TRENTON – To better align secondary, post-secondary, and adult education and occupational training to the unique needs of Garden State employers, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) announced a Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) today in the amount of $3,000,000 to promote upward mobility and economic fairness through the newly formed Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) Training Program.  

The PACE Training Program will provide funding to eligible businesses and organizations to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship programs. These pre-apprenticeship programs will have a documented partnership with at least one Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor. Together they will expand the participant's career pathway opportunities with industry-based training coupled with classroom instruction. 

“Workforce development is a critical component for economic prosperity,” said Governor Murphy. “With investments like the PACE program as part of my Administration's New Jersey Apprenticeship Network, we are providing all New Jerseyans with the necessary skills to meet the demands of 21^st century jobs, creating a stronger and fairer New Jersey economy.” 

“It’s simple – we know the earn-while-you-learn model of apprenticeship works,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “The PACE program is a logical complement to our existing apprenticeship offerings and will develop a rich pipeline of highly qualified and highly skilled individuals seeking placement in a Registered Apprenticeship program or good, sustainable employment.”    

Additionally, the program is focused on engaging under-represented populations, as well as populations facing economic barriers to training and increasing their skills levels. PACE will provide funding to pre-apprenticeship programs to offer stipends to participants to offset costs, and provide access to supportive services that includes, but is not limited to, childcare and transportation services. PACE will seek to achieve at least one of the following outcomes: 1) placement into a registered apprenticeship program, 2) placement into a post-secondary education pathway related to the pre-apprenticeship training, or 3) placement in the workforce. 

NJDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship will host technical assistance workshops on January 28 and February 5 in Trenton to provide guidance to interested parties who meet the application requirements of the NGO. To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pre-apprenticeship-technical-assistance-workshop-tickets-53960047956 

For eligibility details, and to read the full NGO, please visit: https://nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/Programs/NGO/FY19/19001pacengofinal01.14.19.pdf

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