New Jersey Launches $20 Million Public Housing Authority Connect Pilot Program to Bridge the Digital Divide in Public Housing

• Posted on: 04/28/2025

Public Housing Authorities Eligible to Submit Proposals

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) today announced the launch of the Public Housing Authority (PHA) Connect Pilot Program, a $20 million initiative aimed at expanding digital access and equity for residents in public housing. This investment is part of a broader $263 million federal grant awarded in 2023 to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Administered by DCA, the PHA Connect Pilot Program seeks to close the digital divide by enhancing broadband connectivity, increasing access to devices, and strengthening digital literacy in public housing communities across the state.

“Access to reliable internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “With the PHA Connect Pilot Program, New Jersey is taking a major step toward ensuring that public housing residents have the tools and connectivity they need to thrive in today’s digital world.”

“We are thrilled to launch our broadband programs and partner with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to bring high-speed internet access to all New Jersey residents,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “These grants will allow NJ residents, from rural communities to urban centers and public housing, to access high-speed internet and all its benefits. We are committed to ‘connect the unconnected’ and foster economic opportunity and social mobility throughout the State.”

The program will offer two grant tracks to eligible PHAs across the state:

• Track 1: Supports PHAs with prior broadband experience by funding the expansion or innovation of existing programs. These PHAs will also serve as mentors, providing coaching and technical assistance to less experienced PHAs.
  
  
• Track 2: Provides planning grants of up to $50,000 to PHAs without prior broadband programs, helping them develop actionable project plans over a six-month period with technical assistance from DCA and coaching from Track 1 participants.

Track 1 awardees will have up to two years to implement their programs, while Track 2 awardees will complete their planning projects by December 15, 2025.

The initiative builds on findings from a 2020 New Jersey Economic Development Authority Request for Information that revealed significant disparities in broadband adoption within PHAs. DCA and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) also identified challenges in device access, internet connectivity, and digital literacy within PHAs in six New Jersey communities. Despite widespread availability, over half of the residents surveyed in one city reported lacking internet access at home.

“Families in every community deserve reliable access to high-speed internet and under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is working hard to expand broadband and close the digital divide,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Ensuring all residents are digitally connected will support students’ academic goals and link workers with new career opportunities, helping build greater generational wealth and strengthen communities across the state.”

All PHAs managing public housing units in New Jersey are eligible to apply. Grants may be used for infrastructure upgrades, device distribution, digital skills training, and community engagement.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the System for Administering Grants Electronically (SAGE) by June 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Funding decisions are expected by August 5, 2025.

For more information and to access the full Request for Proposal, visit https://dcasage.intelligrants.com/RFPMailingRequest_List.asp.

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including affordable housing production, building safety, community planning and development, fire safety, disaster recovery and mitigation, and information privacy.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: