For the second consecutive year, at least 8,000 Baltimore City youth and young adults, ages 14-21, will be offered a five-week YouthWorks summer employment opportunity. Today, approximately 6,000 youth started working in a wide variety of industries, including health care, hospitality/tourism, finance, construction, law and government jobs. A second five-week cycle will begin employing additional youth on July 11, 2016, bringing the total number of worksites to more than 900.

Baltimore City’s nationally recognized summer jobs program, YouthWorks, continues to grow in popularity, increasing the need for employment opportunities this summer. In response, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has committed $500,000 and offered a second $500,000 as a challenge grant to be matched by the private sector. These funds will create more than 650 five-week summer jobs for city youth and young adults. But more money is needed in order to offer employment to all youth who have completed their registration.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake will launch Maryland's first solar training program for Baltimore City residents as part of the One Baltimore for Jobs (1B4J) initiative through the Mayor's Office of Employment Development.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Greater Baltimore Committee President and CEO Donald C. Fry will acknowledge many supporters who made YouthWorks 2015 a success and highlight the need for continued support of summer jobs in 2016.