The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) would like to express our support for A-1408/S-973 (Lopez/Ruiz/Singleton) that deals with supporting, advancing and making apprenticeship programs more available in New Jersey. 

 The CCSNJ commends the sponsors of this important bill that, if implemented, would establish an apprenticeship mentoring program for women, minorities or people with disabilities. 

As written, the bill would establish a peer-to-peer Statewide apprenticeship mentoring program for those not historically targeted by these types of programs - women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. The purpose of the program would be to provide mentoring and support services to these individuals throughout the State, as well as to establish a network of peers involved in apprenticeship groups among those groups. 

The CCSNJ believes this bills will help provide resources to fill significant gaps in the advanced workforce occupational skills and offer greater opportunities for a new generation of workers to access careers in high-skill, high-wage occupations; as well as broaden the universe of individuals who can take advantage of these types of programs.  

Historically, apprenticeship programs have proved extremely effective in producing a highly skilled and highly paid workforce; any incentives that can increase these opportunities is a welcome one.   

For these reasons, the CCSNJ urges you to support A-1408/S-973 (Lopez/Ruiz/Singleton).