THE CONSORTIUM PROVIDES GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS. IMPROVE THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CIVIC INFORMATION IN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES. GIVE RESIDENTS ENHANCED ACCESS TO USEFUL GOVERNMENT DATA AND PUBLIC INFORMATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS, PLATFORMS, AND TECHNOLOGIES. TRAIN STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY STORYTELLING, JOURNALISM, AND MEDIA PRODUCTION. NURTURE BETTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE INSIDE AND BETWEEN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES. BETTER MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED BY THE MEDIA. INVEST IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP MEDIA OUTLETS BECOME MORE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THEIR AUDIENCES AND MORE SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.