Work Sites

This summer, the Youth Ready Chicago program will provide up to 7,300 youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with a government-subsidized paid work experience.  The Department of Family and Support Services (FSS) is seeking applications from qualified non-profit organizations, private-sector businesses, local government and faith-based organizations to serve as work sites for the Youth Ready Chicago program. 

The Youth Ready Chicago program will operate through a system hubs and work sites.  Hubs will provide operational and administrative oversight of the program including paying all youth associated with that hub.  Work sites will be assigned to a hub and will provide youth with jobs in the community and supervise them.

Work sites will create meaningful summer job experiences for youth.  Youth hired through this program must be placed in newly created jobs or opportunities rather than fund positions no longer funded by previously existing programming.  Duties cannot replace work that would normally be done by existing or recently laid off employees.  Work sites will not receive any funding directly, although all youth employed at their sites will be paid through the associated hub at no cost to the work site.

Youth will earn minimum wage up to $9.00 per hour for up to 30 hours per week, over a 6-10 week period between June 1 and September 30.  Participating youth must be eligible for services under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) eligibility guidelines.

For more information, email inquiries to youthreadychicago@cityofchicago.org.