Meeteetse Youth Employment Program wins Workforce Partnership Award

The Meeteetse Youth Employment Program is an innovative solution to workforce issues in the tiny town of Meeteetse, Wyo. (population 351). The program, funded through a partnership between the Wyoming Community Foundation, Wyoming Workforce Development Office, and individual donors pays the wages for local high school students who want to gain work experience through Meeteetse businesses. Before the advent of the program, students who wanted part-time jobs or summer jobs found themselves driving 30 miles one-way to Cody for employment, because local employers could not afford to hire extra (though much-needed) staff. This program, however, solves both problems.

Each year, the Governor of Wyoming awards the Workforce Partnership Award to a project that demonstrated a unique collaboration between businesses and community organizations that include, but are not limited to, the workforce system, economic development and education which results in addressing a workforce issue. In 2009, this award went to the Meeteetse Youth Employment Program. This video shows Kandi Bennett of the Meeteetse High School, Angie Johnson of the town of Meeteetse, and John Fernandez of Meeteetse Recreation explaining the program in the interview that was shown during the award presentation.

The partnership is remarkable. Local employers agree to take on students and teach them about their business while providing them opportunities to learn common work skills. The Wyoming Community Foundation does fundraising to match a grant from the state of Wyoming. The town of Meeteetse donates staff time to manage the paperwork and expenses associated with hiring the students. The result is that jobs are added to Meeteetses economy, employers get extra help, and students receive an essential learning opportunity.

Visit http://www.wycf.org/calendar.aspx?id=116 to read more about the Meeteetse Youth Employment Program.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Wyoming
• summer employment
• high school
• work experience
• internships
• economic development
• rural
• small town
• opportunity
• Meeteetse