NJBIA supported a bill on Thursday that commits $3 million from the state Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills to the NJBIA Basic Skills Training Program, administered through the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
Bill S-793, sponsored by Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-31), was unanimously released by the Senate Labor Committee.
The NJBIA Basic Skills Training Program has trained more than 185,000 workers from over 11,000 businesses, yet its funding was recently reduced.
“The successful NJBIA Basic Skills Training program will be able to continue and expand its development of our workforce for a diverse group of employers throughout the state,” said NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Christopher Emigholz.
“At a time when New Jersey is challenged to fill jobs requiring basic skills, this commitment to the basic skills training program is as important as ever.”
The Basic Skills Workforce Training Grant was initiated in 2007 and is a partnership between NJBIA, NJCCC and the state Department of Labor and Workforce. It is open to all New Jersey privately owned businesses and organizations.
Basic skills or employability training is available in:
- Communications (written, verbal and customer service)
- English as a second language
- Mathematics & measurement
- PC Skills (Microsoft OS, Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint)
- Spanish in the workplace
- Other course offerings subject to availability
Community college instructors customize their course offerings to address the specific needs of a particular company. Training can be delivered through dedicated or open-enrollment classes.
