NJEDA Approves Phase 2 of New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge

TRENTON, N.J. (December 22, 2025) – Last week, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved the creation of Phase 2 of the New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge. Building upon the success of Phase 1, the $4 million grant program will position New Jersey residents for green economy careers, with a particular focus on serving New Jersey’s Overburdened Communities.

“Throughout the Murphy administration, the NJEDA has made major investments to support our clean energy future, helping build a stronger economy for the next generation,” said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “The Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge is helping expand access to critical workforce development initiatives, ensuring New Jersey residents, particularly those in overburdened communities, are at the forefront for careers in the growing green economy.”

The competitive grant challenge will ask applicants to submit proposals that outline their plans to develop and implement workforce development initiatives to bolster the green economy, with a focus on New Jersey’s Overburdened Communities. Grants ranging from $500,000 to $800,000 will be awarded, and may be used to cover planning, outreach, construction, and implementation to offer training programs in green economy industries.

Following the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy’s Building our Resilient, Inclusive, and Diverse Green Economy (BRIDGE) initiative, the New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge was first approved by the NJEDA Board in April 2024. Four applicants were approved under Phase 1 of the program, totaling $4.3 million in grant funding to support training programs in solar energy, weatherization, green infrastructure, electric vehicles and more. Phase 2 of the program is funded with $4 million provided through a Memorandum of Understanding between the NJEDA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations, workforce training organizations, labor unions, technical high schools, county colleges, non-profits, regional workforce development boards, and private-sector companies. Applicants must include at least one Community-Based Organization (CBO) that serves one or more New Jersey overburdened communities as part of their application either as the primary applicant or a collaborator.

Applicants’ proposals must include their plans to implement workforce programs that provide industry-recognized credentials, connect participants with job opportunities in the green economy, develop outreach that targets and support a diverse and inclusive pool of participants, including those from overburdened communities, and define program evaluation and success metrics. The grant program will prioritize support of training programs that connect participants with near-term job opportunities in the green economy.

More information about Phase 2 of the New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge, including eligibility requirements and a formal application, will be available at www.njeda.gov.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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