HCCC’s Gateway to Innovation Program Awarded $25,000 Grant from Citizens Philanthropic Foundation
December 19, 2023
HCCC Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development Lori Margolin
The award-winning Gateway to Innovation program has helped place thousands of Hudson
County residents on the path to a better future.
December 19, 2023, Jersey City, NJ – HCCC’s award-winning Gateway to Innovation program is the proud recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation.
Citizens Philanthropic Foundation believes that investing in the communities where its employees live and work enriches us all. Focused on financial empowerment and workforce development, its Citizens Helping Citizens initiative aims to provide the tools and support to drive the economic vitality of the streets, neighborhoods, and towns that it serves.
This focus on workforce development and financial empowerment made HCCC’s Gateway to Innovation program a natural fit for this grant. Initially created to address the unprecedented systemic challenges facing Hudson County’s workforce because of the pandemic, Gateway to Innovation seeks to provide students, alumni, community members, and employers with essential support, skills training, experiential learning, and connection to employment.
Gateway to Innovation won the 2022-23 Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College. Gateway to Innovation provides students with a comprehensive suite of services, including financial counseling and benefits screening for WIC, SNAP, and daycare; career development services for alumni; no-cost, short term credential training for Hudson County residents; and employer engagement in recession-resistant sectors like healthcare, IT, and finance.
On winning the grant, HCCC Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development Lori Margolin stated, “The grant from the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation will allow the Gateway to Innovation program to continue providing life-changing training opportunities in financial services and technology for members of our community. Students who complete the training obtain an industry-recognized credential and employment assistance. The result is improved economic mobility for students and their families."
HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber echoed this sentiment, stating, “With the support of the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, we look forward to expanding the reach and impact of Gateway to Innovation, empowering more community members with the skills and knowledge they need for a brighter future.
The groundbreaking program has already helped more than 2,600 students and community members embark on pathways to a better future. Thanks to this generous grant, Gateway to Innovation will continue making an impact going forward.