TRENTON, October 2, 2007 – A new public-private partnership is delivering literacy training to groups of workers from different companies through a $1.88 million state grant that offers courses in basic workplace skills. The program is an important component of Governor Corzine’s economic growth strategy which, among other priorities, seeks to extend the State’s workforce training resources to smaller companies, giving them a competitive edge in a global economy.

The Basic Skills Workforce Training Program was developed by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development (LWD) and the New Jersey community colleges through their Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.

Small businesses in New Jersey, like Lee Linear in Piscataway, are benefiting from the program. With 47 employees, Lee Linear manufactures high-precision shafting, rails and accessory products for such high-tech industries as medical equipment, aerospace, printing and more.  Alan Haveson, CEO of Lee Linear said his company is taking part in the program because, “We realize as manufacturers, if we want to be here tomorrow, we must invest in our workforce today.” 

New Jersey Labor Commissioner David J. Socolow, New Jersey Business & Industry Association President Philip Kirschner, Middlesex County Community College President Dr. Joann La Perla Morales, and other program partners discussed the program with media representatives during a tour of Lee Linear today.

“Governor Corzine is committed to workforce training programs to ensure that New Jersey offers a highly productive, skilled workforce and to keep employers competitive and successful in the global economy,” said Labor Commissioner Socolow.  “We are pleased to partner with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association to encourage consortia of companies to bring the benefits of basic skills training to workers at smaller businesses that might not be able to offer training on their own.”

According to NJBIA President Kirschner, “NJBIA is proud to partner with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the excellent network of County Colleges that we enjoy in New Jersey.  On behalf of the business community, I want to commend the department and the county colleges for listening to the training challenges of the business community and developing meaningful solutions.”

Dr. La Perla Morales said, “Commissioner Socolow should be applauded for his action in harnessing the vast resources of the community colleges in this bold partnership with the New Jersey Business & Industry Association to address the basic training needs of New Jersey workers.” 

NJBIA has made the application process readily accessible for its small-business members. And em­ployers need not offer training to a full class of their employees or com­plete the full application required for a direct employer application. For more information on this program, visit www.njbia.org/resources/train or call Bob Rosa, chief operating offi­cer with the New Jersey Communi­ty College Consortium, at 609-393-9009.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development also offers customized training grants and literacy grants to all types of businesses. The Department encourages businesses that wish to directly apply for these grant opportunities to do so. Dedicated staff members are assigned, from the start, to guide each applicant through the application process. With a cus­tomized training grant, business owners can train their employees beyond basic skills in subjects such as lean manufacturing, manage­rial courses and communications. Owners can even create a program that is tailored to their company’s specific needs, such as training em­ployees to operate new technology or equipment.

To obtain more information regarding our workforce develop­ment initiatives, please visit our Web site at www.nj.gov/labor or call the Office of Customized Train­ing Grants Help Desk at (609) 633-6799.