DCA details Smart Move housing pilot and $5M resilient communities grants

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs presented two programs aimed at post-Ida recovery and resilience: a housing pilot called Smart Move and a Resilient Communities infrastructure grant program.

"Smart Move is a housing development pilot that focuses on resilient and affordable housing," said Jim Mooney of the DCA Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation. Mooney said the program funds resilient single-family housing projects located outside the 500-year floodplain, is financed with CDBG-DR dollars, and can award up to $15 million per project to support recovery needs and affordability.

Smart Move requires developers to propose resilient design features—examples include solar with battery storage, backup power, on-site stormwater management, green roofs and durable, storm-resistant materials. Mooney said selected projects are in design or environmental review and that DCA provides down-payment assistance for future buyers (up to 20% for LMI buyers, up to 5% for 'urgent need' buyers between 81%–120% of area median income).

Mooney also described Resilient Communities, a competitive infrastructure grant open to municipalities in IDA-impacted and distressed areas, with awards up to $5 million. DCA received 27 applications and selected 10 projects; examples include an elevated storm-water pump station in Hudson County, a bio-retention facility, a new emergency management/public works building, pervious pavement and a hybrid bulkhead and outfall reconstruction project. Several projects are in 30% design or under environmental review, and DCA expects construction starts in 2026.