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Grow 1,000 summer jobs: city-backed program seeks 130 placements, paid orientation and training for youth
Summary
Shannon Harris of Our Community—s Children reviewed the Grow 1,000 summer youth employment program: since 2020 the initiative has placed 1,150 young people over five summers; for 2025 the program seeks 130 placements, pays $13 an hour for 20 hours a week over six weeks, and relies on city and partner host sites.
Shannon Harris, executive director of Our Community—s Children, briefed the committee on the Grow 1,000 summer youth employment program and asked employers and city departments to register as host sites.
Harris said the program began in 2020 and as of last summer had employed 1,150 young people over five summers. "We wanted this not to be a moment, but also but a movement," she said, describing the program—s goal of providing work experience and postsecondary information.
Why it matters: The program connects youth to paid work experience, workplace training and mentorship and is run as a public-private partnership between the city, Grand Rapids Public Schools and community partners.
Program results and design
- 2024 outcomes: Harris reported 397 unique applicants, 177 attendees at a paid orientation/training, 175 placements and 162 youths who ultimately worked. The program partnered with 48 host sites including for-profit, nonprofit and 14 city departments.
- Compensation and schedule: Grow 1,000 participants earn $13 an hour, work 20 hours per week for six weeks, and receive three hours per week of professional development (Grow Further Fridays). Host sites pay $1,600 per youth placed; smaller nonprofits (10 full-time employees or fewer) may qualify for subsidy funds.
- 2025 targets and dates: The program seeks 130 placements for 2025. Important dates: host-site registration due April 25, grower (youth) application also due April 25, an employer orientation will be held May 16 and the work period is June 99uly 18.
Outreach, equity and evaluation
Harris said most participants are under 18 and a large share live in the city—s three wards; zip code data from prior years showed concentrations in several city neighborhoods. The program provides professional-development sessions, mentorship contracts and a city-run payroll and onboarding system. She said staff are working to track retention and degree attainment for program participants and that a retention specialist is being hired to follow long-term outcomes.
Funding and partnership notes
Harris said Our Community—s Children manages program design and matching, and the city remains the employer of record. The program has received philanthropic support (for example, a Steelcase Foundation grant to support a community-of-practice for employers) and will request Third Ward Equity Fund support to help place residents from that ward.
Questions and committee response
Commissioners asked about the hourly rate, capacity and outreach to underrepresented groups. Harris said the program has raised the hourly wage over time from initial levels and currently had about 250 applicants early in the cycle. The committee asked how the program connects to postsecondary tracking and to disability outreach; Harris said the program can provide job accommodations when participants disclose needs and that a community-of-practice includes disability advocates to help host sites prepare.
Ending
Harris encouraged businesses, nonprofits and city departments to register by April 25 and to attend May 16 orientations. The committee praised the program—s structure and urged continued outreach to employers and underrepresented communities to reach the placement goal.
