Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced $1 million grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program to fund programs that will assist in building partnerships between local government groups and non-profits through the multifaceted environmental justice initiative “Clean Hudson.”

Residents throughout Hudson County face an unfair share of environmental burdens as compared to other communities throughout our Garden State, due in part to the region’s legacy industrial pollution. By approaching these challenges collectively, Clean Hudson has a greater and more wholistic impact empowering residents in our goal of improving our local environment and quality of life to create measurable and lasting effects beyond the short 3-year grant period.

“I am incredibly thankful for Congressman Menendez’s advocacy and the Hudson County Division of Planning’s dedicated work to seek this grant opportunity and successfully obtain this funding. All Hudson County residents have a right to live, learn, work and recreate in a clean and healthy environment, and making Hudson County greener has been a priority for this administration from day one,” said Hudson County Executive, Craig Guy. “Thank you to our partners for working with us as we commit to a healthy Hudson County environment with our Clean Hudson initiative, and thank you to Mayor Jimmy Davis of Bayonne for hosting this event.”

“With the support of the EPA, we’re taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to protecting our environment and building a green economy in Hudson County,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “By partnering with these extraordinary local organizations, this funding will ensure that everyone in our community benefits from resilient infrastructure and clean public spaces. The Clean Hudson Initiative is a bold step forward for our community, and I know that with continued support from our partners at all levels of government, we will reach our goals.”

The full funding amount will be distributed between Hudson County Division of Planning and the County’s three partners: Hackensack Riverkeeper, Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) and Hudson County Community College (HCCC). Each partner leads unique projects designed to champion the shared goal of advancing water quality through equitable environmental practices.

“As a lifelong Hudson County resident, I am especially proud that Hackensack Riverkeeper is playing such a major role in this important and timely project,” said Captain Bill Sheehan, Executive Director of Hackensack Riverkeeper. “With this funding, we’ll help thousands of my fellow county residents understand and embrace their ‘watershed citizenship’ – and all the rights and responsibilities that go with it.”

“Reducing litter is vital for healthier, happier communities. With support from Hudson County, organizations and municipalities, the HCIA will lead clean-up events and launch a county-wide litter education campaign. Clean streets inspire pride, and through education and targeted clean-ups, we can tackle litter at its source.”  said Amanda Nesheiwat, Director of Sustainability and Community Outreach-HCIA.

“Hudson County Community College is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and improving our environment. For more than a decade,  our Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and other students have assisted the Hackensack Riverkeeper in cleanups. We are proud to now partner with the County of Hudson and the Riverkeeper in this important initiative by providing training that will lead to credentialing and jobs for our residents, and improved water quality for our area,” said Hudson County Community College President Dr. Christopher Reber.

“It is really exciting to see community organizations and state and local governments in New Jersey design creative projects to advance environmental justice,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “These grant programs will give communities and local governments a new way to approach climate resilience and to develop solutions that can be replicated on other places. EPA continues to engage with and support communities that have traditionally been overburdened by environmental pollution.”

Visit our Clean Hudson webpage for more details regarding the activities of our partners through this initiative: https://www.hcnj.us/cleanhudson/.