Edison, September 17, 2008 – Continuing the Corzine Administration’s efforts to keep New Jersey a national leader in workforce development, Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner David J. Socolow awarded an $84,200 competitive customized training grant to The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) to help its workers keep abreast of new technologies to aid them in the fulfillment of their organization’s mission and to create new jobs.

“There is no more important step we can take for our economy than to maintain a highly skilled and highly trained workforce,” said Commissioner Socolow.  “The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is focusing on training today’s workers with the skills that still will be in demand tomorrow, so that our state is poised to be a leader in the new economy.

Customized Training Grants like this meet industry-specific workforce development challenges and encourage investment in new technologies and equipment.  For example, The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality allograft tissue and to supporting and expanding the science of transplantation—will train their workers in lean manufacturing, team building and business communications. These are skills that MTF needs their employees to master in order to provide the best services to the recipients, donors and their families as well as to further the science of transplantation.

Commissioner Socolow was joined by The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation officials and employees, representatives from the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) and Union Community College for the presentation of the ceremonial check

The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation is matching the grant with a $101,090 contribution and plan to hire 10 new employees.  The Union County Community College is providing training in such areas as computer skills and communications, while NJMEP is providing Lean manufacturing training to 96 current MTF employees and 10 new hires.

“We are delighted to receive this grant from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which will help us provide training and keep more workers in New Jersey. As the nation’s largest tissue bank, MTF has a commitment to excellence in education, research, recovery and care for recipients, donors and their families. Improving occupational skills will help us meet that commitment,” noted Bruce Stroever, MTF President and CEO.

Robert Loderstedt President of NJMEP noted “This training grant is an excellent example of Governor Corzine’s leadership in providing New Jersey’s training dollars at targeted industries and the expertise of Union County College and NJMEP in the delivery of this diverse and critical training to the employees of The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.” Further, said Loderstedt “This is also a clear example of New Jersey's commitment to coordinate multiple resources to help its manufacturers and our manufacturing base.”

Customized training grants are matching grants awarded to New Jersey businesses to provide training to a company’s workforce in skills specifically needed to increase productivity and marketability.  The grants, awarded through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, are funded through the Workforce Development Partnership Program.

Information about competitive customized training and literacy grants is available by calling (609) 633-6799 or on the Internet at:

 http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/employer/training/incentives_training_index.html 

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