This bill establishes the Statewide Skills Academy Network, aimed at enhancing collaboration among county colleges, vocational schools, and union training providers to address the skills needs of New Jersey's workforce. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, will oversee the network, which will consist of regional skills academies. The network's objectives include promoting best practices in skills development, improving access to training opportunities, identifying gaps in industry-recognized credentials, and assisting in the creation of a statewide credentialing system.

To participate in the network, county colleges, vocational schools, or union training providers must apply to the Secretary of Higher Education, who will establish selection criteria and grant awards based on available funding. Priority will be given to academies offering training during evenings and weekends. Grants will be allocated for developing and maintaining training sites, and regional skills academies are required to support the network's goals while providing short-term, stackable credential programs in high-demand sectors. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support these initiatives.