Vacant and abandoned properties in the U.S. are on the rise. For many communities, vacant properties have a negative impact on overall property values and may even increase the prevalence of crime. Many municipalities are struggling to restore these buildings and bring them back to life. It’s a long road and without the right tools
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Toa55/Shutterstock With the application period for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program opening in a few days, I’m glad that I attended a two-day First Responder Grants Seminar in Massachusetts a few weeks ago. Receiving nearly 12,000 applications a year from across the United States and its territories, the AFG is one of the most competitive federal grant
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Source: JamesDeMers/Pixabay During the New Jersey State League of Municipalities annual conference last November, it’s clear that municipalities face a growing problem of vacant and abandoned properties. We spoke with many people who wanted strategies and tools to help them manage these properties in a way that was beneficial for the entire community. It turns out there
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Source: Unsplash/Pixabay A neighborhood’s design, including layout, lighting, building and maintenance, can influence the prevalence of crime and fear. When these are present, residents’ behavior is greatly impacted – including their physical activity levels, as well as school safety and performance. Unfortunately communities don’t have the resources they need to ensure every public space and facility
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Source: diego_torres/Pixabay Green infrastructure solutions for deficient waste water systems throughout New Jersey are not only effective, but also save a lot of money. That’s why the State Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently announced new permits for the state’s 25 utility companies operating combined sewer systems (CSS’s). These permits require affected towns and sewer treatment
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