Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey awarded their 2024 Sustainable Communities Grants on Monday to seven South Jersey municipalities, including Somers Point.
The funding is for projects focused on open space preservation, park enhancements and emergency preparedness.
As part of Atlantic City Electric’s dedication to building sustainable communities across the region, the $35,000 in grants will help provide cleaner water, greater access to emergency services, and improved recreational facilities, according to a company news release.
“Our role in protecting the environment, preserving open spaces, and community preparedness is one we take seriously,” Phil Vavala, Atlantic City Electric region president, said in the release. “We’re committed to leading by example while empowering others with funding and resources to join in. The more we work together, the greater the impact we can make for our communities and our environment.”
Over the last five years, Atlantic City Electric’s Sustainable Communities Grant Program has provided more than $310,000 to preserve open spaces, improve resiliency efforts and enhance the quality of life for South Jersey residents.
“With these grants, New Jersey communities can prepare for environmental changes by completing projects that build local resilience and provide access to our natural resources,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “In partnership with Atlantic City Electric, we’re creating more resilient communities for current and future generations.”
This year, Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey have awarded grants to the following municipalities:
- City of Somers Point ($5,000):The grant will be used to develop a new trail with educational signage, providing visitors with recreational and learning opportunities.
- Evesham Township ($5,000):The grant will improve a local park with educational signage, ADA-compliant picnic tables, and trail benches.
- Medford Township ($5,000):The grant will enhance a canoe trail, making it more accessible, improving water quality, and helping to prevent flooding.
- Sea Isle City ($5,000): The grant will be used to add a pollinator pond, purchasing additional benches, expanding gardens with native plants and adding educational signage to Townsends Inlet Waterfront Park.
- Maurice River Township ($5,000): The grant will fund the creation of a new recreational area featuring a boat ramp, river walk, new pavilions, birdhouses, play equipment and an ADA-compliant shade structure.
- Mullica Township ($5,000):The grant will enable the repair of a UTV and high-water rescue vehicle used in emergency situations in hard-to-navigate areas.
- Stafford Township ($5,000): The grant will purchase a tidal gauge for the township’s water quality testing initiative, helping better plan for emergencies caused by climate change.
The Sustainable Communities Grant Program is just one part of Atlantic City Electric’s commitment to help reach New Jersey’s clean energy and climate goals.
Atlantic City Electric is working to reduce its carbon footprint and help customers do the same, according to the news release.
These efforts are part of the broader Path to Clean goal of Atlantic City Electric’s parent company, Exelon, which aims to reduce operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.
