Plan4HealthNJ Welcomes 10 New Communities at Fall 2026 Grantee Kickoff

Plan4HealthNJ welcomed its second round of grantees during the Fall 2026 Grantee Kickoff on Friday, September 18, at the Mercer County Boathouse, bringing together municipal leaders, planners, public health professionals, and community partners from across New Jersey for a day of learning, collaboration, and connection.

The event marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for ten communities selected to participate in the statewide initiative: Flemington, Freehold, Hamilton, Holland, Middletown, Montclair, Newton, Passaic, South Bound Brook, and Union.

Each municipality will receive $20,000 in grant funding and technical assistance to develop a Public Health Element of its municipal Master Plan or meaningfully integrate health-based strategies into existing plan elements. Through data analysis, community engagement, mapping, and land use planning, grantees will explore how local planning decisions can improve health outcomes and strengthen community well-being.

A statewide initiative of APA New Jersey, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Plan4HealthNJ is helping communities connect public health and land use planning through practical tools, data-driven strategies, and local action.

While the grant program provides direct support to selected municipalities, Plan4HealthNJ’s resources are available to all New Jersey communities at no cost, including public health data, interactive mapping tools, and step-by-step planning guidance.

Meet the Fall 2026 Grantees and View Photos from the Grantee Kickoff.

Learn more about the initiative and explore available resources at Plan4HealthNJ.org.