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New Jersey Funding Navigator
We Find the Funding
The New Jersey Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) provide essential financial resources, including principal forgiveness and low-interest loans, to support water infrastructure improvements statewide. These programs help municipalities and water systems fund critical projects such as wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and drinking water initiatives, ultimately improving public health and resilience. However, smaller and resource-limited communities often struggle to access SRF funding due to a complex application process requiring extensive financial and infrastructure assessments. The high costs of planning and design phases further pose financial risks, leaving many underserved communities without the needed funding.
To address these barriers, New Jersey Future launched the Funding Navigator program in 2023, the first statewide nonprofit initiative dedicated to helping underserved communities access water infrastructure funding. The program provides technical assistance, funding guidance, and community outreach support, working alongside partners such as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center. By identifying underserved communities in need, the program prioritizes those with a limited SRF funding history. Moving forward, the program aims to strengthen its impact by broadening technical assistance and deepening engagement with disadvantaged municipalities to ensure equitable access to water infrastructure funding.
We are Active in 8 of 21 New Jersey Counties Statewide
How Funding Navigator Supports Water Systems
- Climate Resilience
- Lead Service Line Replacements
- Strategic Communications
- Systems Mapping
- Water Infrastructure Upgrades
- Community Education and Engagement
- Fiscal Analysis
Thank you to those who joined us for the second installment of New Jersey Future’s Funding Navigator utilizing debt for the long-term series. When used wisely, debt is an investment in the future that can prevent financial burdens. It is a means of financing large capital assets such as crucial infrastructure improvements, development, and the acquisition of large equipment. Debt can be leveraged to create long-term value by ensuring that investments increase over time, ultimately providing greater income and capital growth than the amount spent on servicing the loan. Check out the recordings and be on the lookout for the announcement of the third installment of this webinar series later this fall.
Lee manages the New Jersey Future Funding Navigator program, a statewide effort to help under-resourced localities access funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs. His primary focuses are engaging with municipal officials and stakeholders and designing solutions for water utilities serving overburdened communities. A municipal elected official and an Adjunct Professor of Communication at Kean University, Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, concentrating in Political Communication, and a Master’s degree in Business Communication from Rider University. Lee also has a Board Leadership & Governance Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania through the DiverseForce Program.
Ben is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing community outreach and engagement plans for the Funding Navigator program and Rt 29 Campaign. He also serves as the Executive Director of CRAN and Board Member of Gen Z for New Jersey working to coordinate and uplift youth voices to promote green policies and fundraise and elect Gen-Z. Dziobek formerly served as an Advance and Briefing Aide at the office of Governor Murphy after interning in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Ben has also served as a campaign consultant for numerous campaigns since 2020. He holds a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Stockton University.
Jessika coordinates the day-to-day functions of the Funding Navigator Program, which aims to help localities access funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs. She also provides project support to the Jersey Water Works Asset Management and Finance Committee and Jersey WaterCheck, in addition to supporting water policy research. Jessika was a former research intern for the Brookings Institution and the Wealth Disparity Taskforce in the NJ Office of the Governor. Jessika earned a dual Master’s in Public Policy and City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from Ramapo College.
07/15/2025
When Water Holds Back Housing: What to Expect from New Jersey’s New State Fiscal Year 2026 Intended Use Plans
06/19/2025
Clawbacks of Transportation and Green Infrastructure Funding
04/01/2025
More Than Mailers: Keys to Effective Outreach and Communication for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) in New Jersey Communities
03/14/2025
Breaking the Barrier to Water Infrastructure Funding
02/18/2025
Debt is Not a Bad Word: Funding New Jersey’s Infrastructure through Smart Financing
12/02/2024
Breaking Down the State Revolving Fund – Recommendations and Changes
12/18/2023
Sustainable Water Management: Program Rundown of Municipal Options
04/17/2023
From Federal Dollars to State Investment: Understanding Technical Assistance for Water Systems
