In 2011, with Louisville's teen unemployment rate at record levels, federal funding for summer jobs for youth disappeared. Facing the prospect of skyrocketing unemployment among the city's youth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer led the effort to make SummerWorks a city-funded program run by KentuckianaWorks.

Since then, more than 40,000 youth have gotten a job with a Champion Employer. The program continues to expand and evolve each year because our local businesses recognize that there is no substitute for on-the-job training. When we invest in young workers, it's far more than an invaluable short-term opportunity - we strengthen the long-term foundation of our economy, and our community.

Early job experiences are also key building blocks for youth, which is why SummerWorks has the strong support of donors such as the James Graham Brown Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Diaz Family Foundation and other contributors large and small. Their investments provide sponsored job experiences for many of our community's youth who are in greatest need of this life-changing opportunity.  

"THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG PERSON THAN TO HIRE THEM AND PUT THEM TO WORK. THEY WILL LEARN REAL WORLD LESSONS THEY WILL REMEMBER ALL THEIR LIVES - WHILE BUILDING LOUISVILLE'S TALENT PIPELINE TO THE FUTURE."

- LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISCHER

Season Reports

In 2022, SummerWorks was highlighted by Results for America as a national model for summer youth employment programs. See that report here.

Click here for recent news and updates about SummerWorks.