New Jersey Labor Department announces $3 million in pre-apprenticeship grant funding
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has announced $3 million in grant funding aimed at preparing residents for apprenticeships, employment and continued education.
The funding is available through the first round of the fiscal year 2027 Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education, or PACE, grant program administered by the department’s Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning.
The program provides skills training and workforce readiness preparation while also helping participants address barriers such as child care, transportation and educational costs. Programs receiving funding must maintain partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship sponsors and employers committed to hiring graduates.
“Pre-apprenticeship programs serve as a critical on-ramp to career opportunities for New Jersey residents who face barriers to entering the workforce,” said Acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “This investment reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are and providing the support, training, and connections they need to access quality jobs and build sustainable careers.”
Since PACE was established in 2018, the state has awarded more than $27.9 million through the program to prepare more than 3,900 participants for Registered Apprenticeship programs, jobs paying at least $17 per hour or admission to post-secondary education and vocational training programs, according to the Labor Department.
“Pre-apprenticeship programs bridge the gap between where individuals are and where they want to be in their careers,” said Bill Sarboukh, Assistant Director of the Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning. “The PACE program enables organizations to provide not just training, but wraparound support services that address real-world challenges participants face. When we remove barriers and create strong partnerships with employers and apprenticeship programs, we set people up for long-term success in high-demand industries.”
PACE-funded programs can provide job readiness and workforce preparation, occupation-specific skills development, hands-on training and job shadowing. Funding can also support child care, transportation, educational assistance and participant stipends, as well as assistance obtaining a high school equivalency diploma or GED.
Programs are required to prepare participants for entry into a Registered Apprenticeship paying at least $17 per hour, employment in a related occupation paying at least $17 per hour or admission to post-secondary education aligned with their training.
“At a time of rising mental health concerns and a critical shortage of providers, the PACE grant is helping us develop a new generation of behavioral health paraprofessionals who can deliver culturally responsive services at a lower cost and directly in homes and communities, reducing transportation and access barriers,” said Ivette Guillermo-McGahee, Founder and Executive Director of Allies In Caring Inc. “Through partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations, we are creating meaningful workforce pathways while expanding support for children and families.”
Virtual technical assistance workshops for prospective applicants are scheduled for Sept. 23 and Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required at least three business days before each workshop.
Letters of intent are due by noon Oct. 23, and applications are due by noon Oct. 30.
Organizations that received fiscal year 2026 Round 2 PACE contracts are not eligible for the current funding round. Organizations that did not receive those awards and new applicants are eligible to apply.
