PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
December 21, 2015

Cathleen D. Bennett
Acting Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Department of Health Announces $190,000 in ShapingNJ Healthy Community Grants

The New Jersey Department of Health today announced $190,000 in ShapingNJ Healthy Community Grants to 19 community organizations that will launch specific initiatives resulting in greater access to healthy foods and opportunities to be physically active.

"By establishing community farm markets that accept WIC and SNAP vouchers, placing nutritious options in workplace vending machines and implementing other changes at the local level, healthy choices will be more accessible to residents," said Acting Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett. "At-risk populations will greatly benefit from the projects these grants support."

Launched in 2009, ShapingNJ is a public-private partnership of more than 200 organizations working together to improve health outcomes and advance policy and environmental changes that support healthy eating and active living in New Jersey. The Department has awarded nearly $1 million in ShapingNJ grants since the initiative began. The program is coordinated by the Office of Community Health and Wellness with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Each agency will receive a $10,000 grant for 2016. The awardees and communities they will be serving are:  

Advocates for Children of New Jersey - Cumberland County/Atlantic City/Plainfield
Bergen County Technical Schools - Paramus
Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers - Camden City
Camden Tri-State Transportation Campaign - Camden City
Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA - Atlantic City
Hunterdon County YMCA - Annandale
Meadowlands Transportation Brokerage Corporation - Long Branch
Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges - East Orange
Morris Park Alliance - Morris County
National Park School District - National Park
Programs for Patents - Newark
Raritan Bay Area YMCA - Perth Amboy
Raritan Valley YMCA - Spotswood, North/South Brunswick/Milltown, Jamesburg, Helmetta, Middlesex, South River
RWJ University Hospital Foundation - New Brunswick
Smile for Charity - Passaic
Union City Board of Education - Union City
Warren County Health Department - Warren County
Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services - Woodbridge Township
YMCA of Trenton - Trenton

To learn more about ShapingNJ, please visit http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/shapingnj/.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth.

Last Reviewed: 12/21/2015