News Department

Murphy administration seeks community partners for DEP’s Youth Inclusion Initiative to empower next generation of environmental leaders

NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites community-based organizations across the state to apply for grants to participate in the fifth year of its successful Youth Inclusion Initiative.

The program empowers young people from overburdened communities to enter the environmental field, fostering a more inclusive workforce and strengthening community ties.

Up to $100,000 is available for each organization to partner with DEP to recruit, supervise and guide participants, aged 16 to 20, seeking to gain hands-on training in a variety of environmental careers during the six-week summer program. Interested organizations, formally called Community Host Organizations, can find the grant opportunity at dep.nj.gov/yii/grant. In addition, an informative webinar will be held on Jan. 30.

All proposals must be submitted online using DEP’s System for Managing Grants Electronically (SAGE) by 5 p.m. on Feb. 20.

“Starting with just 20 participants and rising to 80 last year, we are astounded by how much the Youth Inclusion Initiative has grown. With plans to engage 100 participants in 2025, this incredible program is poised for its largest and most impactful year yet,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “We invite community organizations from across the state to apply for the grant funding to join us in building a diverse, knowledgeable, and capable new generation of environmental stewards.”

Organizations best suited for the grant opportunity include local environmental groups, colleges and universities, neighborhood and community advocacy groups, and religious and social organizations.

Key Features of the 2025 Youth Inclusion Initiative

  • Funding: Grant funds support outreach, recruitment, supervisory services, transportation, meals, community projects and exposure to employment opportunities for the participants. Additionally, each participant will receive a stipend for taking part in the program.
  • Interactive Learning and Professional Development: Participants will complete various interactive activities such as touring environmental facilities, conducting stream assessments, and identifying invasive species. To complement this, the program also provides guidance for pursuing career pathways after the program has ended by including professional development days featuring guest speakers and résumé workshops.
  • Community Project Days: Once a week, the youth will participate in community projects focused on environmental improvement, such as creating rain gardens and painting stormwater drains. Up to $5,000 will be allotted for each project.
  • Strengthening Community Ties: The program will include up to ten different organizations, two more than last year. Building on last year’s pilot partnership setup, this year all community organizations within the same region will be paired together. This approach aims to promote team building, foster collaboration, and strengthen community ties.

“The success of this program is fueled by the unwavering dedication of our partners, who are deeply committed to empowering young people and providing them the opportunity to explore careers in the environmental field,” said DEP Assistant Commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization Elizabeth Dragon. “We sincerely thank all of our partners for their invaluable participation and feedback each year, which are essential to the program’s continuous growth and enhancement.”

Improved Application Process

Building off the success of previous years, significant administrative enhancements have been made to improve communication between the DEP and its partnering organizations and ensure clarity on grant requirements and expectations.

This includes the transition of the Youth Inclusion Initiative to a grant-based program that utilizes DEP’s SAGE online grant management system. Using this updated application process, community-based organizations will be able to track their grant applications seamlessly from submission to approval and implementation.

For more information about the 2025 Youth Inclusion Initiative, visit dep.nj.gov/yii.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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