34:15D-32 High-Growth Industry Regional Apprenticeship Development Grant Pilot Program.

1. a. There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development a five-year High-Growth Industry Regional Apprenticeship Development Grant Pilot Program, which shall provide grants to support funding for three newly-established adult apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries in three regions of the State. There shall be one grant awarded in the northern, central, and southern region of the State, respectively. A grant may extend beyond one year in duration. To be eligible for the grant, the apprenticeship program shall be accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor, or shall be in the process of obtaining that accreditation. The program shall be administered by the Office of Apprenticeship in the department.

For the purposes of P.L.2019, c.314 (C.34:15D-32 et al.), the northern region shall include Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties; the central region shall include Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset counties; and the southern region shall include Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.

b. Each of the three grants shall be selected from a separate high-growth industry, but any organizational sponsor of an apprenticeship program is eligible to receive the grant, including businesses; business organizations and associations; labor organizations; joint labor-management partnerships; local education agencies; public vocational schools; two-year and four-year colleges; local workforce development boards; workforce training providers; economic development organizations; and community-based and other non-profit organizations.

To apply for the grant, an organization shall submit an application to the Office of Apprenticeship, which shall include documentation that the apprenticeship which the organization is sponsoring is or will be accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor.

c. No later than July 1, 2019, the department shall begin accepting grant applications to be awarded no later than January 1, 2020 from funds allocated for the program pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.152 (C.34:15D-21). The department shall rank eligible applicants for grants based upon:

(1) each applicant's potential to:

(a) reach a broad audience through its recruitment and outreach efforts;

(b) significantly increase enrollment and completion of the apprenticeship program; and

(c) fill existing needs for skilled workers in the market; and

(2) the applicant's partnership with an industry for which apprenticeship programs targeted at training and providing skilled workers who have the ability to perform jobs in that industry have demonstrated positive outcomes.

d. An eligible applicant is required to demonstrate that it intends and is prepared to contribute its own financial resources to the apprenticeship program and has secured an industry partner or a monetary or in-kind contribution, including conditional job placement guarantees, from an industry partner. Moreover, each eligible applicant shall provide documentation of:

(1) the apprenticeship program's curriculum, location, and skills to be taught;

(2) the recruitment efforts for the apprenticeship program, and projected enrollment with and without receipt of grant funds;

(3) a description of how the grant funds will be utilized;

(4) information on specific industry needs or gaps in the workforce that will be addressed by the apprenticeship program;

(5) costs to operate apprenticeship program; and

(6) any other information the department requires.

e. An eligible applicant who is selected by the department for receipt of a grant for the purpose of funding an apprenticeship program in accordance with P.L.2019, c.314 (C.34:15D-32 et al.), shall, on an annual basis for so long as the grant is provided, make an annual report to the commissioner detailing the enrollment in the program, the number of participants completing the program, the number of participants obtaining employment as a result of the program, and any other information as the commissioner may require.

f. Beginning January 1, 2020, and each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot grant program, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report that evaluates the results of the program and its effectiveness in preparing individuals to meet existing and burgeoning workforce needs and addressing gaps in skills in the workforce. The report shall include a recommendation regarding whether to renew the "High-Growth Industry Regional Apprenticeship Development Grant Pilot Program," and if renewal is recommended, if the program should be expanded or otherwise enhanced. The report shall include:

(1) The number of grants awarded in the prior year, including the amount, recipient, and duration of each grant;

(2) The number of individuals who enrolled in and completed an apprenticeship program offered by each grant recipient;

(3) The number of individuals who obtained employment in a position that uses the skills for which they were trained by a grant recipient, or in a position for which the completion of the apprenticeship program was a condition of employment; and

(4) All relevant information provided by grant recipients as to measurable outcomes of participants.

g. Funds from grants provided in accordance with P.L.2019, c.314 (C.34:15D-32 et al.) shall not be used:

(1) for any activities which replace, supplant, compete with or duplicate in any way existing approved apprenticeship programs;

(2) to induce, encourage or assist: any displacement of currently employed workers by trainees, including partial displacement by means such as reduced hours of currently employed workers; any replacement of laid off workers by trainees; or any relocation of operations resulting in a loss of employment at a previous workplace; or

(3) to impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements, except that activities which would be inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement may be undertaken with the written concurrence of the collective bargaining unit and the employer or employers who are parties to the agreement.

h. As used in P.L.2019, c.314 (C.34:15D-32 et al.):

"Eligible applicant" means a business; labor organization; college; workforce training provider; non-profit organization; or any other entity that offers or plans to offer an apprenticeship program that is accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor and that has partnered with an industry to offer or fund the apprenticeship program.

"High-growth industry" means an industry identified by the New Jersey Talent Network, or its successor entity with the department, and includes, but is not limited to: advanced manufacturing; construction and utilities; financial services; life sciences; information technology; renewable energy; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); and transportation, logistics, and distribution. The department shall, on at least a two-year basis, review the classification of high-growth industries to determine if a particular industry should be added or eliminated from the classification.

"Department" means Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

L.2019, c.314, s.1.