The Erie County Bright Futures Job Program connects Erie County youth with paid summer jobs at businesses, nonprofits and government agencies throughout the region.<\/p>\n
Organizers said the experience \u2014 which is facilitated through the Greater Erie Community Action Committee \u2014 helps participants build confidence and develop skills employers are looking for. Many participants are entering the workforce for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean there\u2019s that mentorship side of it where that\u2019s kind of known on the other side, there\u2019s a lack of experience there. And that\u2019s part of it coming in, that there\u2019s an intentional focus on mentoring that person into a career,\u201d Rock Copeland, a member of the Erie County Council 3rd District, said.<\/p>\n
The program also gives employers a chance to invest in the next generation of workers.<\/p>\n
Families enjoy live performances at Erie Playhouse Youtheatre event <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Martin Luther King Center, the JFK Center, we have some individual privately owned businesses. We have school districts; we\u2019ve got employers county wide that are interested in participating in this program,\u201d Marybelle Martin, director of education, workforce and self-sufficiency for GECAC, said.<\/p>\n The Erie County Bright Future Summer Jobs Program was made to give kids the ability to adapt skills and confidence needed through over 150 employment opportunities this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe set them up with interview questions that might be asked, we make sure they\u2019re familiar with the job in which they\u2019re placed. And then right before \u2014 the Friday before the program starts which in this case would be the 26th of June \u2014 we host an employee, employer luncheon,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n Local girl urgently seeks kidney donor <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of times one of your barriers to employment is having work history in your past. It\u2019s kind of that first item on the resume for a lot of kids, to get that resume built up and have some real-world work experience,\u201d Copeland said.<\/p>\n Organizers encourage anyone age 14 and up to apply so they can get work experience to help them for the future.<\/p>\n Applications remain open until June 29 and can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n