New Bedford Summer Jobs Program

New Bedford Summer Jobs Youth Program

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New Bedford Summer Jobs ProgramOn Wednesday, April 4th at 5:30 p.m. at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center, the City of New Bedford will hold a kickoff and information session for Mayor Mitchell’s Summer Jobs Initiative.  The event will give New Bedford youth and their parents the opportunity learn about the array of job and enrichment opportunities available for city youth.

This is the first year that the three major publically and privately funded summer youth employment programs will be coordinated as a single initiative sponsored by the Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative consists of three programs:

  • The City of New Bedford Seasonal Training and Employment Program (STEP) at the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Beaches
  • The New Directions’ Summer Jobs Program
  • The Summer Youth Enrichment Program (formerly the Stipend Program) organized by the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board.

These programs are funded through a variety of sources including the City of New Bedford, federal Community Development Block Grant, Workforce Investment Act funding, the Commonwealth’s YouthWorks program, and private and corporate donations.

Each component program of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative has distinct eligibility criteria, hiring and placement procedures, and programmatic foci, but all share the goal of providing New Bedford youth with a constructive outlet for their time and energy, real work experience, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a successful working person. The minimum age is 14 for some programs and 16 for others.

Mayor Mitchell hopes to engage as many New Bedford youth as possible with meaningful employment and enrichment opportunities.

“Teen unemployment is at an all-time high in New Bedford,” said Mayor Mitchell. “Fully 70 percent of the city’s teens were unemployed last summer. Teens with time on their hands in the heat of the summer isn’t good for them or for the community. Not being able to find a job hinders their ability to contribute to the local economy, and constrains their future employment prospects. No one wins.”

The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative will employ a multi-faceted approach to maximize opportunities for youth summer employment.  The Initiative includes a robust employer engagement effort in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board, New Directions and The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce; job readiness training; a mix of traditional employment, educational enrichment activities, and community service; and a thoughtful and deliberate approach to matching youth to the program slot or private or public job that best suits their skills and interests.

The April 4th kickoff event will lay out the details of the Initiative and describe the various eligibility and application requirements, program elements, and expectations.

“We know it can be confusing for teens and their parents to navigate these various programs,” said Mayor Mitchell. “We hope that by coordinating these efforts from the beginning and offering a single event and point of contact for information about the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative, we can eliminate some of the confusion.”

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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2 comments

  1. Osaru Osayi-Osazuwa

    I love the idea of youth summer jobs, keeps them out of trouble.

  2. Please email or send me a job application or a meeting date to my address 108 South st. 02740 iam 16 & looking for a job to support my family 🙂

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