New Jersey's NonProfit Information Center - LWD

Workforce Grant and Program Management

Customized Training/Literacy Grants

Customized Training Funds are available to create and upgrade the skills of workers or retain jobs in a labor demand occupation to ensure that New Jersey employers are more competitive in the global economy. This competitive grant program is made possible under the New Jersey Workforce Development Partnership (WDP), and is administered by the Division of Workforce Grant and Program Management, Office of Grants Operations (Customized Training Unit). All awards are made subject to the availability of funds. Applications must meet specific business needs, with an emphasis on training front-line workers. In accordance with the WDP law, most of the individuals receiving customized training will be trained primarily for work in the direct production of goods and services.

The Customized Training program is designed to benefit both employees and businesses by enhancing the skills of workers, thereby increasing their productivity and the competitiveness of the employer. This investment by the State is expected to result in the creation of new jobs, the retention of jobs and/or an increase in wages for the trained workers. http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/FY12_NGO_CT.html

The Literacy Skills grant program is made possible under the New Jersey Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills, and is administered by the Department’s Division of Workforce Grant and Program Management, Office of Grants Operations. The purpose of these grants is to assist New Jersey workers to achieve economic success and self-sufficiency and to enable New Jersey employers with a more literate workforce to compete more successfully in the global economy. All grants awarded are subject to the availability of funds. 

Non-Profits training their workers are eligible to apply. http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/FY12_LT_NGO.html

Services for Veterans of the US Armed Forces

We believe that those who stood first in line to defend their country should also be first in line to reap the benefits of freedom: a fair chance for a good education, a good job and a good life.

Veterans receive first priority referral to all jobs and training opportunities for which they are qualified. In the One-Stop Career Center, there is a Veterans Representative who specializes in helping veterans find the jobs and opportunities for which they qualify. In addition to priority referrals to jobs, vets can enroll in free job search workshops, find help developing a resume, learn about career training programs and get help understanding the network of veterans' benefits available through the Veterans Administration, state and local governments.

Am I a veteran?

If you are looking for employment in local, state or federal government, there are certain criteria that, if met, will entitle you to "veterans' preference". To gain full understanding of veterans' preference, talk to one of our dedicated veteran staff at your nearest One-Stop Career Center.

Additional resources available to you include:
Veterans' Employment & Training Service 
NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 
United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
Military.com
Small Business Administration - Office of Veterans Business Development
G. I. Jobs

Urban League of Essex County (www.ulec.org) Memorandum of Understanding to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless Veteran into meaningful employment within the labor force by providing diversified services that address the complex problems facing homeless Veterans.

Prisoner Re-entry

Currently the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) is working in collaboration with the State Parole Board (SPB) to provide funding to organizations including non-profit funding to ensure a better connection to placement and retention for the parole population. There will be three grants awarded in the amount of $250,000 each to provide fee-for-service placement and retention services to a cohort of parolees over an 18 month period. The closeout date for this Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) is September 1, 2011. A link to the NGO is below. http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/incentives_training_index.html

Additional resources and helpful information can be found at:
Legal Action Center - www.lac.org
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice – www.njisj.org 
NJ Association on Corrections - www.njaconline.org
National Institute on Corrections – www.nicic.gov 

Learning Links

Organizations & Instructional Resources

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wfprep/edtrain/adulted/adult_ed_prof.html

WorkFirst/TANF

One-Stop Career Centers can help clients address specific concerns to ensure their job search is successful. The Support Services section will help lead the client resource with a wide range of programs and services, including welfare, health insurance and Food Stamps. The One-Stop emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future. The One-Stop’s goal is to help people get off welfare, secure employment and become self-sufficient, through job training, education and work activities. New Jersey's welfare program for families is known as WorkFirst New Jersey Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF). The state also has a program for single adults and couples without children, known as WorkFirst New Jersey General Assistance (WFNJ/GA).

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/suppsvcs/supsvcsindex.html

Older Workers

IF YOU ARE 55 years of age or older, interested in paid work experience, and on a limited income you may qualify for free occupational training!

WorkForce 55+ is a federally funded program that offers economically disadvantaged seniors, 55 years of age and older, jobs and training. This program is authorized under Title V of the Older Americans Act, and administered by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development. WorkForce 55+ has helped people find employment in the following positions:

Clerk Typists

Food Service Workers

Receptionists

Reservations Clerk

Retail Sales Associates

Floral Arrangers

Security Guards

Data Entry Operators

Bookkeepers

Certified Home Health Aides

Teacher Aides

Library Aides

The aim of WorkForce 55+ is to help seniors return to the work place through an exciting program in which you earn while you learn. WorkForce 55+ participants receive the counseling, assessment and training necessary to enable them to be placed in unsubsidized employment.

Applicants must meet income criteria to be eligible for this program. Find out how WorkForce 55+ can help you, contact a local One-Stop Career Center for information.

WorkFirst New Jersey On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program

With the WorkFirst New Jersey On-the-Job Training (OJT) program, you can receive up to half of your new employees' gross wages for up to 26 weeks to help defray the costs of their training.

Employment specialists at your local One-Stop Career Center will pre-screen job applicants from the WorkFirst New Jersey and Food Stamp Employment & Training programs. A WorkFirst New Jersey participant is someone who is receiving public assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance, or non-public assistance Food Stamps. The most qualified applicants will be referred to you. You can then interview candidates and make the final hiring decision.

Before you hire a WorkFirst participant, you will meet with an OJT specialist of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to draw up a contract. The contract will outline the on-the-job training requirements for each position, and specify your training reimbursement.

The WorkFirst Program depends on the active engagement of the state's business community to help create opportunities for economically disadvantaged New Jersey citizens.

To participate in this initiative:

· Trainees must be participants in the WorkFirst New Jersey or Food Stamp Employment and Training programs.

· Trainees must be paid the applicable state or federal minimum wage, or $8.50 an hour, whichever is highest.

· The contract period must be at least four weeks (20 working days), but not longer than six months (130 working days), depending on the complexity of skills to be learned.

· Positions must be full time and permanent, except in special situations.

· Employers will retain trainees as permanent employees upon satisfactory completion of the training period.

· The OJT contract exists at the discretion of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Incentives:

· Your OJT specialist will complete all the paperwork.

· You may use OJT reimbursement to help fund the first six months of an apprenticeship program for qualified WorkFirst participants.

· Employers who hire WorkFirst participants also may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (but not during the WorkFirst OJT period).

For more information about WorkFirst OJT, contact a Business Representative at your local Business Resource Center.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Free Employer Consultation Services

Training Reimbursement: DVRS will pay up to half of a worker's salary while the individual learns the essential knowledge and job skills required, in an on-the-job training program.

Tax Incentives: DVRS will show you how to obtain tax credits you may be eligible for when hiring workers with disabilities.

Placement Services: DVRS can provide pre-screened, trained, motivated, qualified workers. We will work to identify your needs and match the right worker to the right job.

Recommendations on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): DVRS will help you understand ADA laws and make "reasonable accommodations" in the workplace.

Job Modification and Barrier Removal Consultations: DVRS will evaluate your worksite to identify possible barriers and propose solutions that will benefit not only employees with disabilities, but also your customers with disabilities.

Assistance Dealing with Troubled Employees: DVRS will provide counseling services for employees with disabilities who are experiencing problems.

Follow-Up and Adjustment Services: DVRS counselors maintain close contact with employees to ensure that they are adjusting to the job and that both employer and employee are satisfied.
Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health

Onsite Consultation and Training

Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health

  • The PEOSH program is directed to public employers/employees. Most government agencies that are inspected however are “nonprofit”. All nonprofit organizations have access to our website for information concerning safe work practices and OSHA regulations that they could apply to their respective places of work (http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lsse/employer/Public_Employees_OSH.html).