Open Space Partnership Grants Available

By Somerset County Board of Freeholders
The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the County Planning Board are seeking applications for the 2009 round of County/Municipal Open Space Partnership Grants. 
The grants are awarded through a competitive process that evaluates each application on a number of criteria. Applications are due to the Somerset County Planning Board at 20 Grove St., P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876-1262, by 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 11.  
The Partnership grants provide direct funding assistance to municipalities for local open space acquisitions. The grants are funded through the Somerset County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. 
Since the program’s inception in 1995, more than $13 million has been awarded to assist the preservation of nearly 3,200 acres of potential open space. Annual program allocations are approximately $1 million, with individual grant awards averaging between $100,000 and $250,000.
“As partners in the effort to preserve open spaces, we look forward to working with this year’s grant recipients to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Somerset County,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Jack M. Ciattarelli, planning liaison.
            For more information, contact the Planning Board at (908) 231-7021 or email [email protected] or visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/Open%20Space.html#Partnership