Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) (New Jersey)

 
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    CFDA#

    None     		 

    Funder Type

    State Government

    IT Classification

    B - Readily funds technology as part of an award

    Authority

    New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

    Summary

    The purpose of the PACE Program is to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship programs. These pre-apprenticeship programs have a documented partnership with at least one Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor that is committed to hiring from the pre-apprenticeship program within 18 months from the start of the contract period of performance, and together, they expand the participant's career pathway opportunities with industry-based training coupled with classroom instruction.


    The PACE Program also seeks to eliminate economic barriers commonly associated with an individual's inability to invest in skills training and work readiness. In order to mitigate these barriers, the PACE Program encourages the use of stipend payments for all pre-apprenticeship program participants. This NGO provides funding for stipends and to support the attainment of a high school equivalency diploma or GED. PACE will also provide funding for paid STEM Internships, as defined in this NGO, to stimulate skills training in high-demand STEM related occupations. STEM internships refer to occupations that require education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.


    Pre-apprenticeship programs funded through the PACE Program will provide education and training that leads to one of the following outcomes:

    • Admission into a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship Program with a starting wage of $17 per hour or greater;
    • Employment with a starting wage of not lower than $17 per hour or greater;
    • Admission into a post-secondary college or occupation-specific career training program

    This competitive program is being made available to accomplish any of the following primary goals:

    • Create a pipeline of qualified individuals that move from pre-apprenticeship programs to Registered Apprenticeship, employment, or post-secondary career pathways;
    • Expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities to New Jersey residents, including the underrepresented, disadvantaged, or low-skilled populations; and
    • Increase the New Jersey labor supply with a larger pool of qualified workers who possesses the skills and qualifications necessary to receive and maintain employment
     

    History of Funding

    Funding for this program was $2,000,000 for FY2025. 

    Additional Information

    Favorable applications will contain pre-apprenticeship training within the following industry clusters:

    • Advanced Manufacturing 
    • Energy, Utilities and Infrastructure 
    • Bio Pharma/Life Sciences 
    • Retail, Hospitality and Tourism 
    • Financial Services/Insurance 
    • Information Technology/Cyber Security 
    • Healthcare 
    • Transportation, Logistics and Distribution 
    • Green Jobs/Renewable Energy 
    • Other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related sectors/occupations 
    • Construction & Building Trades – including lead abatement occupations 
    • Public Service 
    • Educational Services 
    • Early Childhood Education 

    Grant funds provided through this NGO may not be expended for the following:

    • Indirect costs (e.g. travel, meals, lodging);
    • Pension and/or health benefits for part-time staff;
    • Mileage and toll expenses for out-of-state travel;
    • Overnight accommodations;
    • Capital construction or renovation;
    • Costs associated with preparing the grant application; and
    • Costs of memberships in associations or organizations.

    Contacts

    James Manning

    James Manning
    Workforce Development
    540 John Fitch Way John Fitch Plaza
    Trenton, NJ 08625
    609-633-6438

    Bill Sarboukh

    Bill Sarboukh
    Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning

    ,
     

  • Eligibility Details

    This competitive grant opportunity is open to the following entities:

    • Any employer based in New Jersey or with a New Jersey presence; 
    • Workforce Intermediary Sponsors; 
    • Employer / Trade Associations; 
    • Any labor organization which represents workers in the occupation for which the apprentices will be trained; 
    • Labor/Management Partnership (public or private); 
    • New Jersey Local Education Agency (LEA); 
    • Public vocational schools within New Jersey; 
    • Public high schools within New Jersey; 
    • Two- and four-year institutions of higher education; 
    • Public or private non-profit organizations; 
    • Business or trade organizations representing a particular trade, group of trades, contractors or employers; 
    • Community-based organizations; 
    • New Jersey local Workforce Development Boards; 
    • Economic development organizations; 
    • State, Local, County governments within New Jersey; 
    • Faith-based organizations; and 
    • Any other private educational or training entity that is on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). 

    NOTE: Organizations awarded FY2026 Round 1 PACE contracts are not eligible to apply for FY2026 Round 2 PACE funding. Round 2 applications are open to those not funded in FY2026 Round 1 as well as new applicants. 

    Deadline Details

    A Letter of Intent is due March 6, 2026, by 12 pm. Full applications are due March 13, 2026, by 12 pm. Similar deadlines are expected, annually.

    Award Details

    Funding for this program is $3,000,000 for FY2026. The anticipated length of the contract period is 18 months, unless otherwise extended or reduced at the discretion of the NJDOL. The contract period is expected to be May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027. NJDOL seeks to fund multiple programs throughout the program year. Competitive proposals will have a maximum cost per head of $12,000 (divide total number served by the requested grant amount). Program budgets submitted as part of the proposal are not final until contract execution. NJDOL reserves the right to negotiate the costs of all training programs upon award selection. The payment structure for all contracts will be cost reimbursement. All participants as well as employer partners must be New Jersey residents or have a New Jersey presence. 

    Related Webcasts Use the links below to view the recorded playback of these webcasts



 

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