Orlando Mayor calls on local businesses to participate in city’s Summer Youth Employment Program

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando city leaders say they have hundreds of teenagers ready to work, but they need local businesses to help out.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The Orlando Summer Youth Employment program covers salaries for teenagers to help them get their foot in the door of a new job.

On Wednesday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined District 5 City Commissioner Regina Hill to call on businesses in the Parramore, Mercy Drive and Englewood communities to sign up and help.

READ: Florida expands ban on lessons about sexual orientation, gender identity up to 12th grade

The city says $1 million is being invested into the program and they already have 600 kids between 15 and 19 years old ready to work this summer.

Jamie Williams has been on the hunt for work with her daughter and nephew. She says the teens are ready to clock in, but can’t find a job.

“We’ve been looking for a few months now,” Williams said.

The Summer Youth Employment Program is intended to help families with that search. It pays the employee’s salary for the first five weeks.

READ: Newly released video shows arrest of man accused of shooting at truck on Florida’s Turnpike

Program directors say some businesses have been apprehensive about working with teens, questioning their commitment and maturity.

“You see all of the hiring signs and you put in an application, then all of a sudden there’s been no, you don’t qualify. You don’t have experience,” Williams said.

18-year-old Adam Sutton worked at Out of Many Street Sol and Kitchen in Parramore last year. He says he doesn’t know what he’d be doing without the job.

Alexander Gonzalez, who hired Sutton, says the free help was a benefit for his new business.

READ: Reedy Creek’s new board said it plans to fight Disney’s development agreement

“Seeing that, almost, things become automatic as far as knowing what to do when they come in the building, and when it’s time for them to go,” Gonzalez said. “It’s honestly a really great thing to witness.”

The program is hoping to add more businesses in the immediate area because transportation is a challenge for some of the teens.

Right now, it has 180 businesses ready to participate, but the goal is to have 600. Businesses have until May 20 to apply and join.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2023 Cox Media Group