UPDATE: The GRow1000 Summer Youth Employment Program is still accepting Business Partner Registrations to host GRow1000 Youth Employees for Summer 2025!
What do I need to consider when placing a person age 15-24 in my workplace?
All worksites must abide by the Michigan work requirements. A person under 18 years of age cannot be employed in, about, or in connection with an occupation that is hazardous or injurious to the minor’s health. Don’t let that stop you from accepting placement of youth under 18. Young people are resourceful and have a lot to offer.
They can research, update social media platforms, file, answer phones, provide good customer service, inventory, attend meetings, document testing methods, compile information, generate new ideas for design development, sell, test prototypes, market, interview other staff throughout the organization and explore career opportunities. The benefit to your organization is the opportunity to engage youth and support the diversity of our workforce pipeline. The goal is to help youth expand their horizons, improve job readiness skills, develop relationships with professional contacts and explore new career opportunities. These positions can be in-person, virtual or a hybrid.
What should our business partners consider before agreeing to place a youth worker?
Although providing 6-week meaningful and rewarding workplace experiences are part of the goals of GRow1000, the health (physical, mental, and emotional) of our youth are paramount. In order to create these successful workplace opportunities for participating youth and businesses, OCC staff encourage all GRow1000 worksite supervisors to utilize the following items:
- GRow1000 Workplace Cultural Assessment (Completed at time of program registration)
- GRow1000 Worksite Supervisor Pre-Program Checklist (Distributed during Business Partner Orientation on Friday, May 16th)
- GRow1000 Participating Business/Organization ROI Statement (Submitted after program is complete)
For any additional questions related to participating as a host worksite during GRow1000, please contact OCC Program Coordinator Zachary Laraway at zlaraway@grcity.us.
Will my participating organization or business have an opportunity to meet with youth applicants prior to the start of GRow1000 to share information about potential job assignments and locations?
Yes - Our Community's Children staff, along with participating GRow1000 business partners, will also host two Meet-and-Greet style "GRowcase" events allowing youth participants to learn more about potential worksites and work assignments during the program.
- Monday, April 14th at Grand Rapids City Hall Commission Chambers - 9th Floor 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, April 28th at Grand Rapids City Hall Commission Chambers - 9th Floor 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
GRow1000 Job Shadow Day – New for Summer 2025!
In addition to the GRowcase events, all participating GRow1000 worksite supervisors are highly encouraged to invite their matched GRowers to attend a Job Shadow Day prior to the 1st day of work on Monday, June 9th.
The Job Shadow Day should be designed and scheduled by the GRow1000 worksite supervisors to provide an initial opportunity to meet with their matched youth employees in-person at their anticipated workplace settings to cover initial employment details, expectations, and questions unique to their jobs/work environments.
*NOTE: Job Shadow Days are considered non-paid work opportunities for youth employees. A workplace-specific orientation should be held within the 1st week of work for employees regardless of participation in a Job Shadow Day opportunity.
Who is responsible for paying for the wages?
As the Employer of Record, the City of Grand Rapids will process all employee GRow1000 Business Partners are responsible for remitting payment via invoice to the City of Grand Rapids for their participation in GRow1000 after the program has ended beginning in September 2025.
The City of Grand Rapids will send an invoice to the participating employer for the cost associated with hiring youth at $1,600 per youth.
*Please note: Any non-profit organization with 10 or fewer full-time employees will not receive an invoice for their participation in GRow1000. These wages will be subsidized 100% on a first come, first serve basis until slots are filled.
How many hours are we expected to provide? Can youth work more than 20 hours in one week?
Youth will work a total of 120 hours during 6-weeks of employment. Work schedules can be negotiated between you and your youth worker and can include evenings and weekends as in compliance with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Youth Employment standards for minors. Youth under the age of 18 must have a work permit and you must abide by all rules and regulations indicated. On average, youth will work 17 hours on-site and participate in three hours of paid professional development at city hall or other locations weekly. However, if fewer hours were worked in a particular week, you may schedule more hours the week after in order to make up for the lost hours.
Will I need to have my youth worker fill out a timesheet?
Yes - The City of Grand Rapids is the employer of record. A link to the timesheet template will be sent to you and to your youth worker. It is the direct GRow1000 Supervisor(s) responsibility to ensure the youth worker correctly completes the timesheet weekly.
- Worksite supervisors will also be required to fill out a timesheet based on the total number of hours worked per youth. Supervisors are to only document confirmed hours worked at their designated workplace regardless of weekly schedules.
- Timesheets will then be compared for accuracy and verified before they are processed to ensure reported GRower hours match reported hours submitted by their GRow1000 Supervisor(s). OCC Staff will assign paid time for GRowers attending the GFF professional development sessions.
- Timesheets are due on completion of the last day of work each week, but no later than Friday at 5 p.m.
- Late timesheets will result in pay being delayed for your GRow1000 employee until the next pay period.
Please refer to the pay schedule. Youth will only be paid for the number of hours actually worked and any discrepancies will need to be verified before hours are submitted for payment.
How often will youth be paid?
Youth will be paid by the City of Grand Rapids via direct deposit unless they do not have a bank account.
If GRowers do not have direct deposit, a paper paycheck will be sent on the Monday of the pay period week to the GRower address on file and should be received by the next day (Tuesday). For 2025, all GRow1000 youth participants will be paid $13/hour.
The following pay schedule is that of all City employees who are paid every two weeks:
Work Weeks 1 & 2
- Sunday, June 8 - Saturday, June 21, 2025
- Pay Date: Tuesday, July 1st
Work Weeks 3 & 4
- Sunday, June 22 - Saturday, July 5, 2025
- Pay Date: Tuesday, July 15th
Work Weeks 5 & 6
- Sunday, July 6 - Saturday, July 19, 2025
- Pay Date: Tuesday July 29th
- This is last pay period for which any hours worked in GRow1000 can be submitted by a worksite supervisor in the program.
What if youth have a question about the amount of pay they have received?
They should email parksandrec@grcity.us if they have questions about their paycheck.
Are bus passes provided to youth to get to work?
Yes - A bus pass can be requested and obtained by a GRower at the time of their attendance at their mandatory GRow1000 Orientation Training date.
What if youth are injured during working hours?
If your youth worker is injured, please comply with your business or organization’s emergency protocols. Also contact the City’s Risk Management Department at evonhatten@grand-rapids.mi.us or 616.456.3342. If youth are under the age of 18, please contact their parent/guardian as well.
Emergency procedures will be discussed in detail at the GRow1000 Business Partner Orientation on Friday, May 16th.
Is my organization responsible for providing insurance or benefits?
No, normally only full-time employees are eligible for benefits provided by the employer. Youth workers are short-term employees and are therefore ineligible.
When does the employment experience start and end?
Your commitment is to offer an employment experience for 6 weeks of work averaging 20 hours a week from June 9 - July 18, 2025 for a total of 120 total work hours.
Can I continue to employ my youth worker(s) after the 6 weeks of work?
- After the last date of the 6-week GRow1000 Summer Youth Employment Program, GRowers are no longer considered employees with the City of Grand Rapids.
- The City of Grand Rapids is no longer responsible for paying wages after all work hours have been submitted and verified for the 6-week program.
- Businesses and organizations can offer further employment with youth once the summer program has concluded. In this case, the business or organization will need to assume all onboarding/hiring, payroll responsibilities, and employer of record designation.
When should I receive notice of my matched GRow1000 employee(s) and when is the Business Partner Orientation Session?
Youth applicants 15 to 24-years-old must complete an online application and submit all onboarding required documents with the City of Grand Rapids to be eligible for job placement.
- All onboarding documents must be received by Friday, May 9th to be eligible and documents will not be accepted after this date. Both matched youth participants and worksite supervisor(s) will be contacted via email regarding their placements by Our Community’s Children staff by Tuesday, May 27, 2024.
- OCC Staff do not guarantee job placements.
Our Community’s Children will hold a GRow1000 Business Partner Orientation Session on Friday, May 16, 2024. An invite to all will be sent to all registered worksite supervisors prior to the date with more information.
What if my GRower decides to no longer participate after the start of the program or is not a good fit for our business or organization?
This experience is to promote career exposure and skill-building. For many, this may be their first work experience, and some leeway will be needed for who have not had experience in a professional setting.
- OCC Staff, in collaboration with the GRow1000 Employer Community of Practice, have implemented intentional strategies for GRow1000 supervisors to utilize to ensure youth workplace opportunities are beneficial and rewarding for both youth and supervisors during the program.
- These strategies and additional information will be available during the GRow1000 Business Orientation session on Friday, May 16th.
If difficulties arise after the start of the program, supervisors are encouraged to hold discussions, or additional training, with their GRower to express expectations or other work task opportunities to create a positive program experience.
Please reach out to OCC Program Coordinator Zach Laraway at zlaraway@grcity.us with questions.
Can I donate to the initiative as well as employ youth?
As we plan for another summer of prosperity where our GRowers can earn a competitive wage, learn skills foundational for success, and serve as a premier youth talent pool for employers; your financial contribution is critical.
Consider supporting the GRow1000 Summer Youth Employment Program in the following ways:
- Donate any amount to defray program costs and/or wages. Program costs include bus passes, and the facilitation of professional development workshops for youth and worksites.
- Sponsor youth placed at a local nonprofit that can provide a job opportunity but cannot afford to cover wages. The cost per youth placement is $1,600.
Checks can be made payable to:
The City of Grand Rapids, Attn: Our Community’s Children
245 State Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
To donate by credit card via the City of Grand Rapids’ payment system, please contact Shannon L. Harris, Executive Director, at 616.456.3558 or sharris@grcity.us and indicate the amount of the donation and a link will be sent to initiate your transaction.
If I have more questions, whom should I contact?
Paychecks
Bus Passes
Weekly Professional Development Workshops
