The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced a new Notice of Grant Opportunity, or NGO, as part of the “Fund My Future” initiative to assist New Jerseyans in reaching their career goals.
Fund My Future, or FMF, is a program that provides funds to organizations to offer career coaching and services for selected New Jersey residents. Selected organizations will work with participants to create Individual Employment Plans to provide career coaching and development services. Qualified New Jerseyans will also be paired with a professional career counselor, giving them a greater understanding of their potential career path.
Governor Phil Murphy described how this grant would assist New Jerseyans in achieving their job prospects, saying, “This grant creates valuable opportunities for underserved New Jersey residents. It will ensure that our residents can overcome barriers to meaningful employment and help make New Jersey’s economy fairer for everyone.”
Applicants for the FMF grant must work with individuals whose incomes fall below ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) guidelines and will be awarded grant funds to reimburse expenditures based on their performance and alignment with the FMF program.
“Fund My Future allows us to help New Jersey workers who are struggling to stay competitive develop marketable skills today that will grow into their careers of tomorrow,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “This initiative will serve as a launch pad for individuals who want to take the leap to redefine themselves in the workforce to change the trajectory of their profession and lives.”
Participants in the program are encouraged to use FMF funds for job training and other career-oriented services, with the FMF program being designed for grantees to pay service providers directly in lieu of the participants in the services. Fund My Future was originally derived from Governor Murphy’s Future of Work Task Force recommendations, building on the idea of giving participants the opportunity to drive their own career prospects forward and receive the services they need to find sustainable employment.
For more information about Fund My Future and application details, please visit the NJDOL grant opportunities page or email OTWS@dol.nj.gov.