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Commissioners fund Ready to Earn youth program and Tech Corps internships; participant describes path to work
Summary
The board approved $1.384M in Ready to Earn agreements to serve 305 youth and a $525,000 TANF award to Tech Corps Ohio for 50 paid tech internships; a program participant described how internships led to a construction trade job.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on May 6 unanimously approved agreements totaling $1,384,612.70 to support the Ready to Earn youth empowerment program and separately approved a $525,000 TANF subaward with Tech Corps Ohio to expand paid summer tech internships.
Carmen Barnes, assistant director of Job and Family Services, told the board the Ready to Earn program offers two tracks: one for high‑school‑age youth focused on work‑based learning in fields such as technology, engineering and the arts; and a second track for ages 18–21 offering pre‑apprenticeship training in trades, transportation and logistics. Staff said the program will serve 305 youth and young adults this summer, with wages up to $15 per hour.
Milan Campbell, 19, a Ready to Earn participant, described his experience in the program: internships in podcasting and event planning led him to construction work and a concrete‑finishing position on large data‑center projects. "I end up doing construction. And now I'm a construction worker as a concrete finisher...I'm only 19 years old, so I have a lot of room to grow," Campbell said. Commissioners and staff praised his story as an example of program impact.
The Tech Corps amendment (Resolution 34325) will provide tech‑focused coursework and paid internships for 50 Franklin County students in grades nine and ten, covering topics such as app development, cybersecurity and data analytics. Board members and staff framed the investments as part of a broader strategy to link workforce preparation, violence‑prevention investments and economic opportunity for young residents.
The board moved, seconded and adopted both resolutions.
Next steps include contract execution and program onboarding with community partners listed in the resolution: Godman Guild Association, Lead the Way Learning Academy and Saint Stephen's Community House for the Ready to Earn program.
