Bill
A 3058
Creates a Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program to fund paid internships between county colleges and manufacturers, offering academic credit and potential job offers.
Status and timeline (selected)
- Introduced: January 23, 2025
- Committee activity and progress through June 10, 2025 (reported, referred to Rules, ordered to third reading; print number 3058A issued May 23, 2025).
- Referred initially to Assembly Higher Education Committee; later referrals and actions include Consumer Affairs & Protection and Codes.
- Effective date: first day of the sixth month after enactment; Secretary of Higher Education may take anticipatory administrative actions before that date.
Purpose
- Establishes the "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" to encourage New Jersey county colleges to form partnerships with local manufacturers and provide students with paid internships that combine workplace experience with academic credit, strengthening the manufacturing workforce pipeline.
Key provisions
- Program administration: The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (and with input from the NJ Manufacturing Extension Program), will create and administer the program.
- Approved partners: The Secretary (with partners) will develop a list of approved manufacturers and issue a request for proposals (RFP) to county colleges within 30 days of the act’s effective date.
- Grants: Competitive grants (annual, possibly multi-year) awarded to county colleges, subject to available appropriations. The Secretary sets award amounts.
- Fund use: Recipients must use 85% of funds for student stipends tied to internship hours; up to 15% may cover program administration, career counselor positions, and other secretary-approved program objectives.
- Academic credit and employment pathway: Students who complete internships may receive academic credit toward an associate degree; memoranda of understanding between colleges and manufacturers must describe the possibility/process for employment offers or promises after degree completion.
- Application contents: Colleges must submit MOUs with manufacturers, course descriptions, student application/selection processes, number of students to be accepted, matching process, how internships reinforce skills, and the number of credits awarded for internships.
- Priority and selection distribution: Priority to internships in occupations designated as labor demand occupations (per C.34:15E-3). The Department should, to the maximum extent possible, select colleges across northern/central/southern regions and urban/suburban/rural settings.
Reporting requirements
- Annual report (by December 31) to the Governor and Legislature including: number of partnerships, student participation totals, skills learned, transfers to 4‑year institutions, job offers after internships, funds distributed and purposes, and other relevant data.
Who is affected
- Primary: students enrolled at county colleges, county colleges, and participating local manufacturers.
- Secondary: Secretary of Higher Education, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, NJ Manufacturing Extension Program, and state budget/appropriators (funding dependent on future appropriations).
Potential impact
- Expands paid internship opportunities and industry-college collaboration in manufacturing, supports workforce development in high-demand occupations, provides students with paid work experience plus academic credit, and may increase direct hiring from internships. Program scale and reach depend on appropriations and the Secretary’s implementation choices.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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