NJ $4M Grant to Help Boost Access to Construction Trades for Women and Minorities
Through a combination of legislation and grant money, the state of New Jersey is taking steps to increase the diversity of its workforce in construction and the skilled trades
Feb. 5, 2024
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To create more equal employment opportunities in public contracting, state legislation designed to provide training opportunities for women and minorities in construction and construction-related trades was enacted by New Jersey in 2009. To further that goal, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) has announced $4 million in funding through the New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity program (NJBUILD), New Jersey Business Magazine reports. This competitive grant provides funding for eligible organizations (including employers based in New Jersey or with a New Jersey presence, trade associations, various private educational or training entities, N.J. public high schools or vocational schools, and others) to provide construction trades training, placement services, and support to women and minority groups.
“Women and minority groups have for too long faced significant barriers to entry and advancement in the construction industry,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “Through NJBUILD, we’re helping industry employers take positive steps to enhance diversity and inclusion in their workforces and offer a rewarding career pathway to a new population of workers.”
