$100,000 grant helping to support new WMCAT business to employ college, high school youth | MLive.com:
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Community Foundation has awarded the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) $100,000 to help support a new screen printing business that will employ Grand Rapids students and young adults.
WMCAT operates a Teen Arts and Tech Program for Grand Rapids Public Schools teens. Professional teaching artists guide high school students through studio labs in photography, illustration, fashion, video game design, ceramics, and audio/video production.
"This project will provide multiple outcomes - meaningful employment, entrepreneurial and financial skills for youth and young adults; earned income to sustain the program; and promotion of high school graduation and pathways to post-secondary education," said Laurie Craft, program director of Grand Rapids Community Foundation, in a statement.
Officials say teens often cannot participate in after-school programming because they financially depend on employment during after school hours.
That 's why WMCAT acquired Ambrose, a Holland-based screen printing social enterprise, to employ teens and young adults in a business-to-business screen printing venture, provide a revenue stream to the mission-based work of WMCAT and engage youth in business management and career development.
..."Ambrose at WMCAT is at the forefront of the new field of social enterprise.
We can give urban teens valuable employment and training, while sustaining WMCAT's mission to provide a culture of opportunity."
Programming will include both teen apprenticeships and employment opportunities for WMCAT alumni who are enrolled in college.
The program will be directed by Adam Weiler, founder of Ambrose and WMCAT's director of Social Enterprise.
The plan is to employ two to four college freshman, GRPS graduates previously involved in the program, this summer.
A program is being developed for fall to employ high school students and allow them to learn about entrepreneurship.
The exact number of employees is still being determined and salary information was not available. However, officials say youth will earn above the minimum wage, $8.14, likely in the $10 range.
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