General FAQs
1. What types of entities are eligible to apply for a grant through the Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust?
The Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust will offer small, women-owned and minority-owned business enterprises (SBE, WBE and MBE) in New Jersey support in reconfiguring their businesses to participate in the developing offshore wind industry.
The Trust will also provide funding for infrastructure resiliency improvements critical to the coastal communities in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties. Governmental agencies at the county and municipal levels in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties are eligible to apply for funding for resiliency projects.
Applicants will be limited to one application per application window.
2. When will the Trust publish Requests for Expressions of Interest?
The Trust published its first request for EOIs for the SBE/WBE/MBE category in early February 2021 and awarded nearly $450,000 to six recipients in November 2021.
The Trust published a request for EOIs for Resiliency Projects in March 2022. Recipients were announced in late 2022. A second request for EOIs in SBE/WBE/MBE category was announced in May 2023 and the submission period closed on July 10, 2023.
It is anticipated that the Trust will open additional SBE/WBE/MBE and resiliency application windows on an annual basis. Information on the application process is available on the How to Apply page.
3. What is the application process?
The Trust will follow a two-step submission and evaluation process, with the submission of EOIs, followed by a formal application. After submitting a formal application, Applicants further will be required to participate in an interview and present a PowerPoint presentation highlighting key concepts in their proposals.
Requests for EOIs for the small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses and Resiliency Projects categories will be published throughout the year, likely on an annual basis, with separate submission windows.
Prospective applicants interested in applying for grant funding should submit an EOI in response to an RFEOI to the Trust administrator in PDF form to info@pronjtrust.org during the applicable EOI submission window.
If the EOI is incomplete and required information is missing, the Trust Manager will alert the applicant and request the additional information/documents be submitted within three (3) business days. Failure to provide missing information may result in the applicant being disqualified.
Following review of the EOIs, the Trustees will request formal proposals from certain respondents. Prospective applicants should submit an EOI, but should not submit a formal proposal unless invited to do so by the Trustees.
Specific EOI submission requirements will be released upon issuance of the RFEOI on the Trust website, while successful EOI applicants will receive formal application submission requirements directly from the Trust.
4. Must potential applicants submit EOIs in order to be considered for a Trust grant?
Yes. All potential applicants must first submit an EOI to be considered for a Trust grant. Successful EOI applicants will then be invited to submit a formal application for Trust funds.
5. How will an EOI applicant know that its EOI has been received and is complete?
Upon submission of an EOI, the Trust Manager will confirm receipt and whether the EOI has been deemed complete, and whether or not the EOI has been submitted to the Advisory Committee for review. If the EOI is incomplete and required information is missing, the Trust Manager will alert the applicant of this and request the additional information/documents be submitted within three (3) business days of the EOI submission period. Failure to provide missing information may result in the applicant being disqualified.
6. How will Expressions of Interest and applications be evaluated?
Expressions of Interest and applications will be evaluated by an Advisory Committee of the Trust comprised of nine individuals who will work in tandem with the Trustees to identify and recommend the most appropriate proposals for funding.
7. What is the review process for submissions?
Upon submission, EOIs will be reviewed for completeness by the Trust Manager and submitted to the Advisory Committee for review. The Advisory Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, will review EOIs and make recommendations to the Trustees. Once the Trustees vote on the recommendations, the Trust Manger will notify EOI applicants.
If EOI applicants are invited to move forward, applicants will be invited to submit a formal application. Once applications have been submitted, the Advisory Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, will review, score, rank and make award recommendations to the Trustees. During the review period, applicants will be required to participate in an interview with the Committee members during which they will present a slide deck on their application and/or proposal.
The Advisory Committee, or any subcommittee thereof, will then provide a full recommendation to the Trustees for vote and finalization of awards. Once approved by the Trustees, the Trust Manager will notify successful applicants.
8. When will successful EOI applicants be invited to submit formal applications?
The Advisory Committee to the Trust will not begin reviewing EOIs until after the close of the submission period. The Trustees anticipate that EOI applicants will be notified whether they are invited to submit formal applications approximately two months after submission of their EOIs. This anticipated notification timeframe may be extended, depending on the number of EOIs received and whether the Advisory Committee requires additional or supplemental information from EOI applicants.
9. When do you expect to have a final decision on grant applications?
The Trust anticipates awarding grants to successful applicants approximately three months after their formal applications are submitted. These anticipated timeframes may be extended, depending on the number of applications and whether the Advisory Committee requires additional or supplemental information from applicants.
10. How and when will successful applicants receive their Trust grants?
Successful applicants will receive the first disbursement of their grant award in accordance with disbursement schedules submitted by successful applicants and approved by the Trustees. It is anticipated that successful applicants will receive a percentage of Trust funds upon the award of their grant, with additional payments received according to a disbursement schedule created by applicants and approved by the Trustees. The Trustees may consider the nature of the proposed Project and proposed budget/spending plan in approving, or requesting modification of, the disbursement schedule.
11. Should applicants contact the Advisory Committee and/or the Trustees regarding their interest in applying for Trust grants, or regarding the status of their EOIs and/or formal applications?
No. The Trust is committed to ensuring a fair and equitable review and award process, so applicants and prospective applicants should consult this FAQ for answers to their questions, or contact the Trust Manager at info@pronjtrust.orgwith any questions not answered by the FAQ. Applicants and prospective applicants should not directly contact the Trustees or the Advisory Committee, unless requested to do so for submission or interview-related purposes.
12. How will Formal Applications be scored?
In general, applications that fully and comprehensively respond to the formal application prompts and clearly outline Project goals and the proposed use of Trust funds for Projects that are within the stated purpose of the Trust will receive higher scores. Formal application packets to those invited to submit applications will contain key criteria that will be assessed by the reviewing committee. Educational webinars may be offered for businesses seeking additional information regarding the Trust and the application process.
13. By what time must EOIs and formal applications be submitted?
All EOIs and formal applications must be submitted electronically to info@pronjtrust.org by 3:00 p.m. on the due date, as indicated by the REFOI or formal application invitation. Submissions that fail to comply with these requirements may be rejected or returned to the application for proper resubmission.
14. What will the formal application interview be like?
Applicants will be asked to make a presentation on their application. A slide deck or PowerPoint will be required from all Applicants to better assist interview attendees understand the project proposal. Following the presentation, interviewees will participate in a Q&A session on their proposals.