Applications are now being accepted for $7.5 million in available funding through the Local Efficiency Achievement Program that was allocated in the fiscal year 2024 state budget.
The LEAP, which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services, provides financial assistance to local government entities — including school districts — to identify, study, and implement shared services initiatives. The program is aimed at encouraging towns to streamline their government services to increase efficiency and help save taxpayer dollars.
The LEAP is comprised of three primary components: challenge, implementation, and county coordinator fellowship grants. The only grant opportunity available to school districts is the implementation grant.
Implementation grants support costs associated with the implementation of shared services, consolidation and school feasibility studies.
Implementation grants will allocate funds to help cover costs associated with shared services implementation, including for the reimbursement of expenses associated with school consolidation and countywide school district studies that support the creation of meaningful and implementable regionalization plans. K-12 regionalization and countywide school district studies will be given first priority.
This is a rolling application process; however, the application submission deadline is 5 p.m. on April 15, 2024, for the application to be eligible for grant funding.
Limited funding is available under the applicable fiscal year 2024 appropriation, and awards under the fiscal year 2024 funding cycle must be encumbered before June 30, 2024.
For further information about LEAP grant guidelines and required documentation, visit the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services website.
To request information about LEAP Grants, please reach out via email. You can also get more general information about shared services via email.