$4.8M to Support Women and Minorities in Construction Trades

On Jun 27, 2024

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has awarded more than $4.8 million in grant funding through the New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity program (NJBUILD) to increase access to construction trades careers for women and minority groups, as well as veterans.

Over the past six years, the state has invested nearly $73 million through grant programs to create and develop work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs across the state.

“The NJBUILD program is designed to empower underrepresented communities by providing comprehensive training and support,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “This program not only opens the doors to lucrative careers in construction, but also fosters diversity and inclusion in the industry, creating a more equitable and dynamic workforce.”

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

“The NJBUILD program recruits and provides skilled training for women and minority veterans who are in search of a rewarding career in the building trades,” said Bill Mullen, president of the New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council, which received funding through the NJBUILD grant program. “They sacrifice their lives for us, and we owe them more than a handshake upon returning home.”

“Installations 3 Construction Center is incredibly honored to receive the FY24 NJBUILD Women and Minority Veterans training grant. This support affords us to continue training to open doors for women and minority veterans in New Jersey, providing them with the skills and opportunities needed for stable, long-term careers,” said Richard Harris III, founder and executive director of Installations 3 Construction Training Center, an NJBUILD grantee. “Together, we are building careers and creating brighter futures.”

The complete lists of grantees are below:

Find more information on NJDOL grant opportunities here.

Find more information on the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship here.

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