The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce is seeking proposals from Genesee County employers interested in hiring graduates of the TeenQuest pre-employment training program this summer.
As part of the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI), local employers who participate in the SYI Job Fair in April can hire teens, ages 14-19, for three to 15 weeks over the summer.
Why is SYI so advantageous for local businesses, organizations and schools? There are multiple reasons, including:
- It’s affordable. From our limited funding, for-profit business are eligible to receive a 50-50 salary match for employees hired through SYI. Nonprofits and schools are eligible to have up to 100 percent of costs subsidized.
- The teens have soft skills. TeenQuest graduates understand the importance of communicating effectively, being on time and working as part of a team – the kinds of things that define a quality employee.
- It offers the perfect evaluation period. The program runs from June through early September. If employers are impressed with the work completed, they always have the option to continue the employment after the program ends.
Past SYI employers have included schools, summer day camps, urban gardening and community beautification projects, general office settings, retail and food service.
Interested in learning more? The Flint & Genesee Chamber will hold a virtual information meeting on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 4-5 p.m. The meeting will provide new applicants with complete information about the program as well as helpful tips for a successful application. If your organization has been funded in the past, this meeting is optional to attend.
To receive the meeting link, please RSVP to Dawn Bye at . If you’re unable to attend this meeting and are a first-time applicant, please reach out to Dawn Bye for guidance.
SYI proposals are due by 5 p.m. March 18, 2021 (via email only). For more information, or to download the RFP application, click here.