Empowering Union County: Celebrating the Launch of Per Scholas at Plainfield Public Library

A transformative milestone for workforce development in New Jersey was celebrated today as Per Scholas officially launched its first New Jersey Satellite Campus in partnership with the Plainfield Public Library. Located at 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield Public Library hosted leadership, community partners, and local leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception welcoming the inaugural cohort of Union County learners.

This dynamic initiative brings no-cost, high-quality technical training directly into the heart of Plainfield, expanding access to life-changing career paths in technology.

Plainfield has long been a community driven by strength, connection, and a forward-thinking vision. Partnering with the Plainfield Public Library was a natural step for Per Scholas, leveraging an institution that serves as a historic anchor for knowledge, growth, and community empowerment.

By embedding technical training where community members already live, work, and build their lives, the Satellite Campus model ensures that geography is never a barrier to sustainable economic mobility.

“As a child, I spent countless hours reading books at my local library. Libraries have and will always be a community anchor for access to knowledge, opportunity, and cutting-edge technology.”

— Jessica Zorola, Managing Director, Per Scholas Newark

This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated vision and partnership of Cynthia Slade, President of the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees, Scott Kuchinsky, Director of Literacy Services and In-House Counsel, and the incredibly dedicated staff at Plainfield Public Library. First pioneered in NYC in 2021, Per Scholas’ Satellite Campus model has proven that bringing rigorous training directly into trusted neighborhood hubs delivers real, lasting impact –  a model that has already expanded across California, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, now Plainfield, New Jersey.