The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) this week announced $3.5 million in funding is available to help employers upgrade workers’ skills through the UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker Training Grant program.
The funds will be competitively awarded to employers within New Jersey to reimburse up to 50% of the cost of training incumbent, front–line employees to meet current and future occupational skill requirements needed for available high-wage, middle- and high-skill jobs.
“During this unprecedented time, our top priority is to continue investing in our workforce,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a Jan. 25 statement.
Applications are being accepted from individual employers, employer organizations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and industry-specific consortiums. Individual employers may apply for a maximum $100,000, while industry-specific consortiums may apply for a maximum of $150,000.
Grant funds are intended to achieve measurable outcomes for employers and employees trained, to “seed” occupational skills training, and to support businesses in retaining workers and maintaining a presence in New Jersey.
Funding may be used for remote training as necessary, with acceptable documentation. The grants are not intended to supplement any training that would otherwise occur without grant assistance, such as annual or onboarding training.
Interested applicants must email a letter of intent to upskill@dol.nj.gov by noon on Feb. 3 and all application documents must be submitted by noon on Feb. 24. For more information, see the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.
To learn more about all NJDOL grant opportunities, go here.
