Valley Wellness, a medical cannabis dispensary located in Raritan Borough, in partnership with Hillview Farms, PremierMD, the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board, and Minorities for Medical Marijuana, are bringing a one-of-a-kind forum to the region on Monday, February 13, from 4-7 p.m. at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg.

This Job Fair and Information Session will be presented in the college’s Conference Center and showcase information on the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Participation is open to all and is free of charge.

Valley Wellness, at 407 U.S. 202 in Raritan Borough, is New Jersey’s first independently owned and operated medical cannabis dispensary. “We worked hard this year to get Valley Wellness open this past November; now we’re excited to get into the community to provide information, education, and employment opportunities to area residents,” said Sarah Trent, C.E.O. of Valley Wellness.

Valley Wellness will be conducting on site interviews throughout the event for positions in Valley Wellness’s dispensary and Hillview Farms will be collecting resumes in order to start hiring later this spring. Those interested in securing an on-site interview the day of the event, should pre-register by using this link: apply here. Walk-ins will also be given interviews, so participants are encouraged to bring their resume.

Hillview Farms in Pequannock, is New Jersey’s first licensed cultivator, owned and operated by native New Jersey farmers. For more than 50 years, and three generations, these farmers have perfected the art of growing better plants and are now applying that knowledge to cannabis.

Premier MD, in Bridgewater, is a medical practice headed up by Dr. David Boguslavsky who specializes in traditional and alternative patient care methods. PremierMD will be on hand to explain the benefits of the medicinal use of cannabis and will be available to assist in the initial steps needed to obtain a NJ Department of Health Medicinal Marijuana card, for those interested. A list of qualifying conditions can be found here.

Michael Hoffman is a New Jersey Attorney specializing in marijuana expungement cases. The Hoffman Center has led more expungement clinics than any other firm in New Jersey.  He focuses on cutting through red tape that can prevent those with past marijuana convictions from participating in the legal market, as the law has intended. Hoffman will be on hand to speak and answer questions.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset County. Staff will be on-site to answer questions related to employment services they and partners provide to Somerset and Hunterdon residents.

Minorities for Medical Marijuana is a nonprofit organization committed to creating a culturally inclusive environment where diversity of thought, experience and opportunities are valued, respected, appreciated, and celebrated. M4MM-New Jersey representatives co-State Directors Nichelle Santos and Gaetano Lardieri, along with Membership Chair Jeffrey Booker and Executive Administrative/Research Assistant Anna Rivera, will be on hand to serve as a resource providing information, referrals and education regarding cannabis legislation, events activities, and initiatives.

For those attending the event, Valley Wellness will offer via raffle two scholarships valued at $500 each to NJ Cannabis Certified. This 15-hour, five-module certificate course is taught live via Zoom in conjunction with Raritan Valley College and seven other community colleges in New Jersey. The course is designed for those interested in working within the cannabis industry or anyone simply looking to learn more about cannabis. For more information about NJ Cannabis Certified use this link https://njcannacert.com/.

All New Jersey residents are encouraged to attend this comprehensive cannabis forum whether to seek job opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry or to get quality information about the medicinal benefits of cannabis.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) invites community members, employers, residents, and public officials in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties to share their thoughts about the workforce services and programs in the two counties. Input from stakeholders will help the GRWDB develop its 2023 workforce four-year plan.

Some 50 community members representing different stakeholders in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties participated in a Dec. 6 Local Plan discussion hosted by the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board. Individuals took part virtually as well as in person in Somerville.

The first public meeting about the Local Plan was conducted on Dec. 6 in Somerville. The meeting drew more than 50 individuals, who attended in person and remotely. They talked about existing services, reviewed data about different programs’ participants and outcomes, and suggested ways to expand outreach and focus.

Online Surveys for Public Input

To receive more input and expand community involvement, the GRWDB has developed three surveys for different groups in the two counties. These include:

• Individuals looking for work or who are already in the workforce – go here to complete the survey
• Employers looking to hire, with a focus on skills these employers need right now – go here to complete the survey
• Social-service agencies assisting individuals with a variety of issues, including career development – go here to complete the survey.

The surveys will be open through Feb. 28, 2023. Input from each will be woven into the Local Plan, which must be completed in the spring of 2023.

Every four years, New Jersey’s 17 local workforce boards are required to write a Local Plan to each board better serve their clients. Each of the 17 Plans outlines workforce services and programs available to employers and job seekers and ways to collaborate and improve the system. The plan is developed based on local data trends and evaluations of existing services, along with input received from the public discussion.

Public Input Meeting Schedule

Local Plan discussion also will take place during first-quarter meetings of the Board and its committees, which are open to the public. The 2023 meeting schedules can be found here. In addition, once the draft of the Local Plan is completed, there will be a 30-day comment period open to all community members. Once that is over, any comments will be included in the plan, which will be sent to the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission for review.

The full information deck of the Dec. 6 meeting can be accessed here. For more information on the Local Plan and to provide comment, email info@thegrwdb.org or contact GRWDB Director Paul Grzella at 908-541-5790.

About the Greater 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.

More information about the GRWDB 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 One-Stop Career Center in Somerville is hosting a series of Jersey Job Club Workshops in February. These workshops will be virtual, through Zoom, with a limited number of seats are available for in-person attendance at the One-Stop Career Center, 75 Veterans Memorial Drive, Somerville.

The partners in the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center have the expertise and knowledge to help job seekers have success. In Jersey Job Club workshops, a Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Coach leads hour- to 90-minute-long discussions on topics aimed at assisting job seekers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. There is no charge to attend.

Dates and topics are:

• Monday, Feb. 6, 9 to 10 a.m.:  Path to Employment, Planning Your Job Search – Workshop 1
• Monday, Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Networking – Best (fastest) Way to Find a Job
• Monday, Feb. 13, 9 to 10:30 a.m.: Resume Writing Workshop 1 – Top Notch Resume
• Monday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Resume Writing Workshop 2 – Cover Letters and More
• Monday, Feb. 27, 9 to 10:30 a.m.: Acing the Interview 1 – Preparing for the Interview
• Monday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Acing the Interview 2 – Answering Interview Questions

To attend virtually or in person, fill out an information/registration form. Once completed, email it to Richard.Peterson@dol.nj.gov by the Wednesday before the scheduled workshop, or call 908-704-3000 and ask for Rick or Mary Ann.

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.

The offices are Employment Services and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) at 75 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Somerville are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays. The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Center on the second floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville is continuing its pilot of evening hours on Mondays, from 8:30 a.m.to 7 p.m., and is also open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, excluding county holidays.

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 three offices also have public-use computers available for career-related work.

Because of current staffing capacity, the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington will not be open for walk-in services but is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday by appointment as well as phone and virtual services.

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.

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.

For career-assistance, call the Training Center at 908-541-5780; email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us. For information on Employment Services, call 908-704-300. For information on DVRS, call 904-704-3030. For more information on general system services, visit the home page of www.thegrwdb.org.

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.

For individuals and their families dealing with substance abuse issues, securing and staying in jobs is crucial for maintaining recovery and sustaining lives.

The Greater Raritan Pathways to Recovery program for residents of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties supports this goal by assisting people impacted by the ongoing opioid epidemic with free training opportunities, career-readiness programming, supportive services and employment. People participating in the program can be either directly or indirectly impacted by the opioid epidemic – meaning those who are in recovery as well as family members and friends who have assisted those with addictions. (Go here for the Spanish-language version of the program flyer.)

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) successfully applied for a competitive New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) to launch the Pathways to Recovery program in both counties in the beginning of 2022. The program grant has been extended,  and the program is expected to serve up to 100 residents through June of 2023.

New Jersey introduced Pathways to Recovery in select counties in 2019 and introduced it to the state’s remaining counties in the fall of 2022. The program is a response to the increased number of overdose deaths, treatment demands and administration of Naloxone throughout the state.

The Suspected Drug Related Deaths 2021 report by the New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner found 19 deaths in Hunterdon County and 17 deaths in Somerset County – a year-over decline of about 21 percent. Statewide, there were 3,124 suspected deaths. In that same timeframe, there were 57 incidents of the administration of Naloxone in Hunterdon County and 196 in Somerset County – a 20 percent year-over-year decline but on par with 2019’s figures.

The 2021 data from the New Jersey Substance Abuse Monitoring System (NJ-SAMS) tells a similarly disturbing story. In  2021, 409 Hunterdon County residents were admitted for substance abuse treatment; 61.4 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.  In Somerset County, the data shows that of the 973 individuals who were admitted for substance abuse treatment 59.1 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.

Nakeyda Wheeler, the GRWDB’s Pathways to Recovery representative, works with residents of both counties who are interested in being part of the program. The Roselle-based Prevention Links, the program’s vendor, is also connecting people to services and providing some parts of the program. In addition, Wheeler is collaborating with a variety of community organizations as well as county agencies that may interact with this population to build awareness about the services offered through the grant.

“My goal is to work with multiple stakeholders in both counties to strengthen collaboration among our programs and expand the network of services available to our residents,” Wheeler said. “I want to help people get good-paying jobs and enable them to maintain their recovery and improve their lives. Pathways to Recovery has been set up to have wide eligibility, so that we can assist as many people as possible.”

Residents interested in training can either work with Prevention Links to take part in a Peer Recovery Specialist certificate and internship program or participate in an in-demand training offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Services Center. Wheeler and the Training Center staff also can connect program participants to immediate employment opportunities. In addition, Prevention Links provides participants with career readiness programming and supportive services for all Pathways to Recovery participants.

To learn more or to have a presentation about the program for your agency, business or community group, email Nakeyda Wheeler at nsumpter@co.somerset.nj.us or call 908-203-6047. Cindymarie Dix, Prevention Link’s Division Director of Recovery Community Development, can be reached at 732-381-4100 or email CDix@preventionlinks.org.

The GRWDB 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.

Free adult literacy programs for English language learners of different levels are available this winter to residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

The program providers, Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCECS), 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 the two counties.

Programs are funded by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act federal grant that provides assistance to adults in gaining the necessary literacy and English skills to participate in workforce training programs and employment.

Raritan Valley Community College

RVCC offers free literacy and English language skills to help individuals prepare for employment in the in-demand food service industry. The upcoming classes will be conducted remotely, via Zoom.

Classes in the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Program focus on skills such as listening, speaking and writing. Class participants who complete the literacy program and complete 10 hours of training in the areas of appreciation, prevention, avoidance and reduction of health hazards and safety in the workplace are eligible to receive either the ServSafe Food Handler or OSHA 10 certification. These certifications are required by the majority of entry-level restaurant or food service jobs.

Winter classes began on Dec.  12 and 13. The classes, being conducted on Zoom, meet at different times throughout the week, in the evening and daytime. The classes, planned to be 15 to 17 people each, typically meet twice a week and run for two and a half hours. Classes go through April 2023. For more information on the classes, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/literacy. Interested residents can email Bonnie.Scharf@raritanval.edu or call 908-526-1200, ext. 8686, to schedule a placement testing session. 

Hunterdon County Education Services Commission

High school equivalency, basic computer skills and English Language Acquisition classes are offered by the HCESC at five in-person locations in the two counties. Eleven classes run two days per week at various times at the following locations:

• In Bound Brook, evenings at the Bound Brook Library;
• In Flemington, mornings and evenings at the Flemington Adult Literacy Center on Bartles Corner Road 
• In the Somerset section of Franklin, evenings at Franklin Middle School, and evenings at the Christian Center of Somerset (including a hybrid option)
• In Somerville, mornings at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

For more details, 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. 11, in Hunterdon County or 908-541-5781 in Somerset County.

HSESC Workforce Learning Link

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.

Other literacy programs

Volunteers at Hunterdon Helpline provide free literacy services through custom, one-on-one, barrier-free individualized instruction, for low to high English language levels. Email literacy@helplinehc.com or call 908-782-4357 or visit www.helplinehc.org.

Volunteers at the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County provide free English Language Acquisition through one-on-one tutoring in which the student and tutor pick the time and place, which can be in-person or through Zoom. High beginner through low advanced levels are accommodated, with the number of “seats” determined by the number of tutors. In addition, the Literacy Volunteers also offer Intermediate Conversation Groups on Zoom and in person at the Manville, Bound Brook and Hillsborough libraries; these are drop-in group, with no seating limits. For more information, email info@literacysomerset.org, call 908-725-5430, or visit LiteracySomerset.org. The site also provides details on the LVSC’s year-long Cultural Connections initiative in which tutors and students explored culture and how it affects communication.

Individuals also may contact either organization to learn about how to become a program tutor.

The Hunterdon County Library offers weekly online English Conversation Groups, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 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.

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 on www.thegrwdb.org.

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.

Over the past two years, your local workforce system, serving Hunterdon and Somerset counties, has continued 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 are the Greater Raritan Resume Portal, SkillUp Greater Raritan, and a local literacy connection guide. Local partners also offer free literacy classes throughout the year, and state partners regularly host Virtual Information Sessions for companies hiring in the two counties.

More information on GRWDB and system partners programs is available on the 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 the virtual suite of services developed by partners since the pandemic began.

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Service Center at 27 Warren St., second floor, in Somerville is open for in-person, 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. While appointments are encouraged, walk-ins are welcomed. Appointment-only in-person career-related services are also available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Training Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington. Greater Raritan Training Center staff also assist customers over the phone, via email and through virtual appointments, and a virtual orientation session for new customers is conducted on Fridays. Virtual career-webinars also continue. Call 908-541-5780 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, call 908-704-3000. 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.

Learn more about Greater Raritan services

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Training Services Center team also has posted 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.