The N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development this week announced the recipients of $6 million in funding through its Digital Literacy Training Grant, aimed at closing the digital skills gap among Work First New Jersey recipients.
WFNJ provides essential support to eligible New Jersey residents and their families, including cash assistance, childcare, job readiness programs and short-term housing.
The FY26 awardees:
- Atlantic Cape Community College;
- Inspire U;
- Long Beach Island Community Center;
- Mercer Med Tech;
- New Jersey Institute of Technology;
- Workforce Development Board of Northwest New Jersey.
Launched in 2025, the grant funds community-based organizations across New Jersey to provide WFNJ participants with digital skills training, industry-recognized certifications and credentials, and connections to employment opportunities. It’s designed to build public-private collaborations that increase participation in training and career opportunities among WFNJ recipients, including those receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and General Assistance.
This is the program’s second round of funding. The first delivered real results: 425 participants received digital skills training, 181 earned industry-recognized certifications and credentials, and 66 New Jerseyans went on to secure unsubsidized employment — nearly 500 residents gained critical digital skills in total.
Michael Edmondson, associate provost of continuing learning at NJIT, said the renewed funding reflects a growing recognition of digital literacy’s role in workforce readiness.
“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,” he said. “A second year of support reflects the importance of equipping residents with the digital knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. Together, we’re expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities that strengthen workforce capability, promote economic mobility, and prepare individuals for lifelong career success.”
The grant is open to New Jersey nonprofit, for-profit, governmental and higher education institutions looking to integrate digital training into existing workforce programs. Individual grantees can receive up to $1 million over an 18-month period running from July 30 of this year through Jan. 30, 2028.
