• Grow Detroit's Young Talent portal is open for youth to apply at GDYT.org through May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Employers and partners can also sign up via the same website to sponsor youth workers
• The GDYT program has provided more than 87,000 summer work experiences for Detroit youth since 2015.

Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT), the City's official summer jobs program for local youth, returned as Mayor Mary Sheffield announced that the registration portal opens Friday, March 13 at 9 a.m. in honor of 313 Day.

The GDYT program is hosted annually to connect Detroit youth, ages 14-24, to summer employment. Participants will work with corporate employers, small businesses, community organizations and partners throughout the Metro Detroit area, and across a wide range of City of Detroit departments.

"Grow Detroit's Young Talent is more than just a summer job program - it's an investment in the future of our city's youth," said Mayor Mary Sheffield. "By providing meaningful work opportunities, we're equipping young Detroiters with valuable experiences to help them succeed in their careers and in life. This year, up to 8,000 young people will have the opportunity to prepare for bright futures."

To help kickoff 313 Day, and starting March 13, Detroit youth can register for summer work experiences to participate in this six-week program. Its goal is to help cultivate on-the-job experience for the next generation of talent and provide opportunities for local youth to build valuable workforce readiness skills.

"At DTE, we believe one of the most meaningful investments we can make is in Detroit's young people," said Joi Harris, president and chief executive officer, DTE Energy. "Grow Detroit's Young Talent helps students explore careers, build real-world skills and see what's possible for their future-right here in their own city. We're proud to keep this partnership going as we help develop the next generation of leaders, and we encourage other employers to join us in expanding opportunities and strengthening Detroit's workforce."

During the official Kick-Off Press Event, Mayor Sheffield was joined by City of Detroit Council Member At-Large, Mary Waters; DTE Energy President and CEO, Joi Harris; DTE Foundation President, Rodney Cole; Henry Ford Health Vice President of HR Planning, Development, and Belonging, Catherine Susko; Interim President of DESC and Director of the Mayor's Workforce Development Board and Detroit at Work, Terri Weems; and GDYT alumnae Leila Waters who emceed the event.

"Each summer, Grow Detroit's Young Talent demonstrates what is possible when a city invests intentionally in its young people," said Council President James Tate Jr. "Through this partnership between the City of Detroit, our business community, nonprofit partners, and philanthropic leaders, up to 8,000 Detroit youth will gain meaningful work experience, mentorship, and a vision for their future. This year's kickoff reflects Mayor Sheffield's commitment to a true cradle-to-career pathway for Detroiters. I strongly believe that when we expose our young people early to opportunity-especially in high-demand fields like the skilled trades-we are not only preparing them for good-paying careers, we are strengthening the future workforce and economic vitality of our entire city."

The press event took place at DTE Energy's headquarters, an employer partner since 2015. Its commitment has provided summer jobs and support to hundreds of young Detroiters over the years.

"GDYT helps Detroit youth earn real money and gain real skills, while working with real companies in the City of Detroit," said Mary Waters, City of Detroit Councilmember At-Large. "Each year of my term, I've employed students in my office through GDYT, and all of them have gone on to have careers with agencies such as State of Michigan, City of Detroit, and beyond. It is truly an honor each year to kick off the application period, and Grow Detroit's Young Talent!"

The program has become an invaluable resource for young Detroiters who are approaching the end of high school and looking to move into post-secondary education or a career. For older youth, the ability to gain experience across a range of industries allows them to make better-informed career choices.

"Programs like Grow Detroit's Young Talent are essential to building strong, thriving communities. By creating early access to meaningful work experiences, we help young people see what's possible for their futures-while strengthening the talent pipeline our city and region depend on," said Catherine Susko, Henry Ford Health's VP, HR Planning, Development & Belonging. "At Henry Ford Health, we believe opportunity changes lives, and when we invest in young talent, we're not just supporting summer employment-we're helping to build confidence, skills, and pathways that benefit individuals, families, and our entire community."

The GDYT program is managed by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) as the lead implementation agency and fiduciary for Detroit at Work. DESC partners with a wide range of employers, foundations, philanthropic donors and community partners to produce workforce development programs like GDYT and many others.

"Detroit at Work has a variety of workforce development programs designed to provide valuable resources for Detroit residents," said Terri Weems, Interim President of DESC and Director of the Mayor's Workforce Development Board and Detroit at Work. "Whether in high school, transitioning out of education, or changing career paths, we want to provide residents - including youth - with opportunities to make career choices with confidence while supporting work readiness and enhanced skills training."

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation also administers the Detroit at Work program on behalf of the City of Detroit. Connect Detroit is DESC's contracted Coordinator and Implementation Partner working with key community and faith-based organizations, municipal departments, and the Junior Police and Fire Cadets.

The application portal can be found at GDYT.org, and will remain open through May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. It serves as a starting point for any Detroit youth 14-24 looking to participate, as well as for any employer, philanthropic or community partners who would like to take part in this year's program.

Process for Successful Youth Applicants

After an individual expresses interest in a summer work experience through GDYT.org, the applicant will be randomly selected through a lottery system. Selected youth must complete all enrollment forms and upload the required documents into the CareerEdge portal. All properly registered and eligible Detroit GDYT youth will receive a minimum of 12 hours of work-readiness pre-training before the start of their summer employment. In early May, selected partners will have the opportunity to interview youth candidates at a GDYT-sponsored career fair for Career Pathways Internships, Industry-Led Training, and Pre-Apprenticeships. Eligible youth may also select their own summer work experience during our virtual Career Fair in June. Successful GDYT-registered youth will also attend a Youth Orientation where they will receive additional materials regarding timekeeping, benchmark achievements, and the GDYT Handbook. For more information about the youth applicant process, refer to GDYT's Roadmap to Success at GDYT.org.

Partnering with GDYT

Funding for GDYT every year comes from several sources, including the City of Detroit, local employers, foundations, and many individual private donors. More information can be found at GDYT.org and those interested in supporting the program can do so in several ways:

• Become a Funding Partner by making a financial contribution to the GDYT program to support summer work experiences for Detroit youth.
• Become an Employer Partner by providing a job at your designated worksite and sponsoring a six-week paid work experience (120 hours).
• Be recognized as an Affiliate Partner by directly hiring youth through an existing summer program that you operate.
• Volunteer to support key program components (career fairs, work-readiness training, etc.)
• Explore options to provide year-round and/or permanent employment opportunities to Detroit youth.

About GDYT

Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT) is a citywide training and employment program for young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. The program provides youth summer employment opportunities in partnership with metro Detroit corporations, non-profit organizations, municipal departments, local businesses, and the philanthropic community. The strategic goals of GDYT are:

• Ensure young adults have meaningful summer work experiences that create pathways to future opportunities.
• Connect young adults to providers and employers that can support their career goals.
• Introduce employers to the next generation of Detroit's workforce.
• Align Detroit's youth workforce development programs to streamline service delivery and improve outcomes.