Federal trails grants delayed in NJ as state diverts staffers to Sandy recovery

... The state Department of Environmental Protection has delayed issuing federal Recreational Trails Program grants for several months. ...But Edward Goodell, executive director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, said the delay would still have an impact. The Trail Conference received $24,000 for a park maps and brochures program in 2013.

“An announcement is nice but our organization cannot commit to new hires or contractors until we have a signed contract,” he said. “Issuing contracts takes some time. They should be out by now.”