About Us
The Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) is a groundbreaking effort between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), local governments, and community leaders to transform environmentally distressed communities into centers for economic progress and sustainable development. CCI is committed to working closely with local communities to advance shared goals of environmental quality, economic growth, and community revitalization.
CCI began by focusing on brownfield redevelopment in underserved and challenged communities, leveraging NJDEP’s Office of Brownfield Reuse (OBR) and its Brownfield Development Area (BDA) program to support revitalization efforts. This work started in Camden, where CCI partnered with local stakeholders to convert contaminated sites into community assets. Through grassroots collaboration, CCI helped launch Camden SMART, a nationally recognized model for cross-sector partnerships, and supported creating a world-class community center on a former landfill. With a dedicated NJDEP point-of-contact, CCI facilitated cross-program expertise, ensuring community voices led the transformation process.
By strategically leveraging state resources and ensuring the state’s best talents are engaged in local progress, CCI empowers communities to shape their future actively. With a dedicated NJDEP point of contact facilitating cross-program expertise, CCI ensures that community voices lead the transformation process. These efforts support the Governor’s mission to build a more vibrant, equitable, and resilient New Jersey.
History
Present – A Statewide Impact
CCI Liaisons are now embedded in 12 underserved communities, working alongside public and private partners to leverage resources, implement innovative solutions, and support local revitalization efforts. CCI collaborates across all NJDEP programs to advance the Governor’s mission of building a strong, vibrant, and sustainable New Jersey. This includes initiatives and programs that are ongoing within these communities.
2021 – Transition to the Office of Local Government Assistance
In September 2021, CCI was formally moved from the Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization under SRP/CSRR to the Office of Local Government Assistance within NJDEP’s CIER Program.
2019 – Expansion to 12 Cities
The Community Collaborative Initiative expanded to 12 cities in 2019 and was housed within the Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization. With Governor Murphy’s support, CCI expanded into eight additional cities: Bridgeton, Jersey City, Millville, Newark, Paterson, Paulsboro, Salem, and Vineland.
2017 – Bayonne Joins CCI
In 2017, CCI grew to include Bayonne, continuing its mission to align environmental, economic, and community revitalization efforts with local needs.
2015 – Formalization & Expansion to Trenton & Perth Amboy
In 2015, the Community Collaborative Initiative was formally established as a program within NJDEP’s Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization when it expanded to Trenton and Perth Amboy. This expansion built on Camden’s successes and extended NJDEP’s partnership-driven approach to additional environmentally distressed communities.
2013 – Camden Collaborative Initiative Launch
The Camden Collaborative Initiative was formally launched on January 23, 2013, with a memorialized partnership between the City of Camden, Camden County (led by the Municipal Utilities Authority), NJDEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. This collaboration led to numerous successful projects and set the foundation for broader community-focused efforts. To date, Camden remains the only CCI community with a memorialized partnership agreement.