For the second straight year, more than 8,000 Detroit youth will be working for a city program this summer.
The Grow Detroit’s Young Talent hired 8,127 young people from age 14-24 to work for one of 530 companies across the city.
GDYT hired 2,500 more young people than in 2015 when it began, but 30 fewer than it hired in 2016.
City councilman Scott Benson has been involved with getting youth from the city’s third district, which he represents, into the program since last year.
He says this program gives many Detroit kids and young adults a leg up for competition in the real world.
“Having the opportunity to work in law firms, to work in city offices, to work outside during the summertime, gives a level of experience that many of our youth were not able to get in the past,” Benson said.
Mayor Mike Duggan says he hopes GDYT can help with the city’s need for workers in the skilled trades.
“Between the twelve buildings and the four billion dollar bridge that are coming, there are going to be a lot of jobs building things,” Duggan said.
Duggan says many of these summer jobs can lead to internships and apprenticeships.
The youth will be at work sites ranging from construction sites to law firms and parks.
