TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) announced Friday the availability of $7 million in funding through the UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program.
Over the past three years, NJDOL has awarded more than $26.4 million to 264 employers and organizations that trained 40,789 employees. The first round of funding for fiscal year 2026 will be competitively awarded to New Jersey employers to reimburse up to 50 percent of training costs for frontline employees in mid- and high-skill jobs.
“The UPSKILL Grant Program is a vital resource for New Jersey businesses aiming to enhance the skills of their workforce and remain competitive in an ever-evolving economy,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “By investing in New Jersey workers, we are not only helping businesses grow but also empowering employees to advance in their careers and strengthening our state’s labor market.”
Applications are being accepted from individual employers; employer-, labor-, community- and faith-based organizations; secondary or post-secondary schools; government organizations and public entities; or training providers seeking to fulfill the training needs of an industry-specific consortium of employers.
Individual employers and consortiums in traditional business sectors may apply for up to $1 million in UPSKILL grant funding.
The grants are designed to achieve measurable outcomes by “seeding” occupational skills training and supporting worker retention. Eligible reimbursable expenses include tuition, textbooks, software, credentialing fees, third-party classroom training, on-the-job training, and company in-house training. Employers may use funds to cover up to 50 percent of trainees’ wages during on-the-job and in-house training, as well as for remote training opportunities with proper documentation.
The program is not intended to replace training that would occur without grant assistance, such as onboarding or mandatory annual training.
To apply, employers must register in NJDOL’s online IGX grant management system, submit a letter of intent, and complete required documentation.
Key dates include:
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IGX registration by Sept. 24, 2025, at noon.
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Letter of intent submission by Oct. 8, 2025, at noon.
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Completed application and documents submitted by Oct. 22, 2025, at noon.
Applications submitted on time will be reviewed and rated by a panel of NJDOL representatives, who will make funding recommendations to the labor commissioner.
