Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP)
Guidelines
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
DCA’s neighborhood programs are designed to acknowledge the crucial role neighborhoods play
as the center of community for New Jersey’s citizens, and the opportunity they offer to serve as a
springboard to build a stronger, more equitable New Jersey. DCA’s programs target
neighborhoods at a variety of income levels, with a significant emphasis on distressed
neighborhoods where DCA’s resources can leverage momentum already existing in the
neighborhood to make a true and lasting impact. The neighborhood programs focus on three
common strategies to frame efforts toward revitalization:
• Creating sustainable partnerships to catalyze change
• Building on neighborhood assets to revitalize communities
• Maximizing impact
The Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) plays a key role in implementing New Jersey’s
neighborhood revitalization efforts by strengthening the ability of municipalities to plan and
implement strategies to help declining neighborhoods become thriving neighborhoods; building
partnerships between state and local governments, private businesses, and residents; and
encouraging private investment to drive increased economic opportunities and quality of life in
the state’s vulnerable communities. The goals of the new program are to:
• Serve as a catalyst for economic development
• Serve as a platform for the coordination of efforts by the State, municipalities, residents,
businesses and other stakeholders to help declining neighborhoods become thriving ones
The program will focus on threatened but viable neighborhoods – those neighborhoods that will
be able to use the program’s assistance to arrest decline and leverage their existing assets to spur
economic development. The program will also concentrate on neighborhoods with the potential
for mixed use development, to encourage small business job creation and invite greater business
and community investment in economic development.
NPP also provides the opportunity to serve as a platform for a variety of state investments in
neighborhoods. By working with other state agencies and stakeholders, DCA can lead the
coordination of these investments toward a common goal of building strong and vibrant
neighborhoods. To maximize the impact of the NPP investment, as well as other investments,
municipalities will be required to show commitment of resources from the neighborhood and the
municipality, as well as support from community organizations and residents. NPP also
encourages applications from municipalities that are participating in other DCA, state, or federal
programs, including designation as an Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC)
