Detroit at Work presents $66 million FY26 plan; council sends multiple workforce items to executive session

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), the nonprofit that runs Detroit at Work, told Detroit City Council on the record that its fiscal year 2026 budget is projected at $66,000,000 and described program outcomes, ARPA‑funded pilot results and plans to expand career‑center outreach and training programs.

DESC Executive Director Terry Weems opened the presentation, saying, “I am Terry Weems. I'm the executive director of workforce for the city of Detroit and Detroit at Work.” She and DESC staff reviewed the organization’s career‑center footprint, employer partnerships and youth programs, and reported referral and placement counts tied to employer agreements.

DESC chief fiscal and operations lead Dana Williams told council the FY26 budget estimate is $66,000,000 and that the organization’s revenue mix includes Department of Labor formula dollars, competitive federal grants, city funding, corporate and philanthropic investments and ARPA. Williams said DESC’s career services, youth programming, supportive services, training and administration remain the primary allocation areas.

Chief program officer Stephanie Nixon described outcomes tied to specific grants and projects. She said DESC has referred “over 44,000 residents to these employers with over 14,000 Detroiters hired” through employer partnerships, and that training programs have reached “over 45,000 Detroiters” with “job placements, over 3,400 to this point at an average wage of $31 an hour.” Nixon also said more than 8,600 young people were placed through youth employment programming last year and reported current enrollments in specific pilots such as Skills for Life (about 800 enrolled) and Jumpstart (about 1,800 enrolled).

Council members pressed DESC on program measurement, transitions after ARPA funding ends, barriers to employment and plans…