The GRow1000 Summer Youth Employment Program through Our Community’s Children (OCC)/City of Grand Rapids is an opportunity for young people ages 15–24 to gain real work experience, build professional skills, and connect with employers throughout Grand Rapids. Program participants will be matched with employers for a 6-week (June 8 -July 17, 2026), 120-hour, paid work experience. Through this experience, area businesses and organizations will introduce youth to real-world work environments and create pathways to future careers.

History: 

GRow1000 was launched the summer of 2020 in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing racial and economic disparities. City Manager Dr. Mark Washington called on business and community leaders to help mitigate these effects by employing 1,000 young people during the summer. Over the last six summers, the GRow1000 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has employed nearly 1,400 youth in meaningful jobs at unique job sites at area businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and government.

How Management Business Solutions (MBS) Supports the Program:

For the 2026 GRow1000 SYEP, Management Business Solutions (MBS) is partnering with the OCC/City of Grand Rapids to support the employment process for youth participants (GRowers).

(MBS) supports the employment and hiring process for youth participants. 

MBS will help manage:

• Youth application processing 
• Employment eligibility verification (I-9, tax forms, work permits)
• Interview coordination with Our Community’s Children and partners - Dates TBA
• Onboarding and employment paperwork processing
• Pre-employment communication and reminders
• Payroll Processing (direct deposit) for each program participant
  
  

(OCC) manages the overall program experience.

Email occyouth@grcity.us with general questions about the program.

OCC oversees:

• Public Relations and advertising associated with the program
• Communication with GRowers from the recruitment process to the employment experience
• Communication with participating worksites and supervisor’s
• Matching GRowers to available employment opportunities
• Facilitating youth orientation and supervisor trainings – Visit www.grandrapidsmi.gov/grow1000 for dates.
• Processing bus pass requests for transportation
• Coordinating the Job Shadow Days – Week of June 1^st  
• Leading the weekly GRow Further Friday professional development sessions
• Triaging GRower and supervisor strengths and challenges
• Hosting the End-of-Program Celebration
  
  

This helps ensure that students are prepared for their work experience and that all required employment documentation is completed before the program begins.

What You Need to Do to Participate

To be considered for the GRow1000 SYEP, applicants must:

✔ Be 15 and 24-years-old by June 8, 2026.

✔ Ability to commit to 20 hours of work a week from June 8-July 17.

✔ Complete the online application through MBS website.

✔ Complete all onboarding paperwork by Friday, May 8, 2026 at the latest.

✔ Participate in an interview via invitation only.

✔ Attend one Job Shadow day.  

✔ Attend one mandatory Pre-Employment Orientation session.

✔ Attend weekly GRow Further Friday professional development sessions during the program

The program will conclude with an End-of-Program Celebration recognizing participating youth and worksites.

After submitting your application through the MBS website:

1. If eligible, your application will be reviewed by MBS program staff.
2. Pre-onbarding paperwork will be submitted via email.
3. You may be invited to participate in an interview with MBS and OCC. MBS will also collect pending paperwork.
4. After completing the interview, final onboarding paperwork will be collected by MBS by May 8, 2026. (This may include I-9 processing & work permit if needed.)
5. Eligible applicants will be matched by OCC with a participating worksite based on:
• Interests
• Availability
• Worksite needs
6. Invited to orientation / training session with OCC
7. Job Shadow Days will be confirmed for the week of June 1^st with your selected employer by OCC.
8. Employment Start date on June 8, 2026.
   
   

GRowers who are selected will receive their job placement details by late May. Once placements are assigned, they are generally considered final.

Important: Submitting an application nor participating in an interview does not guarantee placement in the program.