For teens putting “gain new business skills” on top of their resolutions list for 2015, the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce can help. The TeenQuest pre-employment and leadership program will offer its no-cost training in business etiquette when a new session begins Monday, Jan. 12, at five Genesee County locations.
Applications will be accepted through the first day of the session from youths ages 14-18 in grades 9-12. The TeenQuest program will run Jan. 12-Feb. 12 at these locations and times:
- Baker Career Academy, 4-6 p.m.
- Davison High School, 3-5 p.m.
- Grand Blanc High School, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Linden High School, 3-5 p.m.
- Southwestern Academy, 2:45-4:45 p.m.
TeenQuest is a five-week training program designed to help Flint & Genesee youths prepare for success. Students learn the basics of teamwork, business etiquette, work ethics, communication, goal setting and conflict resolution.
“For Genesee County teens looking to get a leg up on summer employment, now is the time,” said Rhetta Hunyady, Vice President, Education and Training, Flint & Genesee Chamber. “We’re looking for teens willing to put the time in now, which could pay off with a job through our Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) program.”
TeenQuest is a pre-requisite for employment through SYI, which matches employers with hundreds of TeenQuest graduates for summer employment. Nonprofit organizations and businesses that hire TeenQuest graduates are eligible to have 50 percent to 100 percent of costs subsidized.
Last summer, 617 youths ages 14-18 were employed through SYI, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and some for-profit businesses.
The TeenQuest session starting Jan. 12 is the third of the 2014-15 school year. A final session will be held Feb. 23-March 26.
TeenQuest applications can be downloaded online at www.flintandgenesee.org/learn/teenquest/apply-today/.
For information about hiring TeenQuest graduates, contact Hunyady at .