Walmart awarded $220,000 in funding to 34 local governments in the amounts of 10 $10,000 grants, four $25,000 and 20 $1,000 grants.

Councilwoman Susan McCartney accepted the award for the township and spoke at the Sept. 14 press event. She is the authorized township Sustainable Jersey representative for the township's certification initiative, which is a sub-commission of the West Orange Energy Commission.

West Orange is in the process of becoming a certified Sustainable Jersey municipality, which is a certification program for municipalities that want to go green, control costs and save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.

McCartney described how the grant will be used by the West Orange Energy Commission for community outreach efforts to promote water conservation by installing rain barrels at township buildings and making them available at reduced cost to residents. 

"As with West Orange's previous successful energy-saving and recycling awareness campaigns, the program will include a public art component with 54 rain barrels decorated by local artists and installed all over town at schools and township buildings," she said. 

McCartney thanked all the township employees and residents who have supported the energy commission's past efforts and the grant process that led to this award.

In a statement, West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi said: "The Township of West Orange is honored to accept the 2010 Sustainable Jersey Small Grant award as we continue to set the pace as a statewide leader in sustainable initiatives and move forward into the future as a sustainable and environmentally conscious community. The success of this initiative is due to an amazing joint effort between government leaders and resident volunteers who truly care for the environmental and for our community. I am grateful for their commitment to this project." 

The five Essex County municipalities winning grants this year with West Orange are Hope, Livingston, Montclair, Maplewood and Roseland.

Montclair won a $25,000 grant for an electric vehicle charging station program. Other grant recipients will use the awards for wind turbines, school food composting and school or community garden projects.

More than half of New Jersey's municipalities (51 percent or 288 towns across all 21 counties) are registered and now working on becoming Sustainable Jersey certified.

This is the second year that Walmart has funded the grants program, bringing their total contribution for two years to $420,000.

The Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program was established to promote sustainability and public/private partnerships by Walmart Stores Inc., the New Jersey League of Municipalities Educational Foundation, and the NJLM Mayors' Committee for a Green Future.