First Steps Basic English, a free 18-month pilot program for English-language learners, is launching this fall in Somerset County. The pilot program, funded by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners through funds from the American Rescue Plan, is part of the free adult literacy programs for English-language learners currently available in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

The pilot program will offer five classes throughout the county to help those just beginning to learn the English language. The program also funds a Literacy Navigator, who will be based with the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County (LVSC) and help connect individuals to all related literacy services and other supportive services. To contact Stella Nieves, the Literacy Navigator, email snieves@literacysomerset.org. 

Providers of the program, LVSC, Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCESC), are part of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board’s Literacy Committee, which seeks to share information about and expand the effectiveness of the free literacy programs in both Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. For more information on the initiative, visit this landing page.

The existing literacy programs receive funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act federal grant that helps adults gain the necessary literacy and English skills to participate in workforce training programs and employment.

Raritan Valley Community College

RVCC offers three new First Step Basic English classes, at Raritan Borough, Franklin Township, and Bound Brook libraries in the fall. These in-person beginner classes are offered twice a week. All fall classes will begin in late September and early October, with testing for placement occurring in August and September.

The college also offers free literacy and English language skills classes to help individuals prepare for in-demand careers, such as Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing and more. Classes will be conducted in-person and remotely with approximately 15 to 17 students per class, running for two and a half hours and meeting twice a week. Sessions run to April 2024. Zoom classes are planned at different times throughout the week, in the evening and daytime.

Classes in the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Programs teach skills such as listening, speaking and writing. Class participants can enroll in 120-hour English learning classes, a 10-hour OSHA 10 Certification class, or a new 140-hour Healthcare ESL class that provides an Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG) certification upon completion. The hands-on portion of the Healthcare ESL class requires attendance and transportation to a Bound Brook location and will last from September to May.

For more information, visit www.raritanval.edu/literacyx. To schedule a placement-testing session and inquire about the new Healthcare ESL/EKG certification classes, call 908-526-1200, ext. 8686, or email Bonnie.Scharf@raritanval.edu 

Hunterdon County Education Services Commission, ESL

First Steps Basic English and other English literacy classes such as high school equivalency, basic computer skills and English Language Acquisition classes will be running two days per week at various times at the following locations:

• In Bernardsville, evenings at the Bernardsville Library (First Steps program)
• In North Plainfield, evenings at the North Plainfield Library (First Steps program)
• In Bound Brook, evenings at the Bound Brook Library, and evenings at the Christian Center of Somerset (including a hybrid option)
• In the Somerset section of Franklin, evenings at Franklin Middle School
• In Somerville, mornings at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
• In Flemington, mornings and evenings at the Flemington Adult Literacy Center on Bartles Corner Road
• In Lambertville, evenings at Fisherman’s Mark and the Lambertville Library.

The HCESC also operates two Workforce Learning Link sites offering adult literacy programs. These programs, offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center and funded by the GRWDB, have virtual and in-person components. Visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the Adult Programs/Workforce Learning Link.

Students who are interested in placement testing should enroll through the website or click on this link.

For more information, visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the links for Adult Programs/English Classes or High School Equivalency. For details about the program, email adultliteracy@hunterdonesc.org, or call 908-237-5000, ext. 13, in Hunterdon County or 908-541-5781 in Somerset County.

Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County

Volunteers at the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County provide free English Language Acquisition through one-on-one tutoring when the student and tutor pick the time and place, which can be in-person or through Zoom. High beginner through low advanced levels will be accommodated, with the number of “seats” determined by the number of tutors. Enrollment is available through Sept. 8.

In addition, the Literacy Volunteers run Intermediate Conversation Groups on Zoom and in person at the Manville, Bound Brook and Hillsborough libraries; these are drop-in groups with no seating limits.

For more information about services, volunteering, becoming a tutor, email info@literacysomerset.org, call 908-725-5430, or visit LiteracySomerset.org.

Other literacy programs

Volunteers at Hunterdon Helpline provide free literacy services through custom, one-on-one, barrier-free individual instruction, for beginner to advanced English language levels. To obtain an application,  email literacy@helplinehc.com, call 908-782-4357, or visit www.helplinehc.org.

The Hunterdon County Library offers weekly online English Conversation Groups, at 1 p.m. Thursdays. These are low to high levels and there is no seat limit. Email tedwards@hclibrary.us or call 908-713-7005.

Zarephath Christian Church in the Franklin, Somerset County, offers English-language classes, group conversations and accent reduction. Email zmayes@zarephath.org or call 732-560-4001.

Resources

This English-language flyer and this Spanish-language flyer highlight the partners offering literacy services in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Weekly text updates highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up. Additional information on career-development programs offered by the partners of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board can be found at www.thegrwdb.org.

Walk-in, appointment, virtual and phone services are available to career seekers in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center offices in Somerville and Flemington.

• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center Employment Services office and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) office at 75 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Somerville are open for walk-in services 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays. For information on Employment Services, call 908-704-3000. For information on DVRS, call 908-704-3030.
• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Center on the second floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville is open for walk-in services from 8:30 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, excluding county holidays. Call 908-541-5780; email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us. Learn more by attending one of the upcoming Career Cafe  events being conducted this fall by team members of the Somerville office. Job seekers, community- and faith-based organizations and current Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board partners as well as area businesses are invited to stop by for coffee, cookies and conversation about the menu of Training Center’s services, including individual and cohort training opportunities, resume and job search assistance, literacy services and much more. This information series will be conducted from 2 to 4 p.m. on the following Fridays: September 29, October 27 and November 17.
• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington is open for walk-in services 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, and by appointment only on Thursday and Friday, as well as phone and virtual services, excluding county holidays. Call 908-237-0016; email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.

While walk-in service is available at all these offices, appointments are encouraged to ensure staff will be available as needed by career seekers looking for assistance with job search, resume assistance, training assistance and general career questions. These offices also have public-use computers available for career-related work.

Staff members of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) are available for walk-in and appointment service from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the third floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville. Call 908-541-5790 or email info@thegrwdb.org.

For more information on general system services, visit the home page of www.thegrwdb.org.

Unemployment assistance is not available at any Greater Raritan location. Those with unemployment questions may call 732-761-2020 or visit https://myunemployment.nj.gov to explore additional resources or make an appointment for in-person assistance at one of 13 locations around the state.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

Employers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties are invited to take part in a new employment-development program using the SkillUp Greater Raritan Metrix Learning^® platform, a free online learning-management system.

SkillUp Greater Raritan features more than 7,000 learning courses, which can be done individually or with cohorts. The $199 per person cost of the employee training program will be covered by Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) grant dollars.

Employers can choose a preset learning path, or they can customize the employee learning system to fit their needs. Metrix Learning^® personnel will collaborate with employers to create a program that fits their learning needs. This easy online learning-management system will also keep track of employees’ course progress, course completion, and hours of training.

SkillUp Greater Raritan can be used for the following:

• New Hires – Onboarding standards
• Career Ascendancy – Identify skills for promotion
• Managers/Supervisors – Skill development for managers, new and old
• Technology Training – Ensure staff are familiar with current best practices.

On April 14, representatives from 14 public and private businesses in the two counties took part in an introductory webinar about the program. The program recording can be found here.

For details or to get started with this program immediately, email info@thegrwdb.org or call 908-541-5790.

Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) and  SkillUp

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

The GRWDB introduced SkillUp Greater Raritan to its menu of services in February of 2020. Over the past three years, more than 3,400 job seekers in the two counties have used the platform to develop their workplace, digital and interpersonal skills. Individuals who sign up get a free six-month, 24/7 account to use to reach their career goals. This initiative aims to broaden how SkillUp is used in the two counties.

More than 300 job seekers interacted with nsome 70 local employers during the 2023 Greater Raritan Job, conducted on May 16 at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater.

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – More than 300 job seekers got information on more than 500 job openings available from nearly 70 employers from Hunterdon and Somerset Counties during the 2023 Greater Raritan Job Fair.

The four-hour job fair took place on Tuesday, May 16, at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society on Route 202-206 in Bridgewater. This was the second consecutive year the Temple and the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) collaborated on the regional event.

“The energy at the event was high, with employers walking away with fistfuls of resumes from job seekers eager to learn about the many immediate openings around the area,” said Paul Grzella, GRWDB Director. “The Temple is a great partner, and everyone from there who volunteered to support this Job Fair worked to ensure that this was a seamless event for all in attendance.”

Local businesses and nonprofit agencies offered hundreds of full-time and part-time jobs as well as some internships that ranged from entry-level to C-suite. Participating employers represented a variety of industry sectors, including animal welfare, banking, childcare and education, finance, government (state and county), healthcare, health and wellness, insurance, leisure and hospitality, life sciences, manufacturing, personal and family services, retail trade, sports, transportation and logistics, technology and veterinary care.

More than 70 employers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, as well as employers from some surrounding counties, took part in the event. For those who couldn’t attend, the list of employer participants with available job titles can be viewed here.

Job seekers had the opportunity to talk directly with some 70 local employers and leave their resumes during the 2023 Greater Raritan Job, conducted on May 16 at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater.

The event also was supported by Somerset County and Bridgewater Township which provided tables for employer participants and signage to promote the Job Fair.

On Tuesday, job seekers started by registering with representatives of the GRWDB and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which also helped organize the event. The registration area also was a resource point with information on a variety of career-related programs and services offered by the GRWDB and its partners.

The GRWDB oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. More information about these programs can be found on www.thgrwdb.org, including stories on different initiatives, a Resource tab for job seekers, and a constantly updated calendar of events.

Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up. For more information, email info@thegrwdb.org or call 908-541-5790.

A Raritan Valley Community College Career Scholarship program is helping students begin their career path through training that is supported by the Hunterdon and Somerset Boards of County Commissioners and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

A portion of funds received from the ARPA, was allocated to need-based career scholarships for training programs in high-demand industries offered at the Branchburg-based Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). The scholarships were made possible through recommendations and collaboration between the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) and the Hunterdon and Somerset County Boards of Commissioners.

The career-training scholarship program began with a request for funding from the GRWDB. As a result of the request, the Boards of Commissioners allocated a total of $50,000 to the RVCC Career Scholarship grant program. Somerset County students received $38,000, and Hunterdon County students obtained $12,000 in grant money. The funding can be used until the end of 2023.

“Hunterdon County’s partnership with RVCC and the GRWDB is truly paying dividends for students in Hunterdon County,” said Hunterdon County Commissioner Jeff Kuhl, liaison to the GRWDB. “I, along with my colleagues on the board are excited to be able to offer scholarship opportunities to talented students enrolled within in-demand career training programs at Raritan Valley Community College.”

Eleven Somerset County residents and three Hunterdon County residents have been accepted into the scholarship program so far. Fourteen students completed the college’s training for phlebotomy and electrocardiogram (ECG) technicians, both of which are entry points into well-paying healthcare careers. The scholarships pay for the program training costs as well as for related book and exam fees, and as-needed background and liability insurance.

“The scholarships allow breathing room for students who may otherwise be faced with the choice of paying for education or paying for rent or healthcare,” said Joanna Hala, GRWDB board chair. “This effort aligns with the work of the United Way of Northern New Jersey to educate people about our ALICE population – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”

“Somerset County is committed to providing the education and training our younger residents need to take advantage of the in-demand, good-paying jobs of the future,” said Somerset County Commissioner Deputy Director Doug Singleterry, liaison to the GRWDB. “These eleven Raritan Valley Community College scholarship students are the tip of the iceberg, and I look forward to providing more opportunities for more students in 2023.”

The first cohort of scholarship recipients came from seven Somerset County communities – Basking Ridge, Branchburg, Bridgewater, North Plainfield, Raritan Borough, Somerset and Warren – and three Hunterdon County communities – Annandale, Lebanon and Milford. Recipients ranged in age and life experiences, with some employed, others seeking employment, and some are new Americans. All recipients were excited to venture into a new career.

“The scholarship makes such a huge difference in allowing me to continue my studies and pursue better opportunities,” said Kevin Parsi, a Warren resident who completed his ECG course. “I was recently accepted into the nursing program at RVCC, and this scholarship goes a long way in allowing me to fund my studies as well as living expenses as I continue through this journey.”

Another student reported that after completing the course, he was hired as a full-time Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant at one hospital and as a per diem ED Technician at another hospital.

Approximately $21,235 of the funds have been used for training and related costs for the first group of scholarship recipients. There is a total of $28,765.25 in funds remaining for eligible applicants who are interested in in-demand training programs at RVCC.

To view Career Training opportunities at Raritan Valley Community College, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/career-training.

To learn more about the RVCC Career Scholarship grant program, email Maryam Sheikh at the Workforce Training Center of RVCC at Maryam.Sheikh@raritanval.edu.

More information about the GRWDB, its program partners and area workforce system services can be found at www.thegrwdb.org.

Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB)
The GRWDB oversees $4 million annually in federal-, state- and county-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. In recent years, it has expanded its footprint of services and programs, to ensure that it is connecting job seekers to career-development pathway opportunities around the region.

Through policy, oversight, and planning The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) ensures that workforce training and education are responsive to and meet the needs of employers and job seekers.

Your local workforce system, serving Hunterdon and Somerset counties, continues to evolve how it provides services and reaches out to the community about those services. The GRWDB is part of statewide workforce system that connects employers and residents to a range of in-person and virtual career-related services, including the tens of thousands of open positions available in New Jersey.

Working with the Somerset County Public Information Office, system partners collaborated on videos to explain our mission, vision and services for employers and job seekers in these ever-changing times.

Go here to hear about our services for employers. Employers also can go to the resources/employers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about our services for job seekers. Job seekers also can go to the resources / job seekers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board and its partners offer a variety of free programs and resources to assist job seekers. This includes assistance with job search, resume reviews, career counseling, career-related webinars and workshops, information on training grants for unemployed and underemployed individuals, and connection to career services for low-income residents. Additional free resources available in Hunterdon and Somerset counties include Greater Raritan Resume Portal, SkillUp Greater Raritan, and a variety of literacy services highlighted in this English-language flyer and this Spanish-language flyer. More details on the Local Area’s literacy services may be found at https://www.thegrwdb.org/ESL.

In addition, the GRWDB and state partners provide a variety of services to employers, including Virtual Information Sessions and in-person Recruitment Events for companies hiring in the two counties, as well as On-the-Job Training and Incumbent Worker Training opportunities to support workforce development. Go to the Resources – Employers tab of www.thegrwdb.org.

Details on new and ongoing programs and events for job seekers and employes can be found in the constantly updated Events/Calendar tab of www.thegrwdb.org/.

Service models offered by Greater Raritan One-Stop partners reflect what is happening and is wanted by customers today, with hybrid models offering appointment in-person services along with a virtual suite of services.

• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Service Center at 27 Warren St., second floor, in Somerville is open for walk-in career-related services 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.  Call 908-541-5780 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.
• Walk-in career-related services are available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday at the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington. Appointment-only services are available Thursday and Friday. Call 908-237-0016 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.
• Staff members at the Greater Raritan One-Stop / Employment Services Center and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) at 75 Veterans Memorial Drive in Somerville are available for walk-in service as well as in-person and phone appointments seeking career-related services.  Offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays. To schedule an appointment with Employment Services in Somerville, call 908-704-3000; in Flemington, call 908-782-2371. Contact DVRS at 908-704-3030. Residents also can fill out this virtual form to detail what help they need; the completed form will be directed to local officials for direct response.

While walk-ins are welcomed at the offices, appointments are encouraged to ensure staff availability. Staff in all offices also assist customers over the phone, via email and through virtual appointments, and a virtual orientation session for new customers is conducted on Friday mornings by Training Center staff. Virtual career-webinars also continue, as do virtual and in-person job fairs.

Learn more about Greater Raritan services

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Training Services Center team also created a fun and informative series of videos called P.E.P. (Preparing for Employment Possibilities) Talks. Watch:

• Meet the Team
• What Does Your E-Mail Address Say About You
• Sending Professional E-mails
• Online Resources
• Foundations of Resumes
• ITAs and Tuition Waivers
• Phone Etiquette
• Interview Questions
• Tour of the Flemington One-Stop
• Tour of the Somerville One-Stop
• Social Media and Your Job Search
• Cover Letters
• Interview Questions

System services assist a variety of populations and residents. These includes programs for residents of either county receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As part of this program effort, the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board offers a Chromebook Loaner Program for eligible participants. Partner services also include the Workforce Learning Link to assist with basic literacy and computer skills and high school diploma equivalency work — this brochure provides more details, in English and Spanish. Another targeted service is the Youth Employment Services Program (YES Program), for out-of-school youth, ages 16 to 24, in Hunterdon and Somerset counties — learn more by reading this program brochure,  in English and Spanish.

Learn more about New Jersey services

Career services for job seekers also are highlighted on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website. The site also includes a section of Worker Benefits, Protections and COVID19; this handy checklist can help as well.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development also offers Job Source, offering a variety of tools designed to help fuel a successful job search experience. Users can create a free account and get tips and templates for job search, resume writing, cover letters and many other free services.

Please note: The majority of unemployment-related services are being done online or through a call centers. Residents also can schedule in-person appointments at 13 designated One-Stop Career Center locations throughout New Jersey. (Greater Raritan is NOT among those locations.) Appointments and pre-screening are required; no walk-ins will be served. 

Customers who need to file new Unemployment Insurance claims, update existing claims, have questions about their claims or want to make an make an  in-person appointment may go to https://myunemployment.nj.gov;  click on “Check claim status” and then “Schedule Appointments Online,” following the page prompts. 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. 

There are also numerous state and community programs and resources available to those who need additional support. For information on assistance in the areas of family, food, child care, health, substance use disorder, rent, housing, utilities, and specialized services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence, please visit myunemployment.nj.gov/morehelp.  

Weekly text alerts highlighting career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties are available by texting “onestop” to 565-12. Contact the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board at info@thegrwdb.org or 908-541-5790.

For more information about services for employers, go to the GRWDB website here. For more information about services  for job seekers, go here.