FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026

Swedesboro Awarded $50,000 Plan4HealthNJ Grant to Advance Health-Focused Planning

Swedesboro, NJ — At an awards ceremony held on March 13, 2026, the Borough of Swedesboro received a $50,000 grant award from the Plan4HealthNJ program. The one-year grant will support the Borough’s efforts to strengthen the connection between public health and land use planning.

The funding will be used to conduct a comprehensive review of local health data, integrate health outcomes into the town’s land use policies, master plan, and ordinances, and engage residents through community outreach to better understand local health priorities. This work will help ensure that future planning decisions promote healthier neighborhoods, improve access to resources, and enhance quality of life for all residents.

“Good planning is about more than development – it’s about connecting land use to the health and well-being of our residents.  This grant will allow Swedesboro to look closely at how our land use and capital improvement decisions can support walkability, access to services, and healthier neighborhoods.  We are excited to be a part of this project and to move this important work forward,” said Mayor Tom Fromm.

“There are so many aspects of daily life that intersect with land use planning,” added Borough planner, Leah Furey Bruder. “This initiative recognizes that land use planning is directly connected to the environmental, physical, and economic health of the community.  Plan4Health Swedesboro will focus on the planning and public health foundations that will enable residents, businesses, and the community overall to be resilient and to thrive.”

Plan4HealthNJ is a program of the NJ Chapter of the American Planning Association and is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The initiative is focused on advancing strategies that connect public health and land use planning to create healthier, more equitable communities across New Jersey.

“We congratulate Swedesboro for their leadership in advancing healthier, more resilient communities. By joining the Plan4HealthNJ initiative, Swedesboro is taking a meaningful step toward aligning local planning with measurable health outcomes and integrating health considerations into long‑term decisions and regulations. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their generous support, which makes this important work possible,” said Project Director, Angela Knowles.

Additional details about the project timeline and community engagement opportunities will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, please contact:
Lois Yarrington, Borough Clerk
(856)467-0202
Clerk@swedesboro-nj.us

Photos Courtesy of Plan4HealthNJ March 13, 2026