CFDA#
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Funder Type
State Government
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IT Classification
A - Primarily intended to fund technology
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Authority
New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (NJEFA)
Summary
The purpose of the Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) is to provide grants that assist New Jersey's public and private four-year institutions for the cost, or a portion of the cost of the renewal, renovation, improvement, expansion, construction, and reconstruction of their facilities and technology infrastructure. Each institution shall use the grants for existing renewal and renovation needs at an instructional, laboratory, communication, research, and administrative facilities.
Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Improvement and expansion of educational opportunities for students;
- Promotion of academic research excellence, workforce readiness and the enhancement of the State's academic and economic competitiveness and prosperity by assisting in the production of a highly skilled workforce;
- Consistency with the institution's educational mission;
- Consistency with the institution's long-range facilities plan;
- The cost effectiveness of the CIF Project;
- The degree to which the CIF Project is construction ready;
- Demonstrated commitment over the past ten (10) years to appropriate maintenance of facilities previously funded by State of New Jersey grant programs;
- Directly addresses deferred maintenance concerns or projects that will mitigate the need for future maintenance; and
- Preference will be given to projects that promote energy efficiency.
History of Funding
Awards from FY25 can be viewed here: https://www.nj.gov/highereducation/documents/pdf/press-releases/Summer%202025%20Cycle-Total%20Awards%20from%20Approved%20Projects.pdf
Awards from FY23 can be viewed here: https://nj.gov/highereducation/documents/pdf/news/PR_Capital%20Funding%20Award%20071023.pdf
Additional Information
An institution may use up to 20% of a grant within student-support facilities for renewal and renovation or improvement, expansion, construction, and reconstruction. If all renewal and renovation is completed at instructional, laboratory, communication, research, and administrative facilities or is accounted for through other funding sources, or if an institution is granted an exemption by the Commission on Higher Education for the purpose of maximizing federal grant fund recoveries or for the purpose of replacing a building when projected renewal and renovation costs exceed the projected cost of replacement, then grant funds may be used for the improvement, expansion, construction, and reconstruction of instructional, laboratory, communication, and research facilities, or technology infrastructure.
The statute defines technology infrastructure as video, voice, and data telecommunications equipment and linkages that has a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
The following State Funding Criteria will be used by the Review Committee to evaluate and rank CIF Projects for funding: Priority will be given to eligible projects that address deferred maintenance. Among these, highest priority will be assigned to deferred maintenance projects that are emergent and critical to complying with State and federal health, safety, fire, and building code standards. Next in priority are projects that are emergent and must be addressed within one to three years to ensure a safe and appropriate educational or working environment.
The CIF program will be funded by money received from the issuance of bonds, an annual appropriation from the net proceeds of the State lottery established in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds or notes, any money appropriated directly by the state for the purpose of this program, and all interest and investment earnings received on the money in the fund.
Eligibility Details
Eligibility is limited to four-year public or private institutions of higher education that are eligible to receive State aid.
A public institution of higher education is defined as Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the State colleges, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Kean University, and any other public university or colleges. A private four-year institution of higher education is defined as an independent college or university incorporated and located in New Jersey and is a nonprofit educational institution authorized to grant academic degrees and that provides a level of education that is equivalent to the education provided by the State's public institutions of higher education as attested by the receipt of and continuation of regional accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and which is eligible to receive State aid.
NOTE: County Colleges are not eligible.
Deadline Details
The Application Submission Period for this Solicitation begins September 10, 2025 and will end September 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Funds for the grant will not be disbursed until the Secretary certifies approval of the grant, subject to the approval of the State Legislature, the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority issues the necessary bonds, and requisite grant agreements have been executed by grantees.
Award Details
The total amount of grant funds available for new grants under the Summer 2025 Cycle is $110,000,000. This is a bond-funded grant program. Of this total amount, $10,000,000 will be available to award to New Jersey City University.
Each Institution may submit one application and may request funding in an aggregate amount of no more than $20,000,000 for all submitted projects across all of its campus locations. An Application may consist of one or more projects. If more than one project is submitted, please prepare separate budgets for each project or phase.
Four-year public institutions of higher education must commit to paying one-third of the debt service on the bonds issued to fund the project. Four-year private institutions of higher education must commit to paying one-half of the debt service on the bonds issued to fund the project.
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