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Council hearing spotlights large youth demand; providers ask for more summer slots and wraparound supports
Summary
Nonprofit operators told council that youth summer employment demand far outstrips available paid placements: Jev reported ~14,000 applications for 7,000 slots last summer (other witnesses said the total placements were about 8,000), and providers asked for budget increases to expand slots, provide stipends and remove paperwork barriers.
Nonprofit providers and city officials told the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on March 18 that demand for paid youth learning opportunities in Philadelphia far exceeded available slots last year, and that additional funding and program supports will be needed to meet the city's goals.
Cynthia Figuero, president and CEO of Jev Human Services, said the C2L PHL youth program (a city partnership with nonprofit operators and the school district) placed roughly 7,000 young people in paid learning opportunities at about 550 host placements last summer, while receiving more than 14,000 applications. A city official later clarified the overall network served about 8,000 youth in summer placements across providers; Jev is a lead operator for many of those slots.
Figuero told the committee the program returned about $8.7 million in stipends to youth and families last summer and urged council to increase slot funding, expand high-school-equivalency (HSE) programs and reduce administrative burdens for nonprofit providers so they do not have to borrow against delayed city payments.
Council members asked how constituents can access CCME and C2L programs. Panelists said there are interest forms at Community College of Philadelphia and multiple career‑center "front doors" (four major centers and 19 affiliate sites) to assess and route applicants into training and jobs. Witnesses described pre-placement professional development (Power Skills), a required orientation and on‑site career counseling.
Panelists and council members discussed practical barriers that prevent young applicants from completing placements: missing documents (work papers, IDs), timing of application openings, and the need for adequate stipends so applicants and families can participate. City officials said several administrative changes and additional outreach were implemented to reduce past paperwork barriers and that the mayor's FY27 budget seeks to expand youth slots toward a mayoral target of 10,000.
The committee asked for more granular tracking of youth participants over time to measure whether early placements lead to long‑term career pathways. Several witnesses also urged deeper private‑sector engagement to add placements beyond what city funding can provide. The council said it will continue to examine budget proposals and partnership strategies to expand youth employment and career‑connected learning.
