Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) Round 1

The Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) Round 1 is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This 18-month program is designed to prepare participants for success in Registered Apprenticeship programs and long-term career opportunities through high-quality hands-on instruction, work-based learning, and career navigation services. Grantees are required to establish partnerships with employers and the One-Stop system to create viable hiring pipelines. A key performance metric is the achievement of Quality Placements, with a requirement that at least 25 percent of program graduates be placed into a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program with a starting wage of at least 17.00 dollars per hour. The grant operates on a cost-reimbursement basis, with a maximum allowable cost of 12,000 dollars per apprentice and an administrative cost cap of 10 percent of the total award. Applications must be submitted through the IGX system by 12 noon on October 30, 2026. Required documentation includes an executive summary, program narrative, implementation plan, and a tax clearance certificate. Awardees must ensure the first cohort begins within four months of the grant announcement and are required to maintain participant files for seven years. Final reimbursement is contingent upon the submission and acceptance of a final closeout report due within 60 days of the grant period's end.