Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey Chapter (ABC-NJ)’s Apprenticeship Education & Training Fund (AETF) today announced it received a $75,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to support opportunities and careers across all trades in the construction industry.

“We are thrilled to have received this grant which will enable us to expand our reach to more communities and provide meaningful training,” said Samantha DeAlmeida Roman, Administrative Manager for ABC-NJ AETF. “With the growing need for skilled labor, both in New Jersey and across the country, our goal is to reach more individuals and enroll them into pre-apprenticeship training courses, which will expose them to various trades and better prepare them for careers in construction and apprenticeships in their chosen trade.”

The grant will allow ABC-NJ AETF to offer more pre-apprenticeship training through outreach programs called Construction Orientation Readiness Education (CORE) located throughout the state. The skills learned in these pre-apprenticeship programs prepare individuals for entry-level positions in construction by providing education in safety, hand and power tools, construction math, materials handling, construction drawings, rigging and employability skills. Because of the grant funding, many of these courses will be offered free of charge to those in underserved communities throughout New Jersey.

“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Jeremy Ben-Zev, Truist market president for Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. “Partnering with organizations such as ABC New Jersey helps us live our purpose and we are proud of their apprenticeship work.”

About Associated Builders and Contractors
ABC is a national association representing 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 67 chapters across the United States. ABC is the industry’s liaison to federal, state and local governments and the public at large. ABC-NJ is the largest ABC Chapter, with over 1,400 members in all specialties within the construction industry, comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors. ABC-NJ is the voice of free enterprise in the construction industry, encouraging open competition based solely on merit. For more information, please visit our website at abcnjc.org.

About Truist Foundation 
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation’s leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.