A Future-Forward Youth Employment Program

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has launched the Youth Employment Program (YEP) to provide 14- to 24-year-olds with paid, hands-on work experience across diverse industries.

YEP is an "earn and learn" program, meaning the state covers wages (up to $3,500 per participant), and program administrators handle payroll and insurance, eliminating administrative hurdles for companies. That enables businesses—from small rural outfits to law firms to Fortune 100s—to focus solely on mentoring the young workers.

The initiative quickly surpassed initial department expectations. The nearly 5,000 enrolled youths and more than 1,200 participating organizations have exceeded the original goal of 2,500 to 3,000 potential employees.

Such progress means the program can expand. Peer Power Foundation applied for a grant to partner with the state and administer YEP in Memphis. The program is statewide, but the grant enables the Peer Power Foundation to coordinate with youths and employers and dedicate resources to administer YEP in the Memphis area. When program coordinators approved the funding, the initiative was so popular that 400 workers signed up and the foundation added 100 more to a waiting list. The educational nonprofit teamed up with nearly 60 employers, including construction companies, a basketball training facility, and a bakery.