Summer Work Experience for Youth & Young Adults: How Employers Can Benefit

By Andrea Applegate

My stepdaughter just graduated from high school.  Though she plans to spend the majority of her summer shopping for all the “essentials” to appropriately outfit her dorm room at Ohio State in the fall, she will also take on more hours as a cashier at a local grocery store—to help fund, I hope, all that shopping. I’m certain she’ll also spend many hours lazing by the pool and in front of the TV catching up on Celebrity Rehab and the Real World.  What will the young adults in your life be doing this summer?

Because she has a job, my stepdaughter happens to be one of the lucky ones.  According to an article in the June 6, 2010 edition of the Columbus Dispatch, summer jobs [are] scarce, especially for teens.  This predicament seems overwhelming and well beyond any one person’s control.  With so many people still out of work, things won’t get better for young people, who are at the “bottom of the food chain,” until after the economy improves, right? 

Not so fast.  There is something you can do:  you can bring a young person into your business this summer.  Indeed, there is funding available, through multiple programs, to pay up to 100 percent of wages for eligible youth in your employ.  These programs seek to provide students “meaningful work experiences in high-growth industries and high-demand occupations,” such as:

• Healthcare
  
• Business
• Technology
• Construction
• Education
• Engineering
• Creative
• Logistics & transportation

Youth and young adults participating in this program range between 14- and 21-years-old and receive training and preparation before entering your workplace.  The duration of the summer work experiences varies, though will typically be 20 hours/week for six weeks (up to 120 hours).

It’s easy to get started. For more information or to sign up to host a young person in your business, contact Jana Davis at COWIC.  You can also get information from any of the following organizations that are recipients of COWIC’s funding:

• Henkels & McCoy’s TechBridge:  Jessica Webb (14 – 21-year-olds, up to 120 hours)
• Wright Choice: Tamara Drayton (18 – 21-year-olds for 6 weeks)
• TECH CORPS Ohio: Lisa Chambers (14 – 18-year-olds, 20 hours/week for 6 weeks)
• Godman Guild T.E.E.N.: Tamara Hamilton (14 – 18-year-olds, 20 hours/week for 6 weeks)

Of course, the Columbus Chamber is always here to help answer your workforce questions. If you need assistance with your internship program, young professionals, or resources for relocating employees to Columbus, please email me.