The New Jersey State Council on the Arts provides support to the arts through its Local Arts Program. Matching grants are available to fund and promote the arts at the community level. Ocean County's block grant is primarily re-granted to local groups and projects and is administered by the Commission staff. The Commission makes guidelines and applications available to the public for the State Arts Council's grant programs to organizations and artists.

The New Jersey Historical Commission makes funding available directly as general operating support or special project support to local historical groups and to the Cultural & Heritage Commission. The Commission staff assists in distributing grant guidelines and facilitates the application process. The Commission also re-grants funds locally through direct support it has been awarded under its own general operating support application.