Erie County seeks employers to participate in Summer JAM 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa J. Dixon
mdixon@eriecountypa.gov
Erie, PA – Erie County and the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) invite employers to participate in the 2021 Summer Jobs and More program (Summer JAM). Entering its eighth year, the program provides job readiness training, career exploration, and employment opportunities for youth living in Erie County.
Summer JAM is a collaborative effort between Erie County government, Erie County Gaming and Revenue Authority, The Erie Community Foundation, and other supportive individuals and organizations that have recognized the need to address employability issues for the youth population aged 16-21 years.
“I encourage our local businesses across all areas of Erie County to participate in this program,” said Gary N. Lee, director of administration for the County of Erie. “This is an opportunity to invest in our young men and women, giving them hope. It is also an opportunity for employers who are currently struggling to fill positions during this pandemic. One goal of the program is to train and prepare these youth for potential permanent placement.”
Employers can expect youth to work for eight weeks, June 21 – Aug. 13, for an average of 22.5 hours a week.
Benefits to participating employers include:
- Providing a work opportunity to youth while the program pays the wages
- Receiving youth workers who are screened and trained by GECAC (who also matches the skills and interests of the youth to a local business)
- Helping local youth to learn valuable life skills and gain practical work experience
- Introducing local youth and their talent to potential career paths
- Receiving an assigned job site team advisor to ensure a successful experience for both the employer and the youth worker
Youth are matched with employers based on the employer specifications, geographic proximity and availability of reliable transportation for youth. Then GEGAC provides orientation and training sessions. Because of the pandemic, GECAC has implemented an appropriate strategy, and the Erie County Department of Health has provided a COVID-19 safety training.
GECAC offers recruitment and informational sessions for employers and participants through virtual meetings, outreach at local schools and community centers, social media blasts, and outdoor pop-up events.
The due date for interested employers to submit their Employer Registration Packet is Friday, May 21.
For more information, employers can visit https://eriecountypa.gov/departments/county-executives-office/initiatives/summer-jam/ or https://www.gecac.org/work/employment-and-income/summer-jam or contact GECAC at summerjam@gecac.org or 814-897-6571.
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