Today, Mayor Craig Greenberg joined other community leaders at Louisville Metro Hall to announce SummerWorks registration for the 2023 season is now open.
“I’m excited to announce the start of my first SummerWorks season since becoming Mayor. This program has brought a ton of value to our city over its 12 seasons and I’m looking forward to finding ways to expand it and maximize its potential for our youth and employers,” Greenberg said. “There is also a public safety element to this. When a young person is gaining skills, making connections, and can see genuine opportunity in their future, there’s less of a chance they’re going to drift down the wrong path in life.”
William Carr, who participated in SummerWorks last season at Louisville ECHO, said that the program helped him build confidence. “SummerWorks made me realize the importance of discipline and networking,” said Carr, who was part of the SummerWorks team that constructed the new hiking trail at Shawnee Park in 2022.
All Louisville youth who are between the ages of 16-21 (as of June 1) are eligible to enroll in SummerWorks. Once youth register online they can create or upload a resume, get soft skills training, and apply to job opportunities geared toward them. Youth applicants who face barriers and come from disadvantaged backgrounds are prioritized in the job matching process.
SummerWorks partners with many of the city’s largest private sector employers, including UPS, GE Appliances, Humana, Kentucky Kingdom, and Kroger. Small and medium sized businesses, as well as nonprofits and public agencies, also hire through SummerWorks. In recent years, SummerWorks has also expanded its partnerships with Louisville’s major education institutions, including Jefferson County Public Schools and the University of Louisville.
SummerWorks has directly placed nearly 8,000 youth in summer jobs since it began in 2011. The program’s core operating funds are approved by the Louisville Metro Council. Private donations sponsor jobs for youth in greatest need of the opportunity. Those contributors include the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Diaz Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, the Jewish Heritage Fund, the Ginkgo Fund, and others.
SummerWorks is operated by YouthBuild Louisville in partnership with KentuckianaWorks, the Louisville Region’s Workforce Development Board. To learn more about SummerWorks and how to get involved as a participant, employer, or supporter, visit www.summerworks.org.
