NJDOL Announces $3.6M in Grant Funds to Promote Work Opportunities for Special Populations of Youth

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has announced $3.6 million in available funds over two years through the Bridges to Employing Youth grant program. The program seeks to expand the capacity of NJDOL’s workforce system to address the career development needs of vulnerable and underserved youth populations through an influx of specialized service providers.

The Bridges program was developed to help address the barriers and unique challenges experienced by certain special youth populations, including:

• Youth with disabilities;
• Justice-involved youth;
• Youth who are in, or have aged out of, foster care; and
• Pregnant or parenting youth.

Youth in any of these populations experience higher rates of unemployment and poverty, fewer educational opportunities and lower attainments, a deficit of work experience opportunities, and hardships of a unique nature and higher degree than the broader youth population.

“We are proud to invest in these young workers and help build the skills required of a 21^st-century workforce,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “The Bridges to Employment program offers a valuable introduction to a career path and good work habits while setting participants on the road to self-sufficiency and independence.”

Applicants must demonstrate their experience serving the identified target population and their capacity to provide youth workforce development services. NJDOL anticipates this program will focus on partnerships and collaborations between state and local agencies and systems to create a coordinated process to ensure the healthy career development among target youth populations. A lead agency must be designated.

Key dates:

• January 17: Letter of Intent due by noon.
• January 18: Virtual information session / technical assistance workshop via Microsoft TEAMS. Invites will be sent to the email addresses provided in the applicant’s letter of intent. Attendance is mandatory for applicants to be considered eligible to apply.
• February 12: Application due by noon.

View complete details and the full Notice of Grant Opportunity here.

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