The basics:

• NJ awards nearly $7.5M in workforce training grants
• $1.48M targets construction careers for women and minorities
• $6M funds digital skills training for WFNJ recipients
• Grants aim to connect residents with jobs and apprenticeships

New Jersey is putting nearly $7.5 million into programs designed to help residents gain the skills they need to land jobs in fields where employers seek workers.

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently awarded:

• $1.48 million to expand pathways into construction careers for women and minority residents
• $6 million to boost digital skills among Work First New Jersey recipients

Building connections

As part of the latest round of the New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity’s women and minorities in construction trades grant program, the state will give the following awards:

• $375,000 to East Orange School District to train 25 students in construction trades
• $430,748 to Elizabeth Development Co. to train 35 students in CDL truck driving, electrical work, HVAC and plumbing
• $300,000 to New Beginnings Behavioral Health to train 20 students in electrical, HVAC and weatherization
• $375,000 to Rutgers University to train 25 students in carpentry and construction

According to NJDOL, the program offers pre-apprenticeship training, career support and job placement assistance, while providing services to help participants overcome financial and other barriers to entering and succeeding in the construction industry. The WMIC grants are designed to prepare participants for registered apprenticeships or direct placement into full-time construction jobs, the state said.

Learn more about …

The BLOC Foundation, which provides women, minorities and others with the tools to build careers in construction and real estate. Find out more here.

Over the past seven years, NJDOL has allocated more than $24.5 million through NJBUILD to train more than 2,500 women and minority New Jersey residents for careers in the building and construction trades, the state said.

Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin Jarvis said, “New Jersey’s construction industry is strongest when it reflects the communities it serves. These grants represent our continued commitment to breaking down barriers and creating accessible pathways to high-quality careers in the trades.”

Technically speaking

Launched in 2025, the digital literacy training grant provides funding to community-based organizations across the state to offer digital skills training to Work First New Jersey recipients.

In addition to building technology skills, the program allows participants to earn industry-recognized certifications and connect with employment opportunities.

The grant brings employers and training organizations together to help WFNJ recipients gain job skills and find employment. Administered by the state, WFNJ gives assistance to eligible low-income residents while helping them prepare for and find employment.

As part of its second round of digital literacy training grants, the NJDOL recently awarded $6 million to:

• 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

During the first round of the grant, 425 individuals received digital skills training and 181 secured industry-specific certifications and credentials, according to NJDOL. Sixty-six New Jerseyans went on to secure unsubsidized employment through the initiative, too, the state said.

According to NDOL, the latest grants will run from July 2026 through January 2028. Grantees will receive up to $1 million during that period to integrate digital training into existing workforce programs, the state said.

Jarvis said, “Digital literacy isn’t just about learning technology — it’s about opening doors to careers for Garden State residents to build stronger futures. When we invest in New Jersey residents, we enable them to better care for their families and meaningfully contribute to our communities and state.”