Official Site of The State of New JerseyJoin the New Jersey Good Jobs Challenge
In an effort to get New Jersey residents back to work, the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) is submitting a proposal for the Good Jobs Challenge Grant (part of the American Rescue Plan Act funding through the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration – read more here).
January 26, 2022 (NJDOL submission target date: December 2021)
This grant opportunity is designed to strengthen New Jersey’s regional workforce systems to train workers with the in-demand skills identified by business through sector partnerships. Funding will allow us to create a solid framework for New Jersey’s regional workforce systems which function beyond grant funding and:
- Define how we work interdependently;
- Connect our ecosystems seamlessly; and
- Differentiate and complement our strengths
NJDOL is applying as the System Lead Entity and would like to work with several—at least three—Backbone Organizations from each New Jersey region (north, central, and south).
For general inquiries regarding the Good Jobs Challenge opportunity, please email us at NJGoodJobs@dol.nj.gov.
NJDOL is applying as the System Lead Entity and will support and facilitate connections between the Sectoral Partnerships. NJDOL will serve as the intermediary between all stakeholders and ensure program implementation and employer involvement lead to long-term, positive outcomes for workers and their communities.
See example:
A Backbone Organization, which must be an EDA eligible applicant, serves as the coordinating entity or intermediary within a specific sectoral partnership.
An effective Backbone Organization will have most or all the following characteristics:
- Convening power in the region;
- Committed support of the executive leadership from the region and buy-in from appropriate stakeholders (e.g., a governor, mayor or chief executive of a jurisdiction, chief executives of major employers, heads of labor unions, presidents of two- and four- year institutions of higher education, etc.);
- Relationships and credibility with the key industry leaders within the sector and strong knowledge of the industry and its needs;
- Relationships and credibility with key players in the workforce ecosystem, including employers, governmental entities, state or local workforce development boards, educational institutions, labor organizations, worker-serving organizations;
- A proven track record of coordinating across the sector and of driving stakeholders to successful action;
- Strong fundraising capabilities or connection to a system with strong fundraising capabilities; and
- Dedicated full-time employee(s) focused on addressing the industry’s workforce issues to support the industry’s economic growth.
See example:
Wrap-around services support the workers during training, reducing barriers and ensuring they are able to participate. These may include transportation, childcare, and coaching/navigation services. Wrap-around services may also include support for job-placement.
