Governor Murphy Announces $180 Million Awarded to Nonprofit Groups and Local Governments Through Lead Remediation and Abatement Program

At the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, Governor Murphy announced that his Administration will soon commit $180 million to nonprofit organizations and local governments across the state through the Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Lead Remediation and Abatement Program (LRAP). These funds help grantees conduct lead-safe repairs in homes where adults and children are exposed to lead-based paint. Once DCA obligates the final $40 million this month, it will have awarded all of the Murphy Administration’s historic investment made in the State Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 budgets to address the threat of childhood lead poisoning.

“We are providing grants to communities up and down our state — from Paterson to Vineland — so we can ensure that every one of our children is protected from the dangers of lead-based paint,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This funding will directly benefit thousands of households and is a perfect example of how safe housing is at the heart of our Administration’s vision for making New Jersey the best place, anywhere in America, to raise a family.”

“DCA is incredibly proud to administer a grant program that is protecting New Jersey’s families and children from the detrimental effects of lead poisoning,” said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “By collaborating with nonprofit groups and local governments, we are providing residents with the information and financial assistance they need to live free of lead-based paint in their homes.”

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Murphy Administration Announces Opening of Income-Based Charge Up+ EV Incentive

Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)  announced the opening of Charge Up+, an additional income-based incentive of $2,000 available through the State’s Charge Up New Jersey electric vehicle (EV) incentive program. The announcement follows the launch of Year Five of Charge Up New Jersey in July 2024.

“I’m thrilled to announce this additional step toward ensuring every New Jerseyan can choose clean transportation, regardless of their income,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “My administration continues to prioritize lowering emissions and improving air quality in our communities, no matter the zip code, by making EVs more affordable and accessible to all.”

“Through the introduction of Charge Up+, the Murphy Administration is once again building upon the success of its highly popular EV incentive program,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Combined with the Charge Up base incentive and federal EV tax credit, this additional incentive will further expand the number of New Jersey families who can reap the environmental and economic benefits of clean transportation.”

Through Year Five of the Charge Up New Jersey program, all eligible vehicles up to a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $55,000 can receive a $2,000 base incentive. Residents can take advantage of this incentive directly at the car dealership or showroom and apply the incentive instantly to their purchase or lease at the point of sale. Charge Up New Jersey also offers a $250 rebate for the purchase and installation of a qualifying Level 2 charger through the In-Home EV Charger Incentive.

The additional income-based incentive of $2,000 will be available to prequalified income-eligible applicants for a total of $4,000. Customers who are eligible for the Charge Up+ incentive must prequalify before visiting the dealership to ensure that the full $4,000 can be applied to their purchase or lease.

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DCF Awards Funding to Expand Universal Home Visiting Initiative in New Jersey

As part of the State’s efforts to expand Family Connects NJ — New Jersey’s universal nurse home visitation program — the Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) has awarded contracts to two partner-agencies to make free nurse visits available to every family with a newborn in an additional six counties. Beginning January 2025, this lifesaving program will continue in Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, and Middlesex Counties, and expand to Somerset, Sussex, Passaic, Hudson, Bergen, and Ocean Counties. 

The law establishing a universal nurse home visitation program was signed by Governor Murphy in July 2021, making New Jersey the second state in the nation to advance a universal home visitation program specifically designed to support parents and families welcoming a newborn through childbirth, adoption, or foster care placement, as well as families that have experienced the tragedy of stillbirth or neonatal loss. Family Connects NJ is a key component to First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative, which aims to make New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are a leading cause of preventable pregnancy-related deaths in New Jersey, and the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee has found that the majority of pregnancy-related deaths occur postpartum. In fact, in March of this year, a total of 14% of nurse home visits—more than 1 in 10—resulted in a referral of a mother or an infant to the emergency room for follow-up on something that couldn’t wait for the regular checkup, with the most common reason being post-partum hypertension. This is critical since post-partum hypertension is a life-threatening complication commonly associated with stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.

In January, the program launched in five counties — Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer and Middlesex.

“Having a strong support system during the early days of parenthood is crucial. When new parents bring their baby home for the first time, it can be overwhelming. It takes a village to raise a child, and through Family Connects NJ, the State of New Jersey is committing to be part of that village while families adjust to life with a newborn,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This innovative home visitation program raises the bar for postpartum care by ensuring both new mothers and their babies can access the care and resources they need. I’m pleased to see this successful, life-saving program expand into more New Jersey counties, enabling more families to benefit from critical support.”

“Family Connects NJ is the most robust universal nurse home visitation program in the nation, providing the support new mothers need to ensure they and their families are healthy and thriving in the crucial weeks post birth,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “I am thrilled to continue our planned expansion of this vital program as we enter six additional counties starting in January. Family Connects NJ will help cement New Jersey as the gold standard and the safest, most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.”

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New Jersey's First Lady Tammy Murphy Partners with Virginia's First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin to Raise Awareness on the Dangers of Fentanyl

First Lady Tammy Murphy joined Virginia's First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin on a visit to the Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School as part of their bi-partisan push to tackle the fentanyl crisis through education and awareness. Both First Ladies took a student-led tour of the high school and participated in a rapid, REVIVE! training followed by two, round-table discussions with students and educators to better understand views surrounding substance use disorders and the dangers of fentanyl.

The visit follows on the heels of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day during which a majority of first spouses joined Murphy and Youngkin in efforts to raise awareness. It also coincides with Governor Youngkin’s announcement that the It Only Takes One fentanyl awareness initiative — a multi-media and community activism campaign — will be spread across the Commonwealth having proved highly effective in its initial pilot. 

“Too many families have felt the pain of losing a loved one to the opioid crisis, which has tragically reached all corners of our country. Given the dangers of fentanyl and other addictive substances, raising awareness and encouraging education on important tools like naloxone is critical to saving lives,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “I am proud to partner with First Lady Youngkin as we together face down the challenges impacting our communities and prepare our students to understand the risks of substances, how to reduce harm and how to reach out for care.”

"Fentanyl doesn’t discriminate and on average we are losing five Virginians a day to the synthetic opioid," said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. "Today’s visit is a powerful reminder that education and awareness are key to saving lives, and through partnerships like this, we can bring hope and healing to our communities."

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