Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) Grants is a program from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that provides direct support to local governments seeking to implement shared services arrangements that reduce costs and improve efficiency. LEAP comprises three components: Challenge Grants, Implementation Grants, and County Shared Services Coordinator Grants.

Counties, municipalities, school districts, county colleges, authorities, and fire districts in New Jersey are eligible. Challenge Grants make up to $150,000 available per county for competitive shared service proposals. Applications are submitted through the SAGE grants management system on a rolling basis.

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs | New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is dedicated to helping local governments improve the quality of life in every one of the state’s 564 municipalities.

Through a variety of programs, DCA’s Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) works with counties and municipalities to streamline government operations and reduce costs and property taxes. In 2018, Governor Phil Murphy launched the Shared Services program with the appointment of two “Czars,” former mayors Nicolas Platt and Jordan Glatt, to promote shared services throughout the State.

In 2019, DLGS established the Local Assistance Bureau (LAB) to provide direct support to local units in a variety of ways. This includes a key collaboration with the Czars and local governments to identify and implement shared services opportunities across the State. The Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) Grants provide direct support to advance the efforts of Shared Services in all local governments.

For additional information about Shared Services, please visit the website at: https://www. nj. gov/dca/dlgs/sharedservices.

shtml . Sharing services offers numerous benefits for participating communities. It reduces costs, delivers municipal services in a more efficient manner, and generates increased value for each dollar spent while ensuring local units remain responsible stewards of the public trust.

LEAP affords an unprecedented opportunity to incentivize shared services implementation across New Jersey’s local government entities, advancing the mission of the Shared Services Program. LEAP facilitates exploring and establishing shared services.

LEAP provides counties, municipalities, school districts, commissions, authorities and fire districts assistance for the study or implementation of promising shared services projects undertaken pursuant to the Uniform Shared Service and Consolidation Act. The program is available to all New Jersey local government units.

LEAP is comprised of three primary components: Challenge Grants, Implementation Grants, and County Shared Services Coordinator Grants. DLGS is responsible for administering the LEAP. Eligible entities are invited to apply for grant funds under each of the LEAP Grants.

All information needed to apply is contained in the guidelines and the application package. All LEAP applications must be submitted through the SAGE grants management system: https://dcasage. intelligrants.

com/Portal. asp .

FY2026 LEAP Grant Guidelines FY2026 LEAP Grant Management Guidelines FY2026 LEAP Application Sample Resolutions LEAP Implementation Grant Application - Supplemental Forms - Word LEAP Implementation Grant Application - Supplemental Forms - PDF LEAP Challenge Grant Application - Supplemental Forms - Word LEAP Challenge Grant Application - Supplemental Forms - PDF Allocate funds to the most compelling projects in potentially each of New Jersey’s twenty-one counties, affording municipalities, authorities, and counties the opportunity to compete for grant funding to support efficiency-generating shared services.

This grant program is designed to promote innovation among peer communities and counties across New Jersey, and challenge municipalities and counties to collaborate on more extensive partnerships that produce shared services of greater significance than is customary. Local units are invited to compete for a share of $150,000 in available funds within each county.

New Jersey counties, municipalities, school districts, commissions, authorities, and fire districts may apply. Any two or more of these entities may submit a joint application seeking funding for a proposal. Application Deadline : This is a rolling application process; however, application submission deadline is 5:00 p.

m. EST on April 15, 2026 for the application to be eligible for grant funding . Limited funding is available under the applicable FY 2026 appropriation and awards under FY 2026 funding cycle must be encumbered before June 30, 2026.

Allocate funds to help cover costs associated with shared services implementation - including one-time reimbursable costs for project completion or transition support which may include but are not limited to new technology costs incurred as part of equipping a shared services program, rebranding costs, equipment and vehicle outlays, professional services, rent for facilities, payroll system conversion costs and training.

Funding is based on the total transition or implementation cost of a project. Local units are invited to apply for a share of $2 million in available funds to offset hard or soft start-up costs related to an implemented shared service initiative. Application Deadline : This is a rolling application process; however, application submission deadline is 5:00 p.

m. EST on April 15, 2026 for the application to be eligible for grant funding . Limited funding is available under the applicable FY 2026 appropriation and awards under FY 2026 funding cycle must be encumbered before June 30, 2026.

County Shared Services Coordinator Grant Allocate up to $75,000 to each county for the purpose of hiring a new employee or designating an existing employee (in good standing), to act as a county shared services coordinator. The fellow will work with the county and each local government entity within the county or any entity with whom they may be able to share services to identify and advance shared service opportunities.

Each New Jersey County is encouraged to apply for up to a $75,000 grant for the purpose of funding a one-year full or part time position. This is a rolling application process; however, application submission deadline is 5:00 p. m.

EST on April 15, 2026 for the application to be eligible for grant funding . Limited funding is available under the applicable FY 2026 appropriation and awards under FY 2026 funding cycle must be encumbered before June 30, 2026. August 2021 LEAP Program Press Release May 2021 LEAP Program Press Release FY2025 LEAP Grant Awards: FY2025 LEAP Grant Awards List FY2025 LEAP Grant Awards Announcement Email: DLGS.

LEAPGrant@dca. nj. gov FY 2025 Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) School Regionalization Efficiency Program (SREP) American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant (ARPFFG) FY 2023 Lead Grant Assistance Program (LGAP)