​New Jersey Reentry Corporation Named NJBIZ 2025 Nonprofit Business of the Year

Somerset, NJ - December 11, 2025 - The New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) is honored to be recognized by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s leading business journal, as the 2025 Nonprofit Business of the Year.

NJBIZ’s recognition of NJRC reflects the dedication of NJRC’s participants, who are rebuilding their lives after incarceration, addiction treatment, and/or military service, as well as their committed staff and partners. This award affirms the effectiveness of NJRC’s integrated reentry model and its impact on the lives of returning citizens, their families, and New Jersey’s workforce. NJRC’s 14.01% recidivism rate, which is lower than state and national benchmarks, reflects the organization’s structured, evidence-based model. To provide the foundation of stability, participants are connected to essential local, state, and federal benefits, including state identification, SNAP, Social Security disability benefits, and housing assistance. Participants then receive access to health insurance, mental health services, addiction treatment, and medical care to support clinical stability and continuity of care. With these supports in place, individuals transition into NJRC’s intensive training and employment pipeline, where industry-recognized credentials and workforce preparation expand the long-term career opportunities of NJRC participants.

The Reentry Training & Employment Center offers 16 nationally or state-recognized certifications, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and/or the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The Training Center offers the only nationally recognized phlebotomy certification in the United States, tailored specifically for court-involved women. This certification addresses both workforce demand and the structural disadvantages that justice-involved women often face. Additionally, NJRC prepares students for careers as Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, equipping graduates to support individuals struggling with addiction and to meet the statewide shortage of credentialed recovery workers.

Overall, 72% of Training Center graduates secure employment. Among the HVAC and electrical technician programs, two of NJRC’s strongest employer-linked pathways, more than 90% of graduates obtain jobs within 120 days of course completion. These results reflect NJRC’s training model informed by best-practice research from Columbia University, which recommended NJRC’s current “one week classroom / one week hands-on training” format. This approach enhances comprehension, reinforces skills, and accelerates job readiness in industries where employers seek both theoretical knowledge and practical competence.

NJRC Executive Director Jim McGreevey expressed gratitude for the honor, noting, award reflects the perseverance of the men and women we serve and the employers, service providers, and partners who believe in Second Chances. Workforce development, clinical “The NJBIZ support, and dignity in opportunity are the cornerstones of our mission, and the pathway home for thousands of our fellow New Jerseyans. ”

Executive Director McGreevey accepted the NJBIZ award this morning alongside Damon Christian Watson, Senior Director of Legal Services and Corporate Development. NJRC’s team provides legal services to participants throughout the reentry process, including expungement assistance, which removes one of the most significant employment barriers faced by court-involved persons.

Together, these elements, bolstered by wraparound case management, form a coherent and coordinated system of care: benefits access; mental, medical, and behavioral health treatment; nationally recognized training; legal relief; and meaningful career pathways. This integrated model enables NJRC to reduce recidivism, expand New Jersey’s workforce, and create real opportunities for Second Chances.