Collaborative
(A-TAC)

Registered apprenticeship is an earn-and-learn strategy that combines classroom and on-the-job training. Traditionally used in the trades including utilities and construction, New Jersey is working to expand apprenticeships to nontraditional occupations such as health care, transportation, life sciences, and other industries. NJ is also working to ensure expanded access to apprenticeships for women and people of color, who have historically been overlooked.

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Overview

In spring 2023, the Council (NJCCC), with support from the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) launched an initiative to develop and administer the NJ Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Collaborative (A-TAC). A-TAC is a statewide initiative that supports technical assistance for the growth and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs while promoting best in class diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. This effort is supported by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Jobs for the Future (JFF), nationally recognized experts in Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

Join NJ A-TAC in expanding NJ’s apprenticeship system to support quality jobs for our workforce.

A-TAC Community of Practice

A-TAC Community of Practice

The A-TAC Community of Practice (CoP), led by JFF, is a year-long learning network for participating organizations (called Focus Sites) designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to effectively establish, expand, and promote Registered Apprenticeship throughout NJ. As part of the CoP, monthly learning events with apprenticeship practitioners and peer organizations are offered, covering topics such as program development and operation, employer and other stakeholder engagement, funding, policy, sustainability, and designing programs with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront. Also, Focus Sites engage in one-on-one, customized coaching with apprenticeship subject matter experts to support and advance the use of Registered Apprenticeship at their organizations and in their local communities.

CoP Focus Sites

The current group of Focus Sites includes NJ Community Colleges and local workforce development boards, positioned at the center of and poised to lead the growth of Registered Apprenticeship throughout the state:

Hudson County Community College
County College of Morris
Mercer County Community College
Ocean County College
Union College of Union County, NJ
Raritan Valley Community College
Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board
South Jersey Workforce Collaborative (local workforce development boards and community colleges of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington Counties)

If you would like to learn more about the CoP, please contact Mark Genua, Director, at JFF at mgenua@jff.org.

How It Works:

Combining Classroom and On-the-Job Training

Through A-TAC, the Council and its Workforce Consortium will partner with Community Colleges, vocational and technical schools, workforce development boards, One Stop Career Centers, community partners, unions, and the business community, tailoring resources to meet the need of different registered apprenticeship stakeholders. A-TAC will also support efforts to help connect registered apprenticeships to degrees.

Leverage and Learn with A-TAC

The goal of A-TAC is to provide technical assistance that supports the growth and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in NJ and promotes best-in-class diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. A-TAC will provide access to webinars, toolkits, and other resources and coaching for NJ’s apprenticeship stakeholders.

A-TAC seeks to align efforts across the state to expand and diversify Registered Apprenticeship, through convenings, accessible training for new staff, and a growing Community of Practice. Explore our pages to learn more.

A-TAC’s Strategy is Driven by
Six Key Words:

Inspire – Highlight promising practices and success stories from existing funded Registered Apprenticeship programs and partnerships.
Simplify – Use technical assistance to provide essential knowledge of the components of Registered Apprenticeships and, through information, clarify the process needed to establish them.
Align – Connect Registered Apprenticeships to key statewide employment strategies across our partners to ensure they are sustainable.

Diversify – Promote promising diversity, equity, and inclusion practices while expanding Registered Apprenticeships in NJ.
Resource – Explore how various funding streams can be aligned to support Registered Apprenticeships for employers, trainers, and job seekers.
Impact – Provide insights into the economic impact and return on investment of Registered Apprenticeship for employees and businesses.