The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the economic insecurity of thousands of families, especially those in low-income communities and communities of color. At the same time, the pandemic has led to adaptive policy solutions, economic relief interventions, and other innovations that can be leveraged to create long-term support for segments of the workforce vulnerable to changes in the future of work.

The FOW Accelerator will focus on interventions that advance worker voice, wellbeing, and power. We are particularly interested in attracting applicants whose work touch upon the below themes:

• Lifelong learning and re-skilling strategies
• Financial Innovations that support economic security and resilience
• Next generation approaches to strengthening worker voice, ownership and power
• Enhancing employer practices ( e.g., workplace safety innovations, hazard pay, portable benefits)
• Developing agile support systems that strengthen economic inclusions and navigation of opportunities

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds (local geographies, women, persons of color, low income communities, younger demographics (under 40s), LGBTQ, those who are disabled) and especially those with lived experience at the forefront of the future of work. 

We welcome applicants with ideas in all stages of development -- from early stage ideas to ventures in need of scaling. We also support intrapreneurs with ideas from historic and established organizations. Applicants can be from the public sector, the non-profit community or from the private sector. 

Additionally, organizations looking to scale to -- or localize in New Jersey from other regions are also encouraged to apply. We hope to use this competition to help root innovative ideas in New Jersey and can support scaling efforts by organizations based elsewhere as long as there is a strong commitment to design a fairer economy and positively impact the lives of New Jerseyans.