• Nonprofit Organizations Request for Proposals
• For-profit Businesses Request for Proposals

Experience.  Building friendships. Making valuable connections in the workforce, and earning money. These are just a few of the elements Genesee County teens gain through the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI). And that is just the tip of the iceberg. The SYI program can help further teens academically, and guide them toward the right career path.

Your nonprofit agency or area business can help put them on that right path.

The Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce is the manager of the SYI program which provides funding to area nonprofits and for-profit businesses to hire Genesee County teens, ages 14-18, in grades 9 through 12, to work in their respective summer programs. The funding is distributed through a competitive proposal process, and each year more than 450 students are employed for eight to 10 weeks.

Teens are hired during the SYI Job Fair—as well as throughout the year—and jobs range from summer day camp counselors working with young children, general office duties, reading assistants, beautification and gardening assistants, library assistants and the food bank, to name a few.

For nonprofit agencies that employ SYI applicants, the program pays for all employment costs for teens, and potentially other program costs. Area businesses receive funding of one-half the employment costs incurred by hiring SYI applicants during the first ninety (90) days of employment.

Nonprofit agencies or businesses interested in applying for funding through SYI must complete a Request for Proposal (RFP) and submit it to Rhetta Hunyady at the Regional Chamber.