A total of $6 million in Digital Literacy Training Grants was awarded this week to a half dozen nonprofits, governmental agencies, and education institutions that provide digital skills training to low-income residents in the Work First New Jersey program, state labor officials said.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Monday the FY26 awardees are: Atlantic Cape Community College; Inspire U (a New Jersey-based nonprofit that offers digital literacy programs); Long Beach Island Community Center; Mercer Med Tech; New Jersey Institute of Technology; and the Workforce Development Board of Northwest New Jersey.
The grants foster public-private collaborations to increase participation in training and career opportunities by WFNJ recipients, including those who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA), the DOL said.
"Digital literacy isn't just about learning technology—it's about opening doors to careers for Garden State residents to build stronger futures," said acting Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. "When we invest in New Jersey residents, we enable them to better care for their families and meaningfully contribute to our communities and state."
Launched in 2025, the Digital Literacy Training Grant provides funding to community-based organizations across New Jersey to offer WFNJ participants digital skills training, industry-recognized certifications and credentials, and connections to employment opportunities.
Round One of the Digital Literacy Training Grant in 2025, which wrapped up in May 2026, supported 425 participants receiving digital skills training and 181 residents earning industry-recognized certifications and credentials. Through this program, 66 New Jerseyans secured unsubsidized employment.
"We are deeply grateful to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development for its continued investment in digital literacy across Northern New Jersey," said Dr. Michael Edmondson, associate provost of continuing learning at NJIT.
"A second year of support reflects the importance of equipping residents with the digital knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today's workforce,” Edmondson said. “Together, we're expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities that strengthen workforce capability, promote economic mobility, and prepare individuals for lifelong career success."
