New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced a Notice of Grant Opportunity on September 4, 2026 for Round 1 of its Fiscal Year 2027 NJBUILD Women and Minorities in Construction Trades Program. Funding is anticipated to be $2 million, contingent on authorization and available funds. The application window is still open: letters of intent are due by noon on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and applications by noon on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Technical assistance sessions were held September 24, and a second is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 1 pm. The program funds pre-apprenticeship and construction trades training for women and minority participants. Training must include at least 30 hours of workforce readiness instruction, at least 120 hours of occupation-specific construction training and at least 15 hours of job shadowing, and participants must earn at least one industry-recognized credential. Providers must help place participants in a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship or a full-time construction-related job paying at least $17 an hour, and document 30- and 60-day retention. Participants bear no training costs, including tuition. Stipends are not wages and may not exceed $250 per week per participant. Competitive proposals can cost no more than $15,000 per participant, with $3,750 per participant reserved for performance outcomes: $2,250 for quality placement and $1,500 for retention. Eligible lead applicants include New Jersey employers, workforce intermediaries, employer and trade associations, labor organizations, labor-management partnerships, public schools and colleges, and nonprofit and community-based organizations. Applicants register in the state's IGX system and submit a letter of intent first. The contract period is expected to run January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028. The money comes from the NJBUILD fund, which receives one-half of one percent of the cost of state construction contracts of $1 million or more. This is a competitive grant opportunity for training organizations and employers, not a job offer or a guarantee of awards. Read the full notice before applying.