By Jenna Portnoy and Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger

MOUNT LAUREL — Women and minorities who want to work in construction-related fields will be eligible for $2,000 in tuition assistance at New Jersey's county colleges under a new scholarship program launched today.

Gov. Chris Christie unveiled the Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship for Women and Minorities program at an event on the campus green at Burlington County Community College in Mount Laurel. The scholarships — known as NJ-GIVS — will allow students to enroll in non-degree certificate programs at the state’s 19 county colleges.

"Opportunities for good-paying jobs all begin with access to high quality education and training, whether it’s colleges and universities, vocational or technical schools or other kinds of specialized training that prepares students for a successful future," Christie said.

The scholarships represent the first time state financial aid is being offered to New Jersey students in certificate programs that do not lead to a degree. Women and minorities are being targeted for the money because they are historically underrepresented in the construction industry, state officials said.

NJ-GIVS will be funded with money the New Jersey’s Schools Development Authority must set aside from all of its school district construction contracts.

Marc Larkins, head of the Schools Development Authority, said the new scholarships will help bring more women and minorities into construction trades.

"At times we track less than 1 percent female participation in our construction projects," Larkins said.

diversity under construction

The scholarships will be administered by the state’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, which oversees New Jersey’s financial aid programs. There will be $500,000 in NJ-GIV funds available annually, state officials said. Eligible students will be awarded scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis. The scholarships can be renewed for a second year.

To qualify for the scholarships, applicants must be female or a member of a pre-determined list of minority groups. Students must be New Jersey residents who are U.S. citizens or immigrants living in the country legally on a permanent basis. Applicants must also submit federal financial aid forms that will be used to calculate their financial eligibility for the scholarship. Only applicants with a New Jersey Eligibility Index score below 10,500 will be considered.

County college tuition and fees vary from school to school. At most New Jersey county colleges, students taking a full 15-credit semester would pay about $2,000 a semester or $4,000 a year before scholarships and other financial aid are factored into the bill.

helping to pay for education

Applications and fact sheets listing the certificate programs eligible for the scholarship funds will be available at the state’s 19 county colleges shortly, state officials said. Applications are due Oct. 1 for the 2013-2014 school year and March 1 for students who enroll in the spring 2014 semester.

For more information, contact the state Higher Education Student Assistance Authority at (609) 584-4480 or visit www.hesaa.org.

Christie’s announcement of the NJ-GIV program came the same day his wife, First Lady Mary Pat Christie, announced funding for a scholarship program to help military service members go to college or get vocational training.

Walmart is partnering with New Jersey Heroes, a nonprofit group headed by the first lady, to offer Heart of a Hero scholarships. The retail chain will fund 10 $5,000 scholarships for the 2013-14 school-year. Applications, which are due July 26, are available at newjerseyheroes.org.

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