Advanced Manufacturing Archives

Informational webinar will be held in advance of launch

TRENTON, N.J. (February 6, 2024) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for Phase II of the Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP) on Monday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m. An informational webinar will be held Thursday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m.

WHAT: MVP Phase II will make available $20 million in grant funding through a rolling application process to provide New Jersey manufacturers with access to essential equipment, which will enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall profitability in New Jersey. The MVP offers vouchers valued at 30 to 50 percent of the cost of eligible equipment, including installation, up to a maximum award amount of $250,000.

In line with Governor Phil Murphy’s vision to create the most diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem in the nation, the New Jersey MVP offers stackable bonuses for certified woman-, minority-, or veteran-owned businesses. The stackable bonuses are also available for businesses in Opportunity Zones, businesses purchasing equipment within New Jersey, manufacturers that have a collective bargaining agreement, and companies with 50 or less full-time equivalent employees.

WHEN: Applications for the MVP Phase II will open on Monday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m. Interested applicants can click here to learn more and apply.

The NJEDA will host an informational webinar on Thursday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m. Click here to register for the webinar.

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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Vouchers Enable Manufacturers to Purchase Equipment to Improve Production Processes

TRENTON, N.J. (May 4, 2023) – As of today, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has already approved over $8 million in vouchers to 69 New Jersey manufacturers under the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP). Approved awardees can use the vouchers to purchase equipment to help New Jersey manufacturers upgrade their businesses. The program application window is now closed after being fully subscribed. NJEDA staff will continue to review applications with additional approvals expected in the coming month.

“New Jersey’s manufacturing sector continues to be a strategic component of our state’s economy, by creating essential products for people and businesses and creating skilled jobs,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program is providing manufacturers will the support they need to drive economic activity, boost our supply chain, and ensure New Jersey’s strong economic future.”

Governor Murphy announced the New Jersey MVP in October 2022 as a pilot program. Originally funded with $20 million from the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the program offers vouchers valued at 30 to 50 percent of the cost of eligible equipment, including installation, up to a maximum award amount of $250,000. In March, in order to fulfill a robust pipeline of eligible applications, the NJEDA’s Board voted to increase available funding to $33.75 million. Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes another $20 million for the program. The program focuses on manufacturers within targeted industries that will use purchased equipment to integrate innovative technologies, processes, and materials to improve the efficiency and productivity of their manufacturing business. Both for-profit and not-for-profit companies are eligible for vouchers.

In line with Governor Murphy’s vision to create the most diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem in the nation, the New Jersey MVP offers stackable bonuses for certified woman-, minority-, or veteran-owned businesses, businesses in opportunity zones, and businesses purchasing equipment within New Jersey, as well as manufacturers that have a collective bargaining agreement in place and small companies with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

Sullivan announced the awards at the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program’s (NJMEP’s) 8^th Annual State-of-the-State Manufacturing Summit in Trenton today. The event featured a “MADE in NJ’ product showcase and the opportunity for manufacturers to hear from, and engage with, industry leaders and policymakers.

About the NJEDA

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Program offers grants of up to $250,000 to enable purchases of equipment to improve productivity and efficiency.

TRENTON, N.J. (December 13, 2022) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced it will begin accepting pre-qualification applications for the New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program (MVP) on Thursday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m. Funded at $20 million, the New Jersey MVP will provide grants to support the purchase of equipment to help manufacturers improve their operations.

A link to the pre-qualification application will be posted at https://www.njeda.gov/njmvp/ at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning and will remain open on until December 22 at 11:59 p.m. Pre-qualification applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, NOT first-come, first-served. Interested manufacturers must pre-qualify to access the full application that will be made available at a later date. Applicants must complete the full application to be considered for grant funding.

The New Jersey MVP will focus on New Jersey manufacturers within targeted industries that will purchase equipment to integrate advanced or innovative technologies, processes, and materials to improve the manufacturing of their products. The MVP will offer grants valued at 30 to 50 percent of the cost of eligible equipment, including installation, up to a maximum award amount of $250,000.

The program will offer stackable bonuses for certified woman-, minority-, or veteran-owned businesses, businesses in Opportunity Zones, and businesses purchasing manufacturing equipment in New Jersey, as well as bonuses for companies that have a collective bargaining agreement in place. It will also provide higher award percentages for small businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

The NJEDA held an information session about the New Jersey MVP, which included details of the application process and a pre-qualification checklist. A link to that recording can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/njmvp/.

Both for-profit and not-for-profit companies are eligible, not including home-based businesses. Only applications for future purchases will be considered. Therefore, interested applicants should not purchase equipment prior to submitting the full application at a future date. Projects where a contract has been signed, a purchase order has been placed, or a deposit has been made in advance of submitting an MVP application will not be considered for funding.

Complete eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.njeda.gov/njmvp.

About the NJEDA

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TRENTON, N.J. (October 26, 2022) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking information and ideas as it considers establishing a pilot program to attract clean energy manufacturers to New Jersey. The program would help New Jersey capitalize on the manufacturing resurgence taking place nationwide. The RFI can be found at https://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#rfi. Responses are due by November 22, 2022.

RFI responses would help to shape the development of a proposed NJEDA grant or forgivable loan program that would offset the costs for New Jersey companies or institutions that procure clean energy technologies from clean energy manufacturers looking to expand or establish a presence in the Garden State. The goal of this program is to build a pipeline of projects for clean energy manufacturers that are competitive for New Jersey customers, while helping early adopters minimize the costs of implementing clean technologies. The program would also aim to create high-quality manufacturing jobs in New Jersey, make the state a hub for clean energy manufacturing and innovation, and build a diverse workforce in the clean energy sector. It would also help meet the state’s climate and clean energy targets laid out in New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan (EMP). The EMP offers a strategic vision for the production, distribution, consumption, and conservation of energy in the State of New Jersey.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the clean energy transformation, particularly when it comes to manufacturing innovative technologies needed to create a green economy,” said Jane Cohen, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. “New Jersey continues to find new and creative ways to support businesses in this vital sector and the feedback we receive from this RFI will help us continue to attract new manufacturers while supporting those already established within the state.”

New Jersey’s manufacturing output grew at a 5.8 percent annualized pace between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2021, which is more than double the national growth rate of 2.6 percent during that period. This program would be one of several in the manufacturing portfolio supported by more than $35 million in New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget designed to spur capital investment, increase the adoption of new technology, attract new suppliers to the state, and expand workforce development opportunities.

“This pilot program would benefit entities that sit at the intersection of clean energy and manufacturing, two vital sectors as we work to achieve Governor Phil Murphy’s goal of establishing New Jersey as a leader in innovation,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Direct input from stakeholders with perspectives on manufacturing innovative clean energy technologies will enable us to continue make strategic investments to address their needs and positions them well for the future.”

The RFI seeks information from individuals and/or entities with perspectives on manufacturing clean energy technologies (supply) and/or accelerating their adoption (demand). Interested stakeholders in clean energy technologies, clean technology manufacturing, and/or businesses interested in, or that might benefit from, the adoption of new clean energy technologies that may still have a higher market cost are encouraged to respond.

Sullivan noted that issuance of the RFI comes just days after Governor Murphy announced the NJEDA’s plans to create a $20 million New Jersey Manufacturing Voucher Program (NJMVP) to bolster New Jersey’s manufacturing sector. That program will focus on New Jersey manufacturers within targeted industries that will purchase equipment to integrate advanced or innovative technologies, processes, and materials to improve the manufacturing of their products. The NJMVP will offer grants valued at 30 to 50 percent of the cost of eligible equipment, including installation, up to a maximum award amount of $250,000.

All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, via email to earlyadopters@njeda.com. The subject line of the email should state “RFI Response-2022-RFI-OET-152 – Clean Energy Manufacturing in New Jersey – Early Adopters Pilot.”

All questions concerning the RFI announced today must be submitted in writing no later than 1:00 p.m. EDT, on Thursday, November 3, 2022, via e-mail to: earlyadopters@njeda.com. The subject line of the e-mail should state: “Questions-2022-RFI-OET-152.” Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the Authority’s website on or about Thursday, November 10, 2022, at http://www.njeda.gov/Bidding-Opportunities-General/Economic-Transformation-RFIs as Addendum. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to check this website regularly for updates.

About the NJEDA

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

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Program Will Offer up to $150,000 in grants to NJ Startups

TRENTON, N.J. (November 23, 2021) – The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) today announced the creation of a $1.5 million Catalyst Seed Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program to help New Jersey-based startups accelerate development of technologies. The funding will help the companies transform new discoveries from the research stage into commercially viable products and services. The application, which opens on December 6, will be available at http://www.njeda.gov/csit.

The Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be open to companies conducting R&D or testing technologies in the following areas that were identified as targeted industries in Governor Phil Murphy’s economic development plan, “The State of Innovation: Building a Stronger and Fairer Economy in New Jersey: Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, Film and Digital Media, Life Sciences (including, but not limited to: therapeutic drug development, diagnostics, and medical devices), Non-Retail Food and Beverage, Finance and Professional Services, and Technology.

“The new Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will vastly expand the scope of projects and companies that CSIT is able to support,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Providing seed capital to businesses in high-wage, high growth sectors is both beneficial to the individual entities and important to the strength of our overall innovation economy.”

The program will offer two grant components:

Grants of up to $150,000 for projects that are developing life sciences therapeutics. It is anticipated that five awards will be made in this area.
Grants of up to $75,000 for other innovation projects – non–life sciences therapeutics drug R&D projects and projects that are not eligible for the Clean Tech Seed Grant. It is anticipated that 10 awards will be made in this area.

Sheft noted that the Catalyst Seed R&D Program is modeled after CSIT’s successful Clean Tech R&D Seed Grant Program, which awarded nearly $750,000 to startups statewide earlier this year. CSIT anticipates opening a second round of its Clean Tech Seed Grant program in early 2022. Therefore, companies that are working on research regarding the avoidance of emissions of, or recapture, greenhouse gases and/or criteria pollutants, or to enable such avoidance or recapture, will not be eligible to participate in the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program.

Applications for the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will open on December 6, 2021. CSIT will host an information webinar on December 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., which will include a walk-through of the application. Anyone interested in attending can visit http://tinyurl.com/NJCSIT to register. A recording of the webinar will also be available on CSIT’s website. Entrepreneurs can also get information about this and other programs designed to help their early-stage companies grow during the NJEDA’s November 30 Innovation Economy Programs webinar. Attendees can register for the event at http://tinyurl.com/NJ-Innovation.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is receiving national and international attention as an excellent place to locate and grow a startup,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “The Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be an important tool for helping us continue to foster an environment where these startups can succeed and thrive.”

Applicants for the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program will be required to demonstrate at least one of the following for their projects in order to be eligible for funding: description of the proof of concept results, published paper outlining results achieved, successful completion of a federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant or contract related to the project, and/or confirmation documentation from a university tech transfer office if the project relates to technology that has been developed at a university. Complete eligibility requirements can be found at http://www.njeda.gov/csit.

In support of CSIT’s mission to foster diversity and inclusion, one grant award will be reserved for an applicant meeting the minimum scoring criteria of 70 points that is women-owned as certified by the State of New Jersey and one grant award will be reserved for an applicant meeting the minimum scoring criteria of 70 points that is minority-owned as certified by the State of New Jersey. If there are no applicants that meet these criteria the funds may be allocated to other applicants.

In their roles on the CSIT Board, New Jersey State Senator Robert Singer and Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker have been vocal champions of creating resources such as the Catalyst Seed R&D Program to support New Jersey startups.

“Access to seed capital is among the most vital tools for very young companies that are often too early-stage to attract outside capital,” Senator Singer said. “Giving them that access now will pay dividends for our innovation ecosystem in the future.”

“New Jersey startups already have a tremendous number of assets available to them – including proximity to world-class universities, a top-notch talent pool, and a supportive innovation ecosystem,” Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker said. “Adding the Catalyst Seed R&D Grant Program to the suite of resources that CSIT offers startup companies will further Governor Murphy’s goal vision of making New Jersey the nation’s premier hub for innovative, science-and-technology focused entrepreneurism.”

About CSIT

In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the state as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.

To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, visit https://www.njeda.gov/csit or follow @NewJerseyEDA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Innovation-Challenge-(2).jpg
Dominic Villecco, President of V-COMM and Vice President of the NJ Wireless Association, discusses expanding 5G wireless technologies in Paterson and Passaic.

TRENTON, N.J. (August 26, 2019) – Project teams from nine New Jersey municipalities and counties convened today in Trenton to present their plans for building or augmenting their local innovation ecosystems. New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) solicited these plans through a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) under the Innovation Challenge, a new initiative announced by Governor Phil Murphy in July 2018, as part of his vision for restoring New Jersey’s preeminence in innovation. These nine municipalities and counties were awarded contracts for $100,000 each in November 2018.

Governor Murphy created the Innovation Challenge as a call for municipalities and counties to partner with higher-education institutions and other strategic partners to consider groundbreaking approaches to building public-private and community partnerships, nurturing entrepreneurship, and upgrading infrastructure. The nine communities selected under the RFP were: Atlantic City, Atlantic County, Bridgeton, Camden County, Monmouth County, New Brunswick, Passaic County, Trenton, and Union Township.

"We launched the Innovation Challenge to encourage local communities to advance their own plans to further Governor Murphy’s vision to make New Jersey the State of Innovation, and it was exciting to see so much energy and enthusiasm for recapturing our historic leadership position,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan.

Participating project teams presented their progress today to an audience of state economic development leaders, including representatives of the Murphy Administration, and community leaders from relevant areas.
The plans focused on a wide variety of ideas designed to cultivate innovation and drive economic activity in New Jersey communities. They included:

The City of Atlantic City, Stockton University, and other partners’ plan for the Coastal Resiliency Institute, an educational, research, and incubator facility focused on the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs;
Atlantic County, the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, Atlantic Cape Community College, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s marketing feasibility assessment for an Aviation Maintenance and Technical Academy;
The City of Bridgeton, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, Rutgers Food Innovation Center, and the Cumberland Workforce Development Board’s plan to create a Smart Food Manufacturing Center within the expanded Food Specialization Center in Bridgeton, which has already received offers of in-kind assistance, consulting, and equipment from a leader in advanced manufacturing technology;
Camden County, Coopers Ferry Partnership, and Rowan University’s assessment around Smart City infrastructure needs for downtown Camden focused on integrating adaptive traffic signal technology and development of a central Transportation System Management and Operations Center;
Monmouth County, Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority, and New Jersey Institute of Technology’s vision for a 50-acre technology campus at Ft Monmouth that will attract high- growth private and public organizations and build an entrepreneurial environment in Monmouth County;
A joint venture between the City of New Brunswick, Rutgers University, and New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) to create an integrated system for autonomous vehicle testing in a real-world urban cityscape;
The County of Passaic and Cities of Passaic and Paterson’s partnership with the William Paterson University-Small Business Development Center, Passaic County Community College, PSE&G, and St. Joseph's Hospital to document options available for expanding 5G wireless technologies in Paterson and Passaic;
The City of Trenton and Greater Trenton’s engagement with five Mercer County higher education institutions and Trenton Public Schools to plan for a collaborative innovation and entrepreneurial center. This includes an analysis that studies the entrepreneurial ecosystem and development needs for Trenton-area entrepreneurs, businesses, universities and residents. Resulting in recommended programs and sites for the Innovation Center within Trenton.
Union Township and Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE) at Kean University’s work with Union County and the Union County Economic Development Corporation to address a variety of issues associated with financing, expanding, and operating an innovation center that will catalyze the establishment and growth of life science start-up companies, creating a density of early-stage companies to promote entrepreneurial dynamism and economic activity.

The plans presented today will be made available to the public in the coming weeks so that other localities may learn from the experience of the Innovation Challenge project teams. A second round of Innovation Challenge projects was approved in March 2019. Included in this round are: Cape May County, Hoboken, Newark, Paterson, and Plainfield.

About Us
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 EDA resources for businesses call EDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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The Naval Air Systems Command, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst was among the advanced manufacturing facilities that OCVTS students visited during their field trip.

JACKSON, N.J. (June 10, 2019) – More than a dozen high school students today learned first-hand about career opportunities in New Jersey’s advanced manufacturing industry during the first in a series of free field trips to Ocean County manufacturing facilities organized by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS). The program is designed to increase awareness and interest in a growing sector contending with a lack of young, qualified workers while educating New Jersey students about the various career paths available in advanced manufacturing.

OCVTS Precision Machine Technology Instructor Doug Cooley demonstrates machinery to students at OCVTS’ new Precision Machine Technology room at the OCVTS Jackson Center.

“Manufacturing is a growing industry here in New Jersey that provides good-paying, stable jobs and it is important that young people understand the opportunities available to them,” said OCVTS Superintendent Karen Homiek. “Providing this hands-on learning opportunity is an important way to show students the career options available right here in our community and provide the workforce New Jersey’s manufacturing sector needs to grow.”

Jesel is a Lakewood-based manufacturer of Valvetrain and

other engine parts for racecars and other specialty cars.

The field trip program is part of the NJEDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Student Outreach Pilot, a series of initiatives developed to improve perceptions of and address misconceptions about the advanced manufacturing industry while exposing students to the many career pathways available in the sector. The free trips teach middle and high school students about career opportunities in advanced manufacturing and the skills required to succeed in the sector. Through the program, students from varied socio-economic backgrounds have the opportunity to attend the field trips, especially students from Ocean County municipalities that are designated as Opportunity Zones under the federal Opportunity Zone program.

The students who attended the June 7 trip visited three Ocean County-based advanced manufacturing facilities: NAVAIR, which produces and maintains aircraft, weapons, and other systems used by America’s Navy and the Marines; Jesel, a leading producer of valvetrain products used in NASCAR racers and other vehicles; and UNEX, a manufacturer of conveyer belts and tracks for production facilities. At each stop, students had the opportunity to see high-tech manufacturing equipment in action, learn about the variety of opportunities available in the sector, and talk with employees about their experiences working in advanced manufacturing.

“Governor Murphy’s comprehensive plan for building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy places special emphasis on high-wage, high-growth sectors like advanced manufacturing,”” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The field trip program provides students with information to consider advanced manufacturing as a viable path to a successful career, while helping to build interest among a potential workforce that could serve as the foundation the industry’s continued growth.”

For more information on career training opportunities at Ocean County Vocational Technical School please visit www.ocvts.org or call 732-473-3122.

To read Governor Murphy’s full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 EDA resources for businesses call EDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan and Superintendent of OCVTS Karen Homiek sign an MOU to create a partnership that will provide free field trips to advanced manufacturing facilities for middle and high school students.

Jackson, N.J. (May 24, 2019) – Elected officials, industry leaders, and students gathered last evening at Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) to celebrate a partnership between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and OCVTS which will provide free field trips to advanced manufacturing facilities for middle and high school students. The program is designed to educate students about job opportunities in advanced manufacturing while informing them of the skills necessary to pursue a career in the sector.

“Manufacturing is a growing industry here in New Jersey that provides good-paying, stable jobs and it is important that young people understand the opportunities available to them,” said OCVTS Superintendent Karen Homiek. “Partnering with the NJEDA to provide free field trips where students will get the chance to see manufacturing first-hand and talk to current workers face-to-face will show students the range of opportunities available and encourage them to consider a career in manufacturing.”

New Jersey’s manufacturing industry produces more than $31 billion in economic output every year and employs more than 160,000 New Jersey workers. The industry is also one of eight focus sectors identified in Governor Phil Murphy’s economic plan. However, it has faced increasing barriers to growth as an aging workforce and a shortage of young workers shrinks the number of qualified employees available to manufacturing companies.

“It’s especially forward-thinking to include middle grade students in this pilot,” said Linda P. Eno, Ed.D., Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Academics and Performance. “Using field trips to expose middle school students to career pathways in manufacturing helps them develop an understanding of how academics and work fit together and allows them to envision a future in which they both learn and earn.”

The field trip program is part of the NJEDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Student Outreach Pilot, a series of initiatives developed in coordination with stakeholder input to improve perceptions of the advanced manufacturing industry and expose students to the many career pathways available in the sector. The field trips will provide free opportunities for first-and second-year high school students to tour advanced manufacturing facilities in Ocean County and learn about each facility’s operations. The program prioritizes ensuring students from varied socio-economic backgrounds attend the field trips, especially students from Ocean County’s three opportunity zone municipalities.

“The advanced manufacturing industry provides a wide range of good jobs with long-term career prospects, but in recent years we have had trouble attracting students and young workers,” said Patricia Cubero, General Manager of Aquatherm Industries. “Providing this hands-on learning opportunity is an important way to show students the career options available to them right here in our community and provide the workforce New Jersey’s manufacturing sector needs to grow.”

Under the partnership, the NJEDA will commit funding to cover the costs of the field trips, and OCVTS will organize and conduct the trips. The first trip is scheduled for Friday, June 7 and will consist of visits to three participating manufacturing firms in Jackson, New Jersey. Additional field trips aimed at various age groups are also tentatively planned for Fall 2019.

“One of the pillars of Governor Murphy’s plan for building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy is investing in people. Preparing our students with the skills and experience they need to take on jobs in high-wage, high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing is critical,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The field trip program will show students the wide variety of career paths available in this dynamic sector and will help New Jersey’s manufacturers continue to grow.”

For more information on career training opportunities at Ocean County Vocational Technical School please visit www.ocvts.org or call 732-473-3122.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
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 EDA resources for businesses call EDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) today announced a pilot program to expand a Manufacturing Resource Guide. The initiative builds upon NJMEP’s current Educational Resource Directory and will provide additional resources and information to manufacturing companies’ growth.

“Manufacturing is a high-wage, high-value industry that has the potential to drive long-term, sustainable growth in communities around New Jersey. Unfortunately, growth in this industry has slowed in recent years because companies, parents, and students do not know about programs that are available to help them overcome challenges,” said John W. Kennedy, President of NJMEP. “Our collaboration with the NJEDA will help to broaden our Educational Resource Directory into a full Manufacturing Resource Guide and make it easier to access and search so that companies, parents, and students can take advantage of the full range of resources available in New Jersey to help them grow.”

New Jersey’s manufacturing industry produces more than $31 billion in economic output every year and employs more than 160,000 New Jersey workers. The industry is one of eight focus sectors identified in Governor Phil Murphy’s economic plan. However, it has faced increasing barriers to growth as an aging workforce and a shortage of young workers shrinks the number of qualified employees available to manufacturing companies and a growing skills gap slows productivity in the modern, technologically-demanding field.

Solutions to many of these problems are available. Not only do many New Jersey community colleges and vocational-technical schools offer upskilling opportunities for manufacturing workers, but the NJMEP also offers training courses and apprenticeship programs for employees, and government agencies, such as the Department of Labor, NJEDA, and the Business Action Center, offer workforce development and financing services.

Despite targeting the specific challenges manufacturing companies face, many of these resources are underutilized because the businesses they are intended to help do not know the programs exist or how to take advantage of them. To address this challenge, the NJMEP developed the Educational Resource Directory, a centralized source of information on programs for manufacturing companies that includes information about NJMEP programs, contacts for community college and vocational-technical schools, and points of contact for State initiatives to boost the industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding approved today authorizes a pilot program between the NJEDA and NJMEP to add further informational depth to the Educational Resource Directory and make the document easier to access. According to the agreement, the organizations will also work together to disseminate the expanded Resource Guide through a coordinated social media campaign. During the pilot period, the NJEDA and NJMEP will solicit stakeholder feedback through a roundtable discussion and survey of users who downloaded the guide.

“Building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy includes providing smart, targeted support for industries like advanced manufacturing,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “New Jersey already has dozens of programs and initiatives aimed at helping businesses in this industry succeed, but programs cannot be effective if businesses do not know how to access them. The NJEDA’s collaboration with NJMEP will go a long way toward ensuring New Jersey’s business leaders understand the full range of resources available to them as they continue to grow and create new jobs for New Jerseyans.”

NJMEP’s current Educational Resource Directory can be found at: https://www.njmep.org/educational-resource-directory/

To read Governor Murphy's full economic plan, please visit: https://nj.gov/economicplan

About the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program

NJMEP is a private, not–for-profit organization that improves the profitability and competitiveness of New Jersey’s manufacturers. Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NJMEP enables organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. For more than 20 years, NJMEP has used its extensive network of connections and proven track record of success to help manufacturers adapt to the latest innovative technologies and best practices to realize more than $3.4 billion in value.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority