Career Ready Tempe

A partnership that fi lls critical skills gaps for City of Tempe businesses and youth

This summer, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tempewill launch Career Ready Tempe, a two-year youth workforce pilotprogram intended to tackle barriers to employability for income-eligibleyouth and help employers create a robust youth talent pipeline.

Teens preparing for today’s workforce have co-existed with theinternet for the entirety of their existence. Their “virtually” innate abilityto keep their fingertips on the pulse of technology and current trendsmakes them innovative assets to most industries. Yet, simply due to theirage, many young workers lack the soft skills and experience needed toaddress the human factor required for corporate sustainability.

The program is funded through the City of Tempe’s Innovation Fundand the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Career Readiness LabGrant. It has been strategically designed to align with industry needs andthe City of Tempe’s TempeAchieves65 initiative, Tempe City Council’s

goal to reach 65-percent post-secondary-degree attainment for residentsby the year 2030, through collective community efforts. Paid eight-weeksummer internships with Tempe businesses will be offered to eligiblejuniors and seniors in the Tempe Union High School District. This year’sinternship focus is on advanced business services, one of the largestemployment sectors in the Tempe economy. Projections show there willbe continued employment and advancement opportunities for years tocome, preparing students for our future’s top jobs.

To prepare students for their internships and future employment,Career Ready Tempe has incorporated Arizona State University’s Edge certificate program into its requirements. Edge is a high-qualitysoft skills training program focused on equipping young people withcustomer service, leadership and personal development skills. All ofwhich are imperative to their success as future professionals. CareerReady Tempe will also provide one-on-one career and college planningsupport to enrolled students by linking them to College Connect Tempe,a college and career exploration mentoring program housed within theCity of Tempe’s Human Services Department.

Career Ready Tempe proposes to develop the future workforce ofTempe so that it aligns with industry needs by providing youth withinternships, increasing the number of young people in Tempe who entercareer fields that meet industry demands. Often, companies wouldlike to reach new talent pools of young adults — especially in growingindustries or those affected by skills gaps — but lack the in-housecapacity or expertise. Career Ready Tempe can help Tempe businessesthink strategically about the future and make sure we are developing thetalent pipeline for 10, 20 years from now.

Not only will the Career Ready Tempe program offer participatingTempe businesses assistance in selecting and preparing studentinterns,but program funds will also serve to compensate those whohave been granted internship placement.

Career Ready Tempe is currently seeking internship hostsites. Prospective Businesses are encouraged to apply http://attempe.gov/CareerReadyTempe by March 17.