The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development is accepting applications for its Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors Program.
Donor Name: New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
State: New Jersey
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 04/10/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The purpose of the GAINS program is to promote the expansion and development of United States Department of Labor (USDOL) approved Registered Apprenticeship programs that drive economic development through skills and educational attainment and create pathways to better-paying careers and advanced credentials.
The GAINS program will provide New Jersey businesses/organizations or current registered apprenticeship sponsor in targeted sectors with support for new Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program development, or existing RA programs who seek to expand into new USDOL approved occupations. The GAINS program will encourage participation by providing a 50% wage reimbursement for up to 12 months of newly hired apprentices’ employment, offset costs incurred for training the new apprentice, and to incentivize employers for hiring registered apprentices from pre-apprenticeship programs. Examples of training costs include: related classroom instructor costs, materials and supplies, supervision by a journey worker, etc.
Goals
This competitive NGO is being made available to accomplish any of the following primary goals:
- Establish new and expand on existing apprenticeship programs in NJ that are registered with the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), and are within occupations that are currently listed on USDOL’s approved occupation list which can be found here;
- Establish apprenticeship programs in high growth occupations, sectors, or industries in New Jersey (NJ) as indicated in the subsequent section
Objectives
Establish and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in the following sectors:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Bio Pharma/Life Sciences
- Energy, Utilities and Infrastructure
- Retail, Hospitality and Tourism
- Financial Services/Insurance
- Transportation, Logistics and Distribution
- Information Technology/Cyber Security
- Green Jobs/Renewable Energy
- Healthcare
- Other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related sectors/occupations
- Construction & Building Trades – including lead abatement occupations
- Public Service
- Educational Services
- Early Childhood Education
Long Term Objectives
- Support workforce development training initiatives to improve labor market deficiencies
- Increase the number of Registered Apprenticeship programs in NJ.
- Increase the number of New Jersey state residents that are Registered Apprentices in NJ.
- Provide training that leads to certifications, licenses and/or college credits.
- Move workers from low skill entry-level positions or from industries directly affected by international trade or skill-biased technical change to full occupational proficiency.
- Provide greater employment opportunities for members of disadvantaged classes, unemployed/dislocated workers, students.
- Assist small businesses with developing quality training programs.
- Develop a highly-skilled workforce that possesses the skills and qualifications demanded by businesses in NJ.
- Increase the proficiency of NJ’s labor supply with the goal of increasing wages in the state and making the state labor market an attractive option for out of state businesses to locate.
- Increase the number of professional credentials for residents in NJ.
- Increased employment opportunities for residents in existing or new apprenticeable industries.
- Recognition of Registered Apprenticeship as a key component of New Jersey’s Workforce Readiness System.
Funding Information
- Round 2 funding for this program is expected to be up to $6 million for 2024, and is contingent upon the availability of funds.
- The contract period is expected to be June 1, 2026 to November 30, 2027
Eligibility Criteria
This competitive grant opportunity is open to the following entities who are developing new, or building upon existing Registered Apprenticeship programs:
- Any employer based in New Jersey or with a New Jersey presence;
- Workforce Intermediary Sponsors
- Employer / Trade Associations;
- Any labor organization which represents workers in the occupation for which the apprentices will be trained;
- Labor/Management Partnership (public or private);
- New Jersey Local Education Agency (LEA);
- Public vocational schools within New Jersey;
- Two- and four-year institutions of higher education;
- Public or private non-profit organizations;
- Business or trade organizations representing a particular trade, group of trades, contractors
or employers; - Community-based organizations;
- New Jersey local Workforce Development Boards;
- Economic development organizations;
- State, Local, County governments within New Jersey;
- Faith-based organizations; and
- Any other private educational or training entity that is on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL).
For more information, visit NJDLWD.
