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S 4216

Requires Director of Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA to establish grant program to encourage municipalities to develop recreational sports and STEM programs for children; appropriates $10 million.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Benjie Wimberly

Establishes a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program to fund municipal youth recreational sports and STEM programs, with $10 million appropriation and public reporting.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4216

Summary of Senate Bill S 4216 (New Jersey)

Overview

  • Purpose: Establish a competitive, dollar-for-dollar, matching grant program to encourage municipalities to develop and administer recreational sports, athletics, and youth-focused STEM programs for local children.
  • Appropriation: $10 million to fund the grant program.
  • Administration: The program would be established within the Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources, part of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
  • Status: Introduced in the Senate on February 3, 2025; referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. Companion bills exist (e.g., A7160).

Core Provisions

  • Grant Program Design

    • A competitive matching grant program to support municipal recreational sports/athletics and STEM programs for children.
    • STEM programs must be youth-based and recreational, focusing on creative, age-appropriate activities (examples given: robot-building, 3D printing, Lego programs).
    • Purpose of the match: provide a dollar-for-dollar grant match to municipalities that develop and administer these programs.

  • Application and Selection

    • Municipalities must apply to the Division, using forms and processes determined by the Director.
    • Applications must detail: specific programs, requested grant amount, proposed sources of matching funds, and program implementation plans such as locations (e.g., libraries, recreation departments), anticipated participant numbers, outreach strategies, compensation for program supervisors, volunteer training, and pricing structures (free or reduced-cost access).
    • The Director must select municipalities from across the State (northern, central, southern regions) and ensure a cross-section of urban, suburban, and rural areas.
    • Selection factors include municipal contributions, cost-effectiveness, and efforts to maximize participation.

  • Eligible Costs

    • The Director will establish a list of eligible costs for matching funds (e.g., equipment, field maintenance, insurance, lighting, salaries for program supervisors, volunteer training, and other appropriate costs).

Implementation and Accountability

  • Reporting by Recipients

    • Within one year of receiving a grant, participating municipalities must report to the Director on fund expenditures, the number of programs developed/operational or in development, and the impact on participation.
    • The Director will compile these reports into a comparative profile of participating municipalities and post it publicly.
    • Within one year after posting the comparative profile, the Director must submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing program implementation and best practices, with public posting.

  • Fee Policy

    • Notwithstanding existing Green Acres and related programs, no participation fee shall be charged for children’s participation in the funded programs.
    • The Director may establish a list of premium services for which a municipality may charge (e.g., scoreboard use, public address system, nighttime field lighting).

Affected Entities

  • Primary: Municipal governments (as grant recipients and program operators).
  • State actors: Department of Community Affairs and the Division of Housing and Community Resources.
  • Beneficiaries: Local children and families; local libraries and recreation departments that host programs; program supervisors and volunteers.

Timeline and Next Steps

  • Upon enactment, the Division would process applications, award grants, and oversee reporting within the specified one-year milestones, followed by annual public reporting and a governor/legislative update.

Potential Impact

  • Expands local access to youth recreational sports and STEM opportunities.
  • Promotes public-private or in-kind partnerships through matching funding.
  • Builds a framework for measuring program reach and best practices across urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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