Women and Minority Veterans in Construction Trades Program

The NJBUILD Women and Minorities in Construction Trades Program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) as part of its broader commitment to equitable access in workforce development. This initiative is backed by NJBUILD legislation, which allocates funding from public construction projects to create training opportunities for women and minorities in the construction sector. The FY2026 Round 1 Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) supports pathways into construction trades through training, placement services, and support mechanisms. The program targets New Jersey residents who are women or members of minority groups and at least 16 years old, with legal authorization to work in the United States. Participants must register with a One Stop Career Center and may also be co-enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services. The initiative prioritizes outreach to historically underserved populations, including youth, ex-offenders, individuals with disabilities, and others with barriers to employment. All training must prepare participants for employment in construction-related occupations, with a required minimum starting wage of $17 per hour for qualifying placements. This competitive grant supports training models that include pre-apprenticeship or pre-employment pathways, preferably in partnership with U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs. Each funded program must provide training in both workforce readiness and occupation-specific construction trades. Additionally, grantees are expected to offer participants industry-recognized credentials, robust job placement assistance, and 30- and 60-day retention tracking. Programs focused on clean energy and lead abatement are strongly encouraged. Total available funding is $2.5 million, with an anticipated performance period of 18 months from March 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027. Each proposed program should operate within a maximum cost of $15,000 per participant, including $2,250 set aside for placement outcomes and $1,500 for retention milestones. Payment will follow a hybrid reimbursement and benchmark structure. Supportive services such as childcare, transportation, legal assistance, and financial literacy may be covered in program budgets. The application process requires submission via NJDOL's IGX portal. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is due by noon on December 5, 2025, followed by the full application by noon on December 12, 2025. Applicants must be registered in IGX and provide a range of documentation including a program plan, sustainability strategy, tax clearance certificate, training schedule, and partner commitment letters. A mandatory technical assistance session will be held virtually on November 19, 2025. Grantees will be notified within 45 business days following the panel review, expected to begin the week of January 5, 2026. Evaluations will focus on program narrative, training strategy, activity plan, sustainability, partnerships, budget, and alignment with the NGO’s goals. Applications with strong employer/apprenticeship partnerships and realistic recruitment, training, and placement plans will be prioritized. Programs must comply with NJDOL regulations and reporting requirements and demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period.

Strong preference for Registered Apprenticeship partnerships; plans must show placement outcomes at $17/hour or more; programs must include support services and retention tracking.