New Jersey
Office of the Governor | First Lady Tammy Murphy Announces Recipients of Green Jobs Council NJ BRIDGE Initiative Grant Award
$5 Million Distributed to Recipients Throughout a Number of Inexperienced Financial Sectors Working to Advance Various and Inclusive Inexperienced Economic system Workforce
NEWARK – First Woman Tammy Murphy, joined by the Government Director of the Council on the Inexperienced Economic system, Jane Cohen, at present hosted a roundtable to announce the recipients of the Inexperienced Jobs Council’s $5 million NJ Constructing our Resilient, Inclusive, and Various Inexperienced Economic system (BRIDGE) Initiative grant award. Along with the First Woman and Government Director Cohen, panelists included representatives from every grant award recipient group, which signify quite a lot of inexperienced financial sectors. Every group is working to advance the Council on the Inexperienced Economic system’s mission of constructing a various, inclusive workforce to assist the Administration’s clear power targets.
To deal with suggestions within the 2022 Inexperienced Jobs for a Sustainable Future report, the Governor’s Workplace of Local weather Motion and the Inexperienced Economic system (OCAGE), in collaboration with the New Jersey Division of Environmental Protections (DEP), introduced the NJ BRIDGE Initiative’s $5 million funding alternative to go in the direction of organizations with modern approaches to constructing and supporting a various, inclusive inexperienced workforce for all New Jerseyans.
“I’m thrilled to acknowledge the recipients of the Inexperienced Jobs Council’s NJ BRIDGE Initiative grant award whose contributions catalyze and assist profitable fashions to develop our inexperienced economic system alternatives for the numerous distinctive communities in our state,” mentioned First Woman Tammy Murphy, who additionally serves as Honorary Chair to the Council on the Inexperienced Economic system. “The specter of the local weather disaster is critical and there’s no doubt now we have already begun to really feel its results, however we’re on our method to making vital modifications that can assist us mitigate its worst results all whereas rising our economic system, creating jobs, and serving to us attain our social justice targets.”
“These organizations exemplify the essential position that job coaching performs in advancing the Council on the Inexperienced Economic system’s targets. Supporting organizations that prioritize variety and inclusion within the inexperienced economic system workforce not solely promotes social justice in communities throughout our state, but in addition brings recent views and innovation to deal with the difficulty of local weather change,” mentioned Jane Cohen, Government Director, Council on the Inexperienced Economic system. “By prioritizing alternatives for underserved communities to develop the talents wanted for inexperienced economic system jobs, we are able to construct a extra equitable and sustainable future for all.”
The recipients of the NJ BRIDGE Initiative grant award embrace:
Associate | Description | Award |
---|---|---|
Photo voltaic Panorama | To construct Photo voltaic Coaching & Schooling Partnership for Underserved Populations (STEP-UP), an current program that creates entry to job coaching and job placement alternatives for members of overburdened communities. | $550,000 |
Isles | To create a Inexperienced Jobs Studying Heart with a life-sized coaching and testing surroundings for constructing decarbonization coaching. | $2,000,000 |
Clinton Hill Group Motion | To accomplice with the South Ward Environmental Alliance to create a various job-training and placement pipeline of employees for the state’s rising inexperienced economic system. | $1,333,488 |
The Japanese Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Faculty | To scale the Carpenter Apprentice Readiness Program (CARP) to organize a big expertise pool of numerous employees for offshore wind jobs. | $1,016,512 |
Rowan Pathways to Inexperienced Jobs | To create certification programs and diploma packages in wind turbine applied sciences. | $100,000 |
Complete |
|
$5,000,000 |
“New Jersey has grow to be a pacesetter within the inexperienced economic system throughout the Murphy Administration, and the inspiration of our continued success is the energy, capability and variety of our workforce,” mentioned Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the New Jersey Division of Labor and Workforce Growth. “With rising alternatives on this sector, we need to guarantee each New Jerseyan has entry to those high-quality, household sustaining inexperienced jobs.”
“The Inexperienced Council and First Woman Tammy Murphy are doing necessary work in advancing inexperienced communities and a inexperienced economic system,” mentioned Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President, NJ Board of Public Utilities. “The $5 million in BRIDGE grant awards are laying a robust basis for organizations and communities to develop workforce packages which can be numerous, inclusive and doing the better good for communities the place they’re situated. The grant will even present for job coaching, creating pathways to careers in New Jersey’s inexperienced economic system.”
“Inexperienced power corporations are creating many dynamic, family-sustaining profession alternatives, and the BRIDGE initiative is advancing initiatives that assist the equitable and inclusive clear power workforce envisioned by Governor and First Woman Murphy and the Council on the Inexperienced Economic system,” mentioned NJEDA Chief Government Officer Tim Sullivan. “The award recipients showcased throughout at present’s roundtable embody the Murphy Administration’s purpose to profit from the potential that prime development sectors like clear power current to construct a various workforce ready to satisfy trade demand. As importantly, they’re ensuring that New Jerseyans from all backgrounds have entry to the coaching wanted to efficiently and safely carry out the roles of the long run.”
“This grant will enable the South Ward Environmental Alliance and Clinton Hill Group Motion to introduce and develop inexperienced job alternatives for South Ward residents because of the collaboration with our companions and set a normal for implementing inexperienced infrastructure initiatives, prepare residents to grow to be photo voltaic installers and interact native companies to assist them see the return on funding for going inexperienced, in Newark and throughout the State of New Jersey,” mentioned Kim Gaddy, Founder and Director, South Ward Environmental Alliance; Board of Administrators, Clinton Hill Group Motion.
“We stay up for utilizing this BRIDGE grant award to introduce much more New Jersey residents to profession paths in photo voltaic set up by our STEP-UP program,” mentioned Kate Gold, Director of Group Engagement for Photo voltaic Panorama. “New Jersey continues to cleared the path in making our clear power workforce stronger and extra equitable. Along with our coaching companions, GAF, Edison Job Corps and Trinity Photo voltaic, we’re serving to make sure that our clear power transition creates a various and inclusive workforce that places residents on monitor towards rewarding, family-sustaining jobs right here in New Jersey.”
“Rowan Faculty of South Jersey is worked up to obtain the funding from this grant to assist coaching and growth for people curious about pursuing careers within the inexperienced power sector. Funding from this chance will enable the school to recruit, put together and prepare people from numerous backgrounds for the rising inexperienced power jobs within the wind and water industries. This funding will assist relieve monetary burdens for people in coaching and can enable for paid coaching alternatives in inexperienced power all through the area,” mentioned Dr. Brenden Rickards, Rowan Faculty of South Jersey.
“The Japanese Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is proud to have earned the Inexperienced Jobs For Sustainable Future: Bridge Grant award,” mentioned Rob Smith Government Coaching Director, Japanese Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Faculty. “The offshore wind trade is a job creator that can want expert, skilled, and protected building employees, {that a} union apprenticeship program can present higher than anybody else. This grant will help in our joint effort of exposing a brand new technology of building employees to the complexity of abilities wanted to achieve success within the offshore and inexperienced jobs workforce. The Japanese Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Faculty has already invested within the assets obligatory for this coaching by our just lately expanded Infrastructure, Piledriving, and Offshore Wind Coaching Facility in Hammonton and our new Business Dive College in Sicklerville. This grant will assist us proceed to steer in coaching for the long run jobs of New Jersey.”
“At Isles, we meet folks the place they’re to evaluate not solely what technical abilities they want, but in addition what life abilities and private helps they should be profitable,” mentioned Andre Thomas, Isles’ Coaching Supervisor. “From transportation help, to monetary counseling that helps clear up money owed and set finances targets for issues like homeownership, the grant Isles receives at present from Governor Murphy will assist us accomplish all these targets.”

New Jersey
16 New Jersey towns make Top 100 list of best places to raise a family

Sixteen New Jersey towns have made a Top 100 list of the best places in the United States to raise a family.
The list was compiled by Niche.com, a ranking and review site.
Haworth and Mountain Lakes were in the Top 10 – at No. 5 and No. 7, respectively.
The rest of the list includes:
- Ho-Ho-Kus at No. 19
- Harrington Park at No. 31
- Chatham at No. 35
- Ridgewood at No. 41
- Princeton at No. 43
- Closter at No. 50
- Princeton Junction at No. 55
- River Edge at No. 62
- Short Hills at No. 79
- Haddonfield at No. 80
- Upper Saddle River at No. 83
- Summit at No. 88
- Bernardsville at No. 92
- Livingston at No. 98
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania – a suburb of Philadelphia – was ranked No. 1.
Niche says that the list was created by ranking several factors, including the quality of schools, safety, affordability and access to family amenities.
New Jersey
Lottery Now Open for Affordable Housing Units in Ocean County, New Jersey | Jersey Digs

70 premium, income-restricted apartment units in Lacey Township are available through an affordable housing lottery. Lacey III, the final phase of the Cornerstone at Lacey development, began construction last fall.
The community is slated for a June 2025 opening. Barnegat-based developer Walters is conducting the housing lottery, with applications accepted through Wednesday, April 30. The drawing is scheduled for May 7.
“We’re proud to create affordable housing that supports residents across different income levels while enriching the entire community,” said Joe Del Duca, Partner and Director of Affordable Housing for Walters. “The first two phases have been well received and are now fully occupied.”

When phase three construction is finished, Cornerstone at Lacey will comprise 188 affordable housing units in 23 buildings. Phases one and two offer one- to three-bedroom apartments. Phase three will be a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Residents will enjoy a fitness center, a community clubhouse with computer workstations, children’s play space, barbecue and picnic area, and half-court basketball. The entire development has been built to meet LEED® requirements and ENERGY STAR® certification.
Cornerstone at Lacey is located at 900 Gary Smith Way near the Garden State Parkway, Lacey Township schools, shopping, restaurants, medical facilities and the waterfront on Barnegat Bay.
Rental rates for Lacey III are income-restricted and available to those earning 60% or less of the area’s median income. For information on income requirements and lottery application please visit Walters’ website.
New Jersey
Opinion: The NJGOP’s Identity Crisis – New Jersey Globe

OPINION
The New Jersey Republican Party has a critical choice to make this election season and beyond. Unlike state Republican parties in places like Florida, Texas, and Ohio, the NJGOP has for decades been out of touch with the national GOP. Rather than championing the conservative causes that have propelled the RNC to decisive victories nationwide, New Jersey Republicans often act like a moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Instead of providing a clear alternative to the state’s two and a half million Democratic voters, the NJGOP too often plays along, prioritizing compromise over opposition and pandering over principle.
This accommodationist approach has resulted in a weak, ineffective party that consistently loses statewide elections and struggles to maintain governing relevance. The fact is, the NJGOP so-called “Republicans in Name Only” and “Never Trumpers” wing constantly resist the conservative, America First movement that has reshaped the GOP nationally. These NJGOP establishment leaders cling to outdated political strategies, failing to energize the Trump Republican base or attract any new voters or donors. If the NJGOP wants to be competitive, it needs to embrace the policies and priorities of the national Republican Party starting with new leadership.
A State Party Out of Step with the National Party
The Republican Party at the national level has been dramatically transformed by President Trump in recent years, adopting a strong populist, pro-America, and anti-establishment stance. President Trump’s presidency fundamentally shifted the GOP toward a working-class, America First platform that focuses on economic nationalism, law and order, border security, and standing up to the woke ideology that has turned off and away so many democrats across all demographics. This is the formula that has led Republicans to success in red and swing states alike.
Yet, in New Jersey, the state GOP often seems indifferent, even hostile to this transformation. Many NJGOP leaders’ distance themselves from President Trump and his movement, preferring the old model of backroom deals and bipartisan cooperation with Democrats. While compromise might sound appealing in some cases, in practice, it has led to a watered-down Republican Party that fails to offer a meaningful alternative to disgruntled Democratic voters and drained the party from any new ideas, donors or newcomers. That’s why we are the only state in the unions where unaffiliated voters are such a significant block and often decide the outcome of statewide elections.
For example, on key issues like taxes, school choice, parental rights, and Second Amendment protections, the NJGOP has been hesitant to take strong, decisive stands. Instead of aggressively pushing back against the radical policies of Governor Phil Murphy and the state Democrats, New Jersey Republicans often play defense or settle for minor concessions. This approach does nothing to inspire voters or grow the party.
The RINO Problem in the NJGOP
One of the biggest obstacles to a strong, competitive NJGOP is the dominance of the so-called Republicans In Name Only. These politicians and party officials talk about being conservative during election season but govern and legislate more like moderate Democrats. They shy away from taking bold positions, fearing backlash from the liberal media and the state’s overwhelmingly Democratic and independent voter base.
This problem is compounded by the influence of Never Trumpers, who refuse to accept the reality that Trump’s America First movement is now the backbone of the Republican Party. These figures undermine the party from within, refusing to support conservative candidates and often siding with Democrats on key issues. Their presence weakens the NJGOP’s ability to present itself as a real alternative to Democratic leadership.
The Path Forward: New Leadership, New Priorities
If the NJGOP wants to be relevant and competitive, it needs a complete overhaul. The party must embrace the policies and energy of the national GOP, rather than trying to play nice with New Jersey Democrats. This starts with a complete party leadership change at all levels. The NJGOP needs bold, unapologetic conservatives who will stand up for the values that resonate with the Republican base and align with the National Party:
- Border security and law enforcement support: Standing up for law and order against criminals and for citizens against illegal aliens.
- Election integrity: Fighting for fair and transparent elections, same day elections, paper ballots, voter ids.
- Parental rights in education: Opposing radical leftist indoctrination in schools.
- Strong economic policies: Cutting income corporate and property taxes and complete de-regulation to make New Jersey more business friendly.
- Protecting constitutional rights: Defending the Second Amendment and individual freedoms.
New Jersey Republicans must stop trying to appease the state’s Democratic establishment and instead focus on expanding the party’s voter base. This means aggressively targeting disaffected Democrats and independents who are frustrated with Murphy’s radical policies and the national democratic woke platform, standing firm on conservative principles, and supporting candidates who align with the national Republican Party.
The NJGOP cannot align with the National Republican movement overnight. It will take a deliberate slow and steady change to get there. But if it wants to win this next election cycle and beyond, it must stop being the party of surrender and start being the party of real opposition. A new direction is desperately needed one that brings the NJGOP in line with the national GOP and puts New Jersey Republicans back on a path that will undoubtedly lead to more frequent victories.
George Nader, an engineer from Morris Township, is active in New Jersey Republican politics.
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