What is North Jersey Partners?

North Jersey Partners is an innovative regional partnership of public, private, and government organizations collaborating to deliver programs, training, and support to ensure the continuity of a skilled workforce to drive economic growth in northern New Jersey. It is a dynamic network of organizations and individuals who, by working together, are determined to make connections, leverage assets, and support training programs to sustain jobs and facilitate career development.

What geographic area does North Jersey Partners serve?

North Jersey Partners serves the northern eight counties of New Jersey. Those counties are Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren. Of the 21 counties in New Jersey, these eight counties make up almost half of the state population that is approximately 8.6 million people. Moreover, these eight counties host over half of New Jersey's private sector jobs.

Are there specific industries that are the focus of North Jersey Partners?

North Jersey Partners is focused on four key industry clusters that were selected based upon demand data and the potential for the greatest economic impact in the region. Those four key industry sectors are: Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (TLD); Healthcare and Life Sciences; Entertainment, Art, and Retail (EAR); and Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. The training and skill development programs delivered in these industry clusters are supported by the latest information and online technologies that are changing the way education and training are conducted.

How is North Jersey Partners funded?

North Jersey Partners operates with an initial $5.1 million grant provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration through the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers this initiative and the Newark Alliance is the lead organization implementing the grant.

What is North Jersey Partners trying to accomplish?

North Jersey Partners is aligning and connecting regional institutions and organizations in both the private and public sector to provide training and skill development programs to ensure that individuals and industries become and remain competitive and innovative.

How is North Jersey Partners connecting organizations and individuals?

North Jersey Partner is connecting organizations and individuals by changing the way business is done through the sharing of information, leveraging current training programs that work effectively, and supporting innovative skill development ideas. Moreover, North Jersey Partners is linking unemployed and underemployed individuals as well as preparing students to fill jobs in industries sectors that anticipate growth and expect shortages in skilled workers by supporting new training programs. Lastly, North Jersey Partners is supporting job development and creation through entrepreneurship and small business expansion by partnering with institutions of higher education to provide training and seminars.

What is the approach that North Jersey Partners is using to keep its region competitive?

North Jersey Partners' strength is in its ability to support existing programs and projects that are effectively training and developing individuals to meet the needs of business. In addition, North Jersey Partners initiates new programs that fill skill and training gaps in the workforce by working with educational institutions, individuals, and businesses to identify those needs. Lastly, North Jersey Partners welcomes fresh approaches to teaching and training potential workers by offering support to meet specific industry needs.

How is North Jersey Partners different from other workforce development organizations?

North Jersey Partners is not a training organization; but it does encourage, where appropriate, the use of technology to maximize the access to and effectiveness and scale of training activities. Moreover, North Jersey Partners supports training programs that have it right and provides the opportunity for more individuals and businesses to benefit. North Jersey Partners is the catalyst that provides the support, networking opportunities, and forums for public workforce organizations, government, business, institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations to come together to address workforce development issues.

Who can participate in the North Jersey Partners' programs?

If you live, work, or own a business in the any of the eight counties - Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, or Warren - you are eligible to participate in the North Jersey Partners' programs. All of the training programs and projects currently being offered are listed on the North Jersey Partners' web site at www.northjerseypartners.org.