Employers

GDYT Frequently Asked Questions – Employers

How Can Employers Get Involved?

There are five ways to get involved:

Become an Employer Partner by providing a job at your designated worksite and sponsor a 6-week paid work experience (120 hours) for $2,000 per youth.

Become a Funding Partner and make a financial contribution to the GDYT program to support summer work experiences for Detroit youth.

Be recognized as an Affiliate Partner by directly hiring youth through an existing summer program that you operate. 

Volunteer to support key program components (i.e. career fairs, work-readiness training, etc.).
To become involved, please go to the Employers and Supporters page to complete an Interest Form.

Who’s Eligible for a GDYT Summer Job?
The Grow Detroit’s Young Talent Program provides youth employment experiences and training to teens and young adults ages 14 – 24. Youth participants must be permanent residents of the City of Detroit and be eligible to work in the United States.
How Are Youth Selected?
Some of the youth who participate will come recommended from Detroit schools and nonprofits. Other youth will come from the pool of applicants who apply through the online application. The youth are screened, and surveyed for their interests before being matched with a worksite.
How Are Youth Matched with Employers?
A majority of youth will be chosen by employers through Career Connections Fairs. At these events, employers will have the opportunity to interview candidates, and even offer positions to them on the spot. For those who choose not to participate in the Career Connections Fairs, youth will be matched and placed with you by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation.
What youth are eligible for the Career Connections Fairs?
The youth who are eligible to work with employers are those who are at least 17 years of age, have at least 1 year of work experience, received a positive evaluation in their previous position, and have a grade point average of 2.5 or above.
What Is Work Readiness Training?
The GDYT work readiness training is designed to prepare participants to demonstrate appropriate workplace behaviors. The training includes a financial literacy component as well. Youth participate in a minimum of 12 hours of work readiness training with GDYT facilitators or they may “test out” by demonstrating the required competencies.
What Are The Youth Wages and Hours?

Youth will be paid between $10 to $15 per hour. Participants may work up to 120 hours, typically working 20 hours per week for 6 weeks.

GDYT participants that earn stipends instead of wages must meet program benchmarks instead of working a set number of hours. Participants can earn stipends between $1,200 and $2,000 depending on the summer experience and benchmarks achieved.

How Is My Contribution Spent?
The majority of the funds will cover youth wages and taxes. After wages and taxes, the remaining funds cover program expenses such as staff, insurance, supplies/materials, transportation, program shirts and IDs, operating costs, etc.
How Is Payroll Managed?

GDYT processes payroll for participants. Youth will enter their time with supervisor approval according to a bi-weekly payroll schedule. Youth will be paid bi-weekly according to their selected payroll method (pay card or direct deposit).

How Are Employer Partners Supported Throughout The Summer?

GDYT endeavors to make the Employer Partner’s job easier through several forms of support:

Employer Training
Employer training will be provided in late May/early June. Employers will be invited to attend a session to help them gain a better understanding of program logistics and how to offer a quality experience to youth employees. In person or webinar versions of the training will be offered.

Site Monitors
Employer Liaisons will be assigned to assist employers and youth throughout the summer.

Employer Tool Kit
The Employer Tool Kit has been developed as a resource to assist employer partners with refining the unique components necessary for working with youth employees. Tip sheets on topics such as how to recruit staff to work with youth interns, how to design an orientation, and suggested activities for youth interns are included.

Where Do I Send A Check?

Make tax-deductible contributions payable to:
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
ATTN: GDYT
115 Erskine Street, 2nd Floor
Detroit, MI 48201
Tax ID: 383353746

Or via PayPal at – accountspayable@detempsol.org

Contributions to the GDYT program are non-refundable.