The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) announced the availability of $1.5 million in grant funding to train women and minority veterans for careers in the construction trades. The funding, part of the New Jersey Builder’s Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity (NJBUILD) program, aims to eliminate economic barriers for these groups and connect them with quality jobs and training opportunities.
A pathway to careers in construction
The NJBUILD Women and Minority Veterans in Construction Trades Program (WMVIC) provides participants with training and support services to prepare them for placement in Registered Apprenticeship programs or full-time, long-term employment.
The initiative specifically targets women and minority veterans from the National Guard, Reserves, as well as those who are retired or transitioning from active-duty military service.
“The NJBUILD program is a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce in New Jersey’s construction industry,” Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said. He emphasized that the investment will not only create more equitable job opportunities but also enrich the state’s workforce by making it more reflective of the diversity of its communities.
Expanding the workforce
Since fiscal year 2024, NJDOL has awarded approximately $8.9 million in NJBUILD funding to 19 organizations, supporting the training of about 809 women and minorities in the construction trades. The new funding is intended to expand these efforts, helping those who have served the country build a stronger future for themselves.
Eligible applicants for the grant include a wide range of organizations, such as employers, labor unions, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The funding can be used for training in various construction and building trades occupations, including clean energy and lead abatement. Applicants are required to provide quality support services to ensure the successful placement and retention of participants.
The following organizations are eligible to apply for the NJBUILD grant as a lead applicant:
- Any employer based in New Jersey or with a New Jersey presence;
- Workforce Intermediary Sponsors;
- Employer/Trade Associations;
- Any labor organization that represents workers in the occupation for which the apprentices will be trained;
- Labor/Management Partnership (public or private);
- New Jersey Local Education Agency (LEA);
- Public vocational schools within New Jersey;
- Public high schools within New Jersey;
- Two- and four-year institutions of higher education;
- Public or private non-profit organizations (including Community Based Organizations);
- Business or trade organizations representing a particular trade, group of trades, contractors, or employers;
- Community-based organizations;
- New Jersey local Workforce Development Boards;
- Economic development organizations;
- State, Local, and County governments within New Jersey;
- Faith-based organizations; and
- Any other private educational or training entity that is on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL).
View complete details and the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.
