Partnership Creates Summer Youth Internships for 54 Deserving Students

Posted on: Jun 6th, 2014 | News and Announcements

The Mobile County Commission, Mobile Works and PNC Bank have joined forces to fund a summer youth internship program. The five-week program, coordinated by Spherion Staffing Services and Workshops Etc.! is scheduled to begin June 6 for fifty-four students ages 18-22. Training is the key to having a prepared workforce, according to Sydney Raine, Mobile Works president. ?Our funding dollars will pay for wages associated with this internship program. Our goal is for students to leave this program equipped with skills to pursue additional training or be in a position to compete for jobs locally.? The internship program will consist of 30 hours of training followed by four weeks of on-the-job performance, primarily in private sector work. Training will include technology and software classes as well as basic soft skills such as banking and budgeting. Cheryl Williams, Spherion Staffing Services owner, one of the program coordinators, states that employers in Mobile County typically hirea workers with some degree of training or skills. ?By increasing the skill set, we increase the job opportunities for potential workers in this community.? ?An internship program for youths is especially important because the employment rate for teens has fallen from 45 percent to 26 percent,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?We are investing in summer work programs for teenagers who need to earn money for college and basic living expenses. ? ?It?s vitally important to prepare our youth for employment, and this program offers the skills development and the job experience that will make them valuable to future employers,? said Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson. ?Education and job training are essential for success in a competitive world and increase the opportunities for our growing industrial sector here to hire locally.? Students selected for the program met the following criteria: ? GPA of 2.0 ? Two letters of recommendations ? Essay detailing interest in the program ? Completed interview ? Criminal background check ? Drug test ?PNC recognizes the importance of helping individuals in the Mobile area achieve the financial skills and resources necessary to thrive in today?s job market,? said Cedric Hatcher, PNC regional president, Gulf Coast. ?This grant reflects PNC?s strategic investment in improving the financial stability of our community residents, with the ultimate goal of creating a stronger and more attractive workforce for PNC and other leading corporations coming to Mobile.?