File/Diane Birkbeck, who applied for a Sustainable Jersey grant to purchase a portable Water Wall, encourages community groups to sign up to use the water filtration system.
VENTNOR – Sustainable Jersey representatives announced that the City of Ventnor has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification. Ventnor is one of 52 municipalities that have attained certification in 2021 and was honored at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on Nov. 16, in Atlantic City at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference. Sustainable Jersey’s participating communities represent more than 81% of the state’s municipalities.
“We are proud of the many volunteers who service on the Ventnor Green Team and work to make our city more sustainable and a wonderful place to live, work, and play,” Mayor Beth Holtzman said.
To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Ventnor submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points. Ventnor scored 270 points, for various actions including installing bike racks throughout the city; moving forward with solar, electric vehicle charging stations and LED streetlights; completing a climate adaption plan; making the city solar friendly; hosting a very successful farmers market and community cleanups; establishing a pollinator garden at the Ventnor Library; and creating a solar system planetary walk on the boardwalk to name just a few of the activities lead by the Green Team.
“The certified Ventnor Green Team exemplify the commitment we need to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, it is essential that we support municipalities as they do the hard work to meet these challenges at the local level,” Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon said. “These communities are helping New Jersey build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic and it is our honor to work with them as we strive for a better tomorrow.”
Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, municipalities want to be a part of the solution to these challenges. Sustainable Jersey participants, which includes municipalities and schools, have successfully implemented and documented more than 20,826 sustainability actions.
Sustainable Jersey has provided over $6.7 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey.
Sustainable Jersey is administered by The Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey.
