The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said Feb. 17 it has $2 million in available grant funding through the pre-apprenticeship in career education, or PACE, training program.
Pre-apprenticeship programs funded through PACE provide education and training that prepare participants for placement into a registered apprenticeship program, into a post-secondary college or occupation-specific career training program, or into the workforce, the DOL said in the announcement.
Alongside registered apprenticeship programs, PACE programs expand career pathways with industry-based training and classroom instruction, leading to better-paying positions and advanced credentials.
“Navigating through the pandemic and emerging stronger requires concerted action to support New Jersey workers as they adapt to the changes brought by COVID-19,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a prepared statement. “Today’s investment in workforce training will provide our workers a pathway to long-term, good-paying jobs as we look toward economic recovery.”
The program was developed by the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship, which is part of the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network initiative implemented by Murphy in March 2018. Since Murphy took office in January of that year, 396 new registered apprenticeship programs have been approved in New Jersey – a 61% increase – and on-boarded 6,697 new apprentices, bringing the total number of active apprentices in the state to 8,892 serving in 1,007 programs.
“In tandem with our more than 1,000 apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeship will play a vital role in helping our workforce recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said in a prepared statement. “Whether you are entering or re-entering the workforce, reskilling or upskilling, participation in a PACE program is a sturdy stepping-stone to gainful, sustainable employment.”
NJDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship will host remote technical assistance workshops on March 9 and March 16 to provide guidance on registration.
PACE grant applications that include pre-apprenticeship training and placement into employment for residents affected by COVID-19 will be given higher priority, as will applications that seek to build career pathways for individuals without a high school diploma or recognized equivalent, and those that demonstrate a viable strategy to recruit targeted populations as outlined in the Notice of Grant Opportunity.
The NJDOL has awarded more than $1.8 million in PACE grant funding to nine recipients since the program was created in 2019.
Eligibility details and more information, including submission deadlines, can be accessed online.
