Nearly $2M awarded to support women and minorities building careers in the construction trades

Over $1.9 million in grant funding through the New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity program (NJBUILD) is now available to increase access to careers in the construction trades for women and minorities, according to a Friday announcement from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

During the past six years, the state has invested more than $73 million through grant programs to create and develop work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs. NJDOL awarded a record-setting $8.5 million through NJBUILD in 2024 alone, the highest amount awarded in the program’s 15-year history.

“NJBUILD grants are critical investments in the future of New Jersey women and minorities who want to build a career in the construction trades,” Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said. “These funds will empower them with the skills and opportunities needed to not just open doors in this industry but to succeed. By fostering a more inclusive workforce, we are ensuring that we are creating a fairer, stronger Garden State today and for generations to come.”

NJBUILD is comprised of the Women and Minorities in Construction program and the Women and Minority Veterans in Construction program. Both programs promote outreach and occupational skills training such as pre-apprenticeship training, registered apprenticeship, and on-the-job training for women and minority residents. This training helps participants gain workforce readiness and the skills needed to enter a union apprenticeship or construction-related job. The program also assists public works contractors, businesses, and trade unions in meeting their workforce needs by reimbursing them for wages and related costs.

Grantees include:

  • Pathways to Apprenticeship, $600,000
  • Elizabeth Development Company, $537,280
  • Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center, $351,780
  • East Orange School District, $443,464