Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Mayor William R. Wild Reaches Out to Businesses to Offer Westland Youth Employment Opportunities

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Mayor William R. Wild Reaches Out to Businesses to Offer Westland Youth Employment Opportunities

Westland, MI - Mayor William R. Wild is once again reaching out to Westland businesses to partner on a common goal of introducing Westland's young adults to the workplace. The "Wild About Youth Works!" Program aims to prepare Westland's young adults for the workforce by teaching them the virtue of a strong work ethic, good customer service skills and financial responsibility.

The Wild About Youth Works Program, in its 7th year, is geared towards youth ages 16-18. Participants will receive financial literacy training through the City's partnership in the program with Fifth Third Bank. Students will also be required to attend a "dress for success" and interview workshop event as well as an informative session on starting your own business on Wednesday, May 17. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will take place in the Grande Ballroom of Westland City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Rd.

"Successful businesses are a driving force in the success of our community," commented Mayor Wild. "Our goal is to equip Westland's youth with the skills and knowledge needed to be competitive candidates for employment. Through the Wild About Youth Works Program, participants will make the investment into their future by taking the steps to learn what makes an individual employable."

Businesses will benefit from participating in the program by attaining young, tech savvy employees who have had initial general training and education. All that is required is a commitment to interviewing and hiring at least one student and providing them with at least 16 hours of work per week for six weeks or more at the minimum wage rate or higher.

Businesses who are willing to participate, as well as students interested in the program, should contact Paul Motz, the Director of Westland Youth Assistance, at (734)467-7904.

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.