NJDOL Announces $9 Million in Grants to Grow Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) Office of Apprenticeship has announced a total of $9 million in available funding through a second round of FY26 Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) and Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) grants to foster the creation and expansion of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs throughout the state.

Under the Murphy Administration, the state has invested more than $110 million through grant programs to create and develop work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs. This has supported the creation of 972 new Registered Apprenticeship programs in New Jersey – a 159 percent increase – and enabled 26,577 new apprentices to be onboarded. The state currently has 10,575 active apprentices in 1,583 programs.

“This $9 million in grant funding demonstrates New Jersey’s ongoing commitment to building a workforce that is both skilled and adaptable, ensuring our residents are better equipped for the challenges of the modern economy,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “The GAINS and PACE grants are pivotal in this mission, providing vital support to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. By investing in these initiatives, we are not only fostering career growth and mobility but also paving a pathway for a more inclusive and prosperous future for every New Jerseyan.”

GAINS

$6 million is available through the GAINS program, which develops new and existing apprenticeship programs and creates Registered Apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries, with a focus on equality of opportunity, upward mobility, and economic fairness.

Proposals must provide new apprentices with a starting wage of at least $18 per hour unless a lower rate is justified. GAINS funding can be used to offset the training and associated costs of new registered apprentices and to reimburse up to 50 percent of new apprentices’ wages for a maximum of $12,000 per apprentice over 52 work weeks.

Since Governor Murphy took office in 2018, $45.8 million in GAINS funding has been awarded to place more than 6,000 Registered Apprentices into employment.  This includes such occupations as K-12 Teacher Apprentices, Registered Nurse Residents, Home Health Aide (Dementia Specialists), construction-related trades and many other occupations.

“The GAINS grant has been instrumental in allowing LearnED Potential to expand and strengthen our Registered Teacher Apprenticeship programs across New Jersey,” said Gabriela Timothy, founder & Apprenticeship Program Director at LearnED Potential L.L.C., a GAINS grantee. “With this funding, we have been able to remove financial barriers for dozens of aspiring educators, increase access to high-quality training and mentorship, and build sustainable pathways into the teaching profession, particularly for individuals from underrepresented communities. Since receiving GAINS support, our program capacity, performance outcomes, and employer partnerships have grown significantly, directly contributing to a more prepared and diverse educator workforce for New Jersey’s students.”

Key dates:

• February 19 and March 25, 1 p.m.: Virtual technical assistance (TA) workshops (pre-registration required at least three business days prior to workshop; applicants are strongly encouraged to attend). Register for February 19 here, or March 25 here.
• April 10: Letter of Intent due by noon
• April 17: Application due by noon

View complete application instructions and the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.

PACE

$3 million is available through the PACE program, which was developed primarily to promote equal opportunities, upward mobility, and economic fairness while helping to alleviate economic barriers that hinder upskilling.

PACE programs provide tools such as job readiness, essential skills, and occupation-specific training, and funding that can be used to offset participants’ related costs, such as childcare, transportation, and the attainment of a high school equivalency diploma or GED.

These programs must be partnered with at least one Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor. Together, the programs expand career pathways with industry-based training and classroom instruction, leading to better-paying positions and advanced credentials.

More than $25 million in PACE funding has been awarded throughout the Murphy Administration to prepare over 3,200 pre-apprentices to enter either Registered Apprenticeship, employment, or post-secondary education/vocational training.

“The PACE Grant has played a vital role in strengthening Rowan College at Burlington County’s commitment to the community by expanding access to training and employment opportunities that lead to meaningful careers and sustainable, living-wage employment,” said David I. Spang Ph.D., M.B.A., who is the Acting President of PACE grantee Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC). “Through PACE funding, RCBC has been able to support community members who may otherwise face barriers to entry into the healthcare workforce, helping them take confident first steps toward long-term career success.”

Organizations funded through, or working in partnership with, the GAINS program are strongly encouraged to apply for PACE. The PACE program can provide a pipeline of candidates for Registered Apprenticeship programs funded through GAINS.

Key dates:

• January 22 and February 18, 1 p.m.: Virtual technical assistance (TA) workshops (pre-registration required at least three business days prior to workshop; applicants are strongly encouraged to attend). Register for January 22 here, or February 18 here.
• March 6: Letter of Intent due by noon
• March 13: Application due by noon

View complete application instructions and the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.

See all available grants on NJDOL’s Grant Opportunities website.

For more information on the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship, click here.

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