Hudson County Community College Receives $1.75 Million Training Grant from United States Department of Labor
April 24, 2024
HCCC hosted Congressman Rob Menendez and County Executive Craig Guy at a press conference to discuss how the funding will strengthen the local workforce and help students obtain family-sustaining jobs.
April 24, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has named Hudson County Community
College (HCCC) the recipient of a $1.75 million Strengthening Community Colleges Training
Grant (SCCTG). The funding will expand the College’s Gateway to Innovation program’s
capacity to provide training that addresses the skill needs of employers in the Hudson
County Financial Services and Technology sectors. The grant will serve 375 individuals
over a four-year period. HCCC is the only New Jersey recipient of the funding in Round
4 of this grant.
“Training programs should not end in a job search, they should end in a job,” said
Acting United States Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The Biden-Harris administration
is investing in training programs that are demand-driven; Strengthening Community
Colleges will help connect people to good jobs and employers to the people they need.”
Those present at the news conference announcing Hudson County Community College’s receipt of the United States Department of Labor $1.75 million Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant included (from left): HCCC Vice President for External Affairs and Senior Counsel to the President, Dr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti; Hudson County Board of Commissioners Chair Anthony L. Romano; HCCC President Dr. Christopher M. Reber; New Jersey Assemblyman William B. Sampson IV; United States Representative Rob Menendez; Hudson County Executive Craig Guy; and HCCC Trustee Jeanette Peña.
HCCC President Christopher Reber reported that the College’s Gateway to Innovation program was awarded this grant funding because of successful outcomes and productive, mutually beneficial partnerships. “We have built alliances with our elected officials, local employers, labor unions, local and state workforce development organizations, public agencies, community organizations, students and alumni, and other higher education institutions,” he said. “We are especially grateful to Congressman Rob Menendez and Senator Cory Booker for their role in securing this funding for the College that will promote the economic growth of our community.”
“This grant is an investment in Hudson County’s next generation,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “I am proud to see that Hudson County Community College students will receive the tools and support they need to succeed in these rapidly evolving industries.”
“I’m proud to have worked with the U.S. Department of Labor and Congressman Menendez to secure this investment in Hudson County Community College students. Hudson County’s and the college’s leaders have consistently demonstrated their commitment to empowering our next generation with the skills they need to thrive in the careers of tomorrow. This grant will boost their efforts by connecting more students with meaningful career paths,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker.
“I’m proud of Congressman Rob Menendez and Senator Cory Booker for securing $1.75 million to help Hudson County Community College train our future financial services and technology workers,” said Hudson County Executive Guy. “Hudson County is home to more of New Jersey’s financial services than any other county and our technology industry continues to thrive. The grant will allow the college to expand access to job training and skill development for these growing industries. This award is yet another example of the great work Congressman Rob Menendez and Senator Cory Booker are doing for Hudson County.”
HCCC initiated the groundbreaking Gateway to Innovation program in 2021 with an $850,000 investment from JPMorgan Chase. The program is devoted to building college capacity to implement sector-based career pathway strategies, advance equity, and support sustainable systems changes to ensure that students have equitable access to jobs paying family-sustaining wages supported with career development opportunities. In 2022, Gateway to Innovation was a Top Ten finalist in the Workforce Development category of the 2023 prestigious national Bellwether College Consortium awards. The program was also named a 2022-23 Innovation of the Year by the national League for Innovation in the Community College.
HCCC Employer Advisory Board members review curricula; provide industry knowledge, expertise, and guidance to prepare students for employment; lead and participate in student events; furnish experiential learning opportunities; contribute to scholarships; and interview and hire students.
With this funding, HCCC will address key equity gaps for low-income women and men in Hudson County’s Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx communities. Industry-recognized credentials awarded to students who successfully complete the training programs include Intuit Bookkeeping Professional Certification, Salesforce Sales Representative Professional Certification, Google IT Help Desk Professional Certification, Google Data Analyst Professional Certification, and a planned expansion to include CompTIA IT Fundamentals, Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional Exam, Salesforce Administrator Certification Exam, CompTIA A+ Helpdesk, CompTIA Networking, and CompTIA Cybersecurity.
Lori Margolin, HCCC Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, said this grant would build upon the ability of the Gateway to Innovation program to train hundreds of students for high-demand occupations. “By integrating stackable credentials, experiential learning, committed employer partnerships, and a program design driven by diversity, equity and inclusion, we deliver relevant, hands-on training.”
“We are very proud to have earned this award. The outcomes will be truly life changing for hundreds of our neighbors in Hudson County,” Dr. Reber said.