Dig In!
Municipal COmmunity Garden Grant
Through the Dig In! Community Garden Grant, City Green provides funding and technical assistance to support Passaic County municipalities looking to start and sustain a community garden.
Grant Timeline
First-Time Applicants ONLY:
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Letter of Inquiry Submission Period: July 9th 2025 - October 3rd, 2025
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Site visit and application invitation period: October 6th - November 15th, 2025
All Applicants (First-Time and Returning):
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Application deadline: December 4th, 2025
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Grant award notification: January 15th
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Grant delivery: March - May 2026
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Grant report deadline: November 2026
Municipal Grant Funding Available
First-time Applicants ​
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Funding of up to $5,000 with a 50% in-kind match.
Second-time Applicants ​
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Funding of up to $2,000 with a 50% in-kind match.
Multi-Year Applicant (3+ years)
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Funding of up to $1,000 with a 50% in-kind match.
About the Dig In! Grant Process
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After submitting a Letter of Inquiry, City Green will reach out to eligible grantees to schedule a site visit at the proposed garden location starting in October. At the site visit, City Green staff will determine if the location is suitable for a sustainable community garden.
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Sites deemed suitable for a garden will then receive a final grant application and proposed budget form due December 5th, 2025.
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Once funded, the Municipal grantee constructs their own community garden with technical assistance available from City Green. ​
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After the first year, municipalities can continue to apply for garden funding (see amounts listed above) to sustain their project.
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See below for roles of the Municipality and City Green within the Dig In! Grant Process

Grant Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated with special attention to the following categories: 1) Capacity for Food Production, 2) Community and Municipal Engagement, 3) Project Sustainability. Returning applicants will also be evaluated on project success demonstrated through garden photos and participant testimonials.
First-Time Applicant:
Letter of Inquiry Submission Period: July 9th 2025 - October 3rd, 2025
Second & Multi-Year Applicant
Application closed, form to open October 3rd, 2025
Questions? Reach out to Miranda Madrazo at mmadrazo@city-green.org or call 973-869-4086.