The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has announced the launch of the $7 million Lead Grant Assistance Program (LGAP) to assist municipalities conduct inspections for lead-based paint hazards in residential housing built prior to 1978 required under P.L. 2021, c. 182. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on July 7.
Municipal building inspectors must conduct lead-based paint hazard inspections of certain single-family, two-family, and multiple-dwelling rental units. If a municipality doesn’t have a permanent local agency for the purpose of conducting inspections and enforcing laws, ordinances, and regulations concerning buildings and structures within the municipality, it can hire a lead evaluation contractor certified by DCA directly. Any municipality may utilize a shared services agreement for this inspection obligation.
Last fall, DCA asked every municipality if they were interested in receiving LGAP funding. Municipalities responded with yes or no, and some did not respond at all. Based on this, DCA determined to provide funding only to municipalities that either responded affirmatively or failed to indicate whether they would be interested in receiving this funding. Municipalities that indicated they were not interested will not be eligible for this first round of Lead Grant Assistance funding but will be if subsequent rounds are announced.
DCA has pre-calculated LGAP award amounts for each eligible municipality based on its number of renter-occupied single-family and two-family housing units constructed before 1980 (the closest available data period to pre-1978), as reported by property owners to the U.S. Census Bureau in the American Community Survey from 2017 to 2021. These units closely align with the type of properties subject to inspection under P.L 2021, c. 182.
Municipalities can use the grant funding to:
- Hire and train municipal personnel who will perform inspections for lead-based paint hazards in rental units subject to P.L. 2021, c. 182.
- Pay an appropriate lead evaluation contractor or pay another municipality in an appropriate shared service agreement if permitted under P.L. 2021, c. 182 to perform the inspections.
- Cover personnel costs attributable to lead-based paint hazard inspections by existing employees.
Purchase materials and supplies required for carrying out the inspections, such as for dust wipe sampling. Pay for outreach/educational materials and mailings to property owners subject to inspection, including materials intended to identify property owners of single-family and two-family rental units.
Expenditures incurred between January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023 are eligible under the grant.
To secure the grant funding, eligible municipalities must submit to DCA a resolution from their governing body that acknowledges participation in the LGAP and authorizes the execution of a grant agreement and compliance to the terms and conditions of the agreement. They must also submit an LGAP grant agreement signed by an authorized official. The resolution and signed grant agreement are due to DCA by 5 p.m. on July 7, 2023.
DCA will notify municipalities of acceptance or denial on or about July 30, 2023.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.