The state has $3 million in grants available to employers, labor organizations, nonprofits, and other eligible groups under the NJBUILD Women and Minorities in Construction Trades grant program to foster job training opportunities and help meet workforce needs.
The grant program supports outreach and occupational skills training such as pre-apprenticeship training, registered apprenticeships, and on-the-job-training for women and minorities to prepare them for employment in a construction-related job.
The program, which is administered by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Office of Apprenticeship, also assists public works contractors, businesses, and trade unions in meeting their workforce needs by providing reimbursement of wages and related costs. Applicants are required to offer quality support services to ensure success for placement into employment.
A technical assistance workshop for businesses and other entities interested in applying for a grant will be held on Tuesday Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. Register here at least 24 hours in advance of the workshop.
“NJBUILD eliminates economic barriers to occupation training, workforce readiness, and employability skills instruction, helping workers grow and flourish in a gainful career,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo on Wednesday. “Our department’s top priority has been to ensure all New Jerseyans can access clear paths to high quality employment.”
Eligible applicants include public training providers, community-based organizations, labor organizations, employers/contractors, public or private non-profit agencies, county or municipal governments, and trade organizations that represent a particular trade, group of trades, contractors, or employers.
Applicants must submit a letter of intent to NJDOL by noon on Oct. 20. The grant applications themselves must be submitted by noon on Oct. 27.
NJBUILD was created under a 2009 law and is funded by contributions from state agencies, independent authorities, and colleges and universities, which contribute 0.5% of the total cost of public works construction contracts of $1,000,000 or greater.
For complete information on the NJBUILD grant, go here. For more information on the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship, go here.
