The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) Office of Apprenticeship has announced $5 million in available funding through the Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) grant program.

The GAINS grant program promotes expansion of US Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship programs to support better-paying careers and the attainment of advanced credentials. The program seeks to develop new and existing apprenticeship programs and create Registered Apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries. The particular focus of GAINS grants is to promote equality of opportunity, upward mobility, and economic fairness.

Proposals must provide new apprentices with a starting wage of at least $17 per hour unless a lower rate is justified. GAINS funding can be used to reimburse up to 50 percent of new apprentices’ wages for a maximum of $12,000 per apprentice over 52 work weeks.

This competitive grant opportunity is open to the following entities who are developing new, or building upon existing, Registered Apprenticeship programs:  

• Any employer
• Employer /Trade Associations
• Any labor organization that 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 (including community-based 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
• Workforce intermediary sponsors

Key dates:

• November 20, 1 pm: Virtual technical assistance (TA) workshop (pre-registration required at least one business day prior to workshop date; applicants are strongly encouraged to attend.) Register here.
• December 1: Letter of Intent due by noon
• December 8: Application due by noon

View complete details and the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.

Find more information on the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship here.