The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) is connecting young adults looking to enter the world of work with companies in need of part-time remote workers, and the GRWDB is paying the salaries. The organization, which supports employers and workers in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, has identified 30 talented young people available for part-time remote paid internships from late July through October 31, 2020, for local businesses.

The GRWDB received $105,600 in state grant funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program, which includes stipends for 40 youth from the two counties to work over the course of an eight-week period between the end of July and Oct. 31. In the program, each participant, who must be between the ages of 16 and 24 and can be in school or out of school, will work 25 hours per week, including four hours per week in work-readiness training.

The first cohort in this new program is beginning at the end of July. The application process for employers has been extended in an effort by the GRWDB to find more positions for participating youth intern candidates. Grant funding will cover the stipend for each intern.

For the GRWDB Summer Youth Employment Program, any employer in Hunterdon and Somerset counties with available remote part-time positions can apply. There can be some limited outdoor employment opportunities and on-site job offerings that abide by CDC guidelines, but these do not have to be included in an employer’s application.

Employers can find a link to the application here and on the and on the Purchasing tab of Somerset County’s website. RFA responses are due by Thursday, Aug. 13. Interns for this second cohort are expected to start the following week, completing their internships by the end of October.

For additional information, visit www.thegrwdb.org, or contact GRWDB Job Developer Jeanne Cassano at jcassano@co.somerset,nj.us or at 908-541-5785.

Through policy, oversight, and planning The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board ensures that workforce training and education are responsive to and meet the needs of employers and job seekers. Your local workforce system will continue to update partners and the community as the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic evolves.

The state has launched a Cov-19 Information Hub page which has links to a vast amount of information and resources, including for businesses and community members. A COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal also is now open and will be updated regularly. Users can navigate the portal and filter by keyword and location, simply by using the question box at the top of the page as a search box. Type in a county name or a position and the jobs will be filtered. This functionality also works from the main Hub site.

In  the Greater Raritan area, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Service Centers at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington and 27 Warren St. in Somerville are closed to in-person visits. Staff are continuing to assist customers over the phone, via email and through virtual appointments. Customers are asked to call 908-541-5780 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us for assistance.

In addition, the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 75 Veterans Memorial Drive in Somerville is not offering in-person service. For the health and safety of staff and customers, services will continue to be offered virtually or by telephone only. For information on career services, call 908-704-3000.

Unemployment claims

All unemployment-related services are being done online or through the call centers. Customers who need to file new Unemployment Insurance claims are asked to apply online at https://myunemployment.nj.gov.

Customers unable to access the Internet should call the following numbers: North Jersey, 201-601-4100; Central Jersey, 732-761-2020; Southern Jersey: 856-507-2340.

Additional personnel have been added to the call centers in an effort to expanded capacity.

Click here for additional filing instructions and links, and here is a related FAQ.

Here is a FAQ for the self-employed, and instructions on how to file.

The Department of Labor also created a new web portal that allows New Jersey residents to contact the Department of Labor directly. This is a helpful tool for residents who have questions about their applications.

To submit a message, residents must go to www.myunemployment.nj.gov and follow these instructions: On the top navigation, scroll to the right for “Need Help” and unveil the drop down menu; Choose Send an Email; Choose Email: Submit a message through our new online form; and follow the prompts.

Other services

The New Jersey Department of Labor has transitioned other services, including Temporary Disability Insurance, Family Leave Insurance and Workers Compensation, to online and telephone platforms. Information on temporary disability and family leave is available at myleavebenefits.nj.gov.

This attachment posted by the state reviews different benefit scenarios for those impacted by COV-19. Here is the Spanish-language version.

Residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties are also invited to text “OneStop” to 56512 to receive updates on local area employment and training information.

Among the resources the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board offers is SkillUp Greater Raritan, a vast online learning portal available for free to all residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties. A link is also under the Resources tab of the website. This video provides an excellent introduction as well. Watch it and start learning from home.

Feeling anxious or afraid because of what is going on? New Jerseyans can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists.

On March 16, Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order 103 which modifies some requirements for WorkFirst New Jersey (WFNJ) and the New Jersey Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP), in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.

All applicants for WFNJ and NJ SNAP benefits are encouraged to file online at www.NJHelps.org. All WFNJ and NJ SNAP appointments are moving to telephone interviews, including eligibility and redetermination appointments, and child support interviews.

More details can be found here.

Information for businesses

For employers, the Business.NJ.gov team has created a page for Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses.

The NJDOL has compiled the following resource list to provide businesses with assistance on a variety of topics, including tax credits provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

For general questions, visit the Business Action Center Website and direct all questions to the chat function on the page.

To understand how to access FFCRA Business Tax Credits, please visit the Internal Revenue Service resources page.

For general questions, please visit the US Department of Labor’s FAQs.

For more information on which employers are covered under the law, please visit the US Department of Labor Employer Resource Guide.

For information on how these provisions apply New Jersey, please visit the NJ Labor Department.

Business owners with questions about accessing the reimbursement from the federal government should visit the New Jersey Business Action Center.

Business owners with questions about grants and loans should visit the NJ Economic Development Authority.

New Jersey workers with questions about eligibility for benefits should view these NJ-focused charts in English and Spanish or visit the US Department of Labor Employee Resource Guide.

More resources can be found on https://njbia.org/recovery/, a site of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. This includes a Back to Work Toolkit and more.

A Business Resource Page created by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and Hunterdon Economic Development may be found here. Information from the Somerset County Business Partnership can be found here.

Hunterdon County Coronavirus updates are available on the county website here.

Somerset County Coronavirus updates are available on the county website here.