§ 18A:64-100 — Eligibility for grants; project goals.

7. a. To be eligible for a grant from the consortium, a grant proposal application shall include, but not be limited to: (1) evidence of a collaboration between at least one academic or administrative representative of a member university and at least one local community organization, media organization, or technology-based organization; (2) information demonstrating that the collaboration would be a mutually respectful partnership wherein all community and member university participants invest in a project designed to serve the consortium's mission and the goals cited pursuant to subsection b. of this section; and (3) proof that the member university or universities in total will provide an amount of funding or make an in-kind contribution having a value that matches 10 percent of the amount of grant funding for which the applicant has applied, if one or more member universities acts as fiscal sponsor for the applicant. For a grant proposal application sponsored by a member university housing the consortium and providing back-office support pursuant to subsection c. of section 5 of P.L.2018, c.111 (C.18A:64-98), the cost of that housing and support to that member university shall count towards the funding or in-kind contribution match from that member university. b. The consortium shall provide grants for projects that achieve the following goals: (1) improve the quantity and quality of civic information in New Jersey communities; (2) give residents enhanced access to useful government data and public information through innovative applications, platforms, and technologies; (3) train students, professionals, and community members in the practice of community storytelling, journalism, and media production; (4) nurture better civic engagement and dialogue inside and between New Jersey communities; (5) better meet the information needs of low-income communities and racial and ethnic communities that have been underserved by the media; and (6) invest in research and practices that can help media outlets become more closely connected to their audiences and more sustainable without government support. c. Any unspent State appropriations to the consortium from one fiscal year shall be carried over to the next fiscal year. L.2018, c.111, s.7; amended 2023, c.323, s.3.