The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) announced a $1 million Notice of Grant Opportunity to provide greater employment opportunities for females entering the construction trades.

"When women comprise just over 47 percent of New Jersey's workforce, but less than 10 percent of the workforce in the construction industry, we know we can do better," said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo at the Construction-Utilities Industry Summit at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. "The Women in Construction Trades grant is an important step in providing more women the opportunity to begin exciting careers in construction."

The grant is funded by the New Jersey Builders Utilization Initiative for Labor Diversity (NJBUILD) fund, and is estimated to produce four grant awards to be funded at approximately $250,000 each, contingent upon available funding. The grant is expected to be for a 12-month period beginning on January 1, 2019.

In order to meet the employment needs of existing trade unions and private contractors, this funding will only support partnerships with trade unions and private contractors in the development and provision of pre-apprenticeship training and the placement of individuals with labor unions to meet their workforce needs.

For detailed eligibility requirements, and to read the full NGO, visit nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/Programs/NGO/FY19/18012-womeninconstructiontrades.pdf.