NJCU & BLOC Foundation Establish Training Program for Construction Trades

Share Workforce Development NJCU & BLOC Foundation Establish Training Program for Construction Trades On Mar 4, 2026 New Jersey City University (NJCU) has announced a formal partnership with The BLOC Foundation, a New Jersey–based nonprofit social impact organization founded in Elizabeth and dedicated to empowering underrepresented groups in the construction industry. The agreement, which transforms unused campus space into a gateway for underrepresented women in the construction trades, establishes a workforce training program on NJCU’s main campus and creates a direct pathway from hands-on skills development to college-level credentials and degree programs. Under the terms of the partnership, BLOC will utilize space in NJCU’s Visual Arts Building on Culver Avenue — including the university’s former Jewelry Making Workshop — at no cost to deliver its 16-week comprehensive construction training curriculum. The program provides participants with hands-on skills training, industry certifications, and direct access to NJCU’s continuing education and academic programs through the Office of Adult and Continuing Education. Each training cohort is expected to include 25–30 participants, with an annual goal of certifying 150–200 students. The agreement represents a creative and mission-driven use of underutilized campus space, converting a former arts facility into a workforce development hub serving groups who have historically been excluded from the construction trades. BLOC par...