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The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJ DOL) has awarded a total of $2.17 million in funding to seven businesses and organizations under the Growing Apprenticeship In Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) and Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) grant programs, which support the creation and expansion of apprenticeship through the state.
The programs are part of the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network – an initiative that seeks to help all New Jerseyans cultivate careers across a wide range of employers.
The GAINS program, which has awarded more than $5 million already across five employers, promotes the expansion of United States Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship programs to support better-paying careers and Apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries, and bolster workers and businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic – such as the health care industry.
The GAINS program focuses on supporting underrepresented communities.
This current round of GAINS awards will go to…
Hamilton Ryker, $529,295 grant for 70 apprentices in the occupations of nursing assistant, LPN, and cook in Burlington, Cumberland, Essex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties.
Laury Heating Cooling, $158,600 grant for 17 apprentices of Heating and Air Conditioning Installers in the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.
Elizabeth Development Company, $231,934 for 30 apprentices of Truck Drivers in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Union, and Warren.
Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship, $187,600 for 20 apprentices of Laboratory Technicians in the county of Union.
Barnabas Health, $475,000 for 50 apprentices of medical assistants and medical secretaries in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Union, and Warren.
Total: $1,582,429 in grants to support 187 apprenticeships in NJ.
Awarding nearly $600,000 to three employers, the PACE program supports pre-apprenticeship programs that provide education and training to prepare participants for either placement in a Register Apprenticeship program, a post-secondary college, occupation-specific career training program, or the workforce.
These programs expand career pathways with industry-based training and classroom instruction, leading to better-paying positions and advanced credentials.
The PACE program was developed primarily to promote equal opportunities, upward mobility, and economic fairness while helping to alleviate economic barriers that keep workers from learning new skills.
The PACE program offers tools such as job readiness, essential skills, and occupation-specific training – funding can be used to offer stipends to offset the costs of childcare, transportation, and the attainment of a high school equivalency diploma or GED.
The current round of PACE grantees include…
Bayada Home Healthcare, $194,335 for 25 apprenticeships in Practical Nursing in the counties of Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, and Union.
Raritan Valley Community College, $159,844 for 30 apprenticeships in healthcare in the counties of Hunterdon and Somerset.
Elizabeth Development Company, $236,912 for 30 apprenticeships for Truck Drivers in the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Union, and Warren.
Total: $591,091 for 85 apprenticeships in NJ.
Funding from the previous year’s round of GAINS grants was awarded to 11 applicants to onboard 725 apprentices in occupations such as Registered Nurse Residency, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, and Cyber Security Support Technician – among others.
Previous PACE grant funding during this last fiscal year has supported more than 100 pre-apprentices in advanced manufacturing and carpentry.
Since 2018, the state of New Jersey has seen increases of up to 92% in new Registered Apprenticeship programs.
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