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Morris County proclaims National Disability Employment Awareness Month; workforce board outlines apprenticeship, literacy and hiring programs
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month and heard a presentation from Beth Rogers of the Tri‑County Workforce Development Board detailing new grants, apprenticeships and employer partnerships that support hiring people with disabilities.
The Morris County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and heard a detailed presentation from the Tri‑County Workforce Development Board on local workforce initiatives.
Beth Rogers, executive director of the Tri‑County Workforce Development Board, told the board the organization is federally funded through WIOA and WorkFirst and has won competitive state grants to expand services. She said the board received an adult literacy grant to provide foundational English instruction tied to employment and a digital literacy grant aimed at WorkFirst customers receiving TANF, GA or SNAP benefits to increase job readiness.
Rogers described employer partnerships and apprenticeship efforts. She cited a Parsippany distribution center—named in remarks as an employer that has hired more than 23 people with disabilities—and said the board helped create a nine‑week onboarding program that immediately places newly hired employees into upskilling cohorts. She also said the board is piloting an advanced manufacturing boot camp with County College of Morris for high school students and is developing IT training modeled on that program.
The board’s presentation highlighted other employer connections: a multi‑site health training partner that is pursuing registered apprenticeship status with the Department of Labor, rapid‑response work to assist laid‑off Siemens employees, and hiring events that include on‑the‑spot interviews. Metrics presented to the commissioners showed the board supported about 38 businesses and 136 individuals last year; in the first quarter of the current year it reported assisting 11 businesses and 47 individuals. Rogers said workforce staff conducted more than 1,100 orientations and 1,700 one‑on‑one counseling sessions last year and completed over 4,000 assessments.
The board also recognized local businesses and partners with awards and invited commissioners to a group photo honoring program participants and employers.
The commissioners did not take any formal votes on workforce items during the session. The board requested that staff continue to monitor grant opportunities and report back on program outcomes and metrics at future meetings.
