NJ Updates: Events, Deadlines, Programs, Guidance, and More

The Registration Form for the New Jersey's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is now available. The program helps income-eligible working families, students, and job trainees pay for child care costs for children up to age 13 or age 19 for children with special needs.

Priority will be given to families with children experiencing homelessness, children with special needs, and households with very low incomes. Due to limited funding, not all families who qualify will receive assistance.

Families must complete a registration form first. If selected, they will be invited to submit a full application. More information and the Registration Form are available at ChildCareNJ.gov.

New Jersey is investing $3.34 million in artificial intelligence solutions that address real challenges facing the State. The AI Innovation Challenge awards grants and resources through competitive program where companies and academic teams leverage AI and State datasets to build innovative tools meant to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State government.

Teams of at least three members must be based in New Jersey, with at least 50 percent of members as State residents. Early-stage companies with fewer than 225 employees may also apply. New publicly-available datasets have been added to the NJOIT Open Data Center to help applicants.

Winners receive up to $1 million for product development, with additional funding available based on progress demonstrated by March. Applications are open through January 19.

New Jersey State Parks are accepting applications for more than 800 seasonal positions running from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Available roles include lifeguards, maintenance personnel, visitor service assistants, naturalists, history educators, and office staff.

Most positions start at $16.50 per hour. Lifeguards earn $19-20 per hour depending on location. No prior experience is required for most positions. Lifeguards receive paid training and certification. Weekend and holiday availability is required. Positions are available Statewide from High Point State Park to Cape May Point State Park.

If you're caring for someone 55 or older who needs nursing home level of care, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) can help them stay at home. The program is now available in all 21 New Jersey counties. PACE provides coordinated medical and social services, including primary care, dental, prescriptions, home care, adult day health care, and transportation to appointments. Participants receive all Medicare and Medicaid services without the limitations those programs normally impose.

Some PACE centers are accepting enrollments now, while others will open over the next 18-24 months. Contact your local PACE agency to check eligibility and availability in your area.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance for heating and cooling costs, including past-due electric and gas bills. The program also covers emergency heating system repairs and emergency fuel delivery.

Applications are open now. Call 1-800-510-3102 to determine eligibility and find your nearest application agency, or apply online through the State portal. The assistance is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.

New Jersey has issued a Statewide drought warning after 15 months of below-average rain. Reservoir levels across the State are critically low, and the State is asking residents to help protect supplies.

There are no State level restrictions yet, but you can help now: run full loads in appliances, fix leaks, winterize irrigation systems, and upgrade to low-flow fixtures and showerheads.

New Jersey has launched the Civilian Cyber Resilience Corps, a volunteer program that deploys cybersecurity professionals to help government agencies, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure organizations prevent and respond to cyberattacks.

If you work in cybersecurity or IT, you can volunteer to provide expertise in incident response, vulnerability assessment, and resilience training—at no cost to your community.

Organizations needing cybersecurity support can also request assistance at no charge.

Learn more and apply at cyber.nj.gov or call 1-833-465-2242.

New Jersey's minimum wage is now $15.92 per hour, an increase of 43 cents. The change affects multiple worker categories with different rates. Tipped workers will earn a cash minimum of $6.05 per hour. Small business employees and agricultural workers receive phased increases. Long-term care facility workers will earn $18.92 per hour.