In New Jersey, while there may be dramatic housewives and Jersey boys, there is also sustainability.

This week, the environment topped the Garden State's A list as municipalities were awarded grant money to continue their green efforts.

The Sustainable Jersey effort is a certification program, one of the first of its kind, for cities and townships across the state that are striving go green while be equally conscious of costs and funding.

Specifically, the program involves municipalities identifying measures that can reduce environmental degradation, using tools and best practices for achieving those measures as well as access to funding opportunities to implement those measures.

After more than 180 municipalities signed up for consideration, Sustainable Jersey reviewed each application and on Monday, announced the 14 winners of this year's funding. Trenton was awarded $25,000 and Highland Park was awarded $10,000, among a dozen others.

Grant money is funded by Wal-Mart as part of their efforts to help the communities they operate in and ramp up their environmental efforts. With this grant money, cities are implementing solar power projects, wind turbines, rain capture and reuse opportunities, building and operating food gardens, and many education programs that inform the public about how they can be green.

"We are absolutely delighted to partner with Wal-Mart and Sustainable Jersey to recognize the mayors who have excelled in addressing sustainable issues locally and for doing their part to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The Sustainable Jersey grants are going to make a real difference," said William Dressel, Executive Director, New Jersey League of Municipalities.

The Sustainable Jersey program serves, in essence, as a pilot program for other states and the nation. Using the many available funds of large corporations who need the tax deductions relieves government agencies of over-committed budgets while allowing them oversight and the ability to advice municipalities on ways to green their communities.

Having access to funding beyond what the government can provide gives municipalities the opportunity to dream green and dream big. More than just planting a garden, or increasing recycling education, cities and townships can make serious strides in offsetting carbon emissions and increase support for a renewable power grid.

In choosing more than a dozen locales a year to award grant money and jump start green projects, the state creates a competitive process for the environment and can, in a matter of years, look to lead the way in tweaking the state nickname from the Garden State to the Green State. The state has a common mix of citizens that represents a cross section of America, and if itcan go green in a big way, what is the rest of the country waiting for? Perhaps, some more corporate funding.