New Jersey Smart Start Clean Energy Programs
New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program is making renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, and biomass affordable, practical, and just plain smart! The Clean Energy Program, administered by New Jersey’s Office of Clean Energy, offers commercial, industrial, and municipal customers financial incentives, design support, and technical assistance to integrate energy efficient and renewable energy technologies into new construction, upgrades, and new cooling & heating equipment installations.
New Jersey SmartStart Buildings Program
New Jersey’s SmartStart Building Program is administered by New Jersey’s Office of Clean Energy. Whether you’re starting a commercial or industrial project from the ground up, renovating existing space, or upgrading equipment, New Jersey has unique opportunities to upgrade the quality of the project.
There are a number of improvement options for commercial, industrial, institutional, government, and agricultural projects throughout New Jersey. Alternatives are designed to enhance quality – while building in energy efficiency to save money now and for many years to come!
Project categories included in this program are New Construction and Additions, Renovations, Remodeling and Equipment Replacement.
For more detailed information on the program and eligibility requirements, please contact a New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program Customer Service Representative at 1-866-NJSMART (1-866-657-6278) or go to New Jersey’s Clean Energy Site.
Sustainable Development Loan Fund
If your company is going green, you could be eligible for government financing to help you improve the environmental quality of your operation. The Sustainable Development Loan Fund offers low interest loans up to $500,000 for businesses that support and advance sustainable actions such as:
- Production processes which draw raw materials from environmentally sustainable sources
- Pollution prevention
- Production of finished products that are recyclable, and have a minor or positive environmental impact.
Smart Growth Redevelopment Funding
If your business is planning to redevelop a commercial, industrial, office or mixed-use site in an urban or developed suburb, you could be eligible for up to $1 million in funding for site preparation costs. This includes:
- Land assemblage
- Demolition
- Removal of materials and debris
- Engineering costs
Projects must have municipal support and be part of a local development plan.
Municipalities may also apply for long-term, low-interest financing for projects in municipality-designated redevelopment areas. Bonds are secured by payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements negotiated by the municipality and developer, special assessments on property benefiting from the improvements, or both. Qualifying bonds may be excluded from the municipality’s gross debt. For more information email justask@camdencounty.com.
Brownfields Redevelopment Financing
There are a number of former industrial properties in Camden County and in our urban areas with existing infrastructure already in place, including proximity to roads, highways, and public transportation. The Camden County Business Team can help you gain access to many very low-interest loans, incentives, grants and creative tax structures for various stages of the Brownfields restoration process from planning, to remediation, to development.
Camden City Brownfields & Contaminated Site Remediation Program (BCSRP)
The reimbursement fund offers financial incentives for businesses and developers to clean-up and redevelop contaminated sites. Developers can qualify for up to $250,000 and in special cases up to $500,000. Reimbursement is up to 75% of the cost as provided by the program guidelines.
New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Programs (NJEIT)
New Jersey Environmental loan leader for 21 years provides blended rate and low-rate loans for many aspects of redevelopment projects. Brownfields loans are set at as low as 50% of market rate for a 20-year term; target area smart-growth loans up to 75% market rate. Restrictions apply. NJEIT also funds wastewater, landfill, and drinking water projects.
Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Loan Program
The Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund provides funding to public entities, businesses and non-profit organizations for the investigation and remediation of a suspected or known discharge of a hazardous substance. Administered through a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, qualified applicants could receive loans in varying amounts:
- Up to $1 million in loans or loan guarantees for up to 10 years.
- Up to $2 million in grants and loans to municipalities.
- Up to 25% of project costs in matching grants to individuals.
The Camden County Business Team can help guide you to all available options. Just ask!
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