Opportunity Summary
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, through NJBUILD and the Office of Apprenticeship and Work Based Learning, is accepting applications for the Women and Minorities in Construction Trades Program, Fiscal Year 2027 Round 1. The revised Notice of Grant Opportunity is dated September 9, 2026.
Total program funding: $2,000,000.
Letter of Intent deadline: October 21, 2026 at 12:00 noon. The Letter of Intent must be emailed to NJBUILDPrograms@dol.nj.gov after the applicant’s Authorized Official is registered in the NJDOL IGX system.
Full application deadline: October 28, 2026 at 12:00 noon through NJDOL IGX. The published notice states the clock time but does not expressly state a time zone.
Expected grant period: January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, approximately 18 months.
Funding Structure
Competitive proposals are limited to a maximum cost of $15,000 per participant. Up to $11,250 per participant may support reimbursable program development and training costs, while $3,750 per participant is reserved for documented placement and retention outcomes. The notice does not publish a single applicant award ceiling.
The current notice does not state a matching or cost share requirement.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible lead applicants include qualifying New Jersey employers, workforce intermediary sponsors, employer and trade associations, labor organizations, labor management partnerships, local education agencies, public vocational schools and public high schools, institutions of higher education, nonprofit and community based organizations, Workforce Development Boards, economic development organizations, New Jersey state, county and local government entities, faith based organizations, and eligible private training entities on the Eligible Training Provider List, subject to the full notice requirements. Certain prior FY2026 NJBUILD awardees are not eligible for this round.
Program Purpose and Fit
The program is focused on preparing women and minorities for construction and construction related careers, including pathways connected to Registered Apprenticeship, clean energy, lead abatement, and qualifying full time employment. Applicants must demonstrate appropriate placement or apprenticeship partnerships and meet the program’s workforce training requirements.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 76/100.
Nonagon N9+ Fit Score: 0/100.
The verified scope is construction workforce development and pre apprenticeship training. It does not establish a legitimate funded role for the Nonagon N9+ device and platform or QC Healthcare. The notice also identifies prohibited expenditures that include capital construction or renovation and purchases of laptops, tablets, or similar devices.
Required Application Components
The NJDOL notice requires the Standard Assurances and General Provisions, applicant and county information, prior funding information, placement partner commitment letters, Statement of Need, training curriculum and schedule, Program Narrative and Activity Plan, Organizational Commitment and Capacity Narrative, organizational chart, sustainability plan, Tax Clearance Certificate, prior performance narrative when applicable, deliverables, Budget Schedules A, B and C, budget summary, and required support materials.
Submission
The full application is submitted through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development IGX system. Applicants should use the current revised Notice of Grant Opportunity and NJDOL grant portal instructions as the controlling sources.
Official source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Grants.