Grow Detroit’s Young Talent Program has been a huge success this year. This year the program has matched 8,127 Detroit youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with a job at a Detroit based company.
This year there were 530 companies that are part of the program. The companies range in size, but the larger companies were able to hire more people.
Team Schostak restaurants is the largest employer this summer with 300 hires. The Jewish Vocational Services has hired 200, followed by the Greening of Detroit with 150 summer employees.
Last year DTE hired 20 summer employees, this year they have hired 120.
“Everyone is influenced by their first summer job. Now we have 8,127 young people coming home with a paycheck, knowing what it means to dress for work, and how to act at work. It’s an exciting thing and I appreciate the community coming together to get these kids a job,” said Mayor Mike Duggan.
The city also worked to raise $10 million to help pay for the program. The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation donated $1 million towards the program. Some of the other sponsors are Dresner Foundation, DTE Energy, DTE Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Strategic Staffing Solutions, and Quicken Loans.
Beyond getting these young people a paycheck the program is also providing on the job experiences, professional contacts and a potential career path.
This year the program is also helping participants receive industry-recognized certifications in industries like medical first responder training, workplace safety, and culinary arts.
If the certification is longer than six weeks the city has partnered with several providers that will give credit to the GDYT youth in that particular certification.