2026 GDYT Application Portal Now Open

Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT), the City’s official summer jobs program for local youth is now open and accepting applications to participate in this six-week program. 

The GDYT program is hosted annually to connect Detroit youth, ages 14-24, to summer employment. Participants will work with corporate employers, small businesses, community organizations and partners throughout the Metro Detroit area, and across a wide range of City of Detroit departments. 

“Grow Detroit’s Young Talent is more than just a summer job program — it’s an investment in the future of our city’s youth,” said Mayor Mary Sheffield. “By providing meaningful work opportunities, we’re equipping young Detroiters with valuable experiences to help them succeed in their careers and in life. This year, up to 8,000 young people will have the opportunity to prepare for bright futures.” 

The goal of the program is to help cultivate on-the-job experience for the next generation of  talent and provide opportunities for local youth to build valuable workforce readiness skills. 

Mayor Mary Sheffield announced the opening of  the 2026 GDYT Application Portal at DTE Energy’s headquarters on March 13, 313 Day. Photos: Dante Rionda 

The program has become an invaluable resource for young Detroiters who are approaching the end of high school and looking to move into post-secondary education or a career. For older youth, the ability to gain experience across a range of industries allows them to make better-informed career choices.   

The GDYT program is managed by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) as the lead implementation agency and fiduciary for Detroit at Work. DESC partners with a wide range of employers, foundations, philanthropic donors and community partners to produce workforce development programs like GDYT and many others.  

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation also administers the Detroit at Work program on behalf of the City of Detroit. Connect Detroit is DESC’s contracted Coordinator and Implementation Partner working with key community and faith-based organizations, municipal departments, and the Junior Police and Fire Cadets. 

The application portal can be found at www.GDYT.org, and will remain open through May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. It serves as a starting point for any Detroit youth 14-24 looking to participate, as well as for any employer, philanthropic or community partners who would like to take part in this year’s program. 

Process for Successful Youth Applicants 

After an individual expresses interest in a summer work experience through GDYT.org, the applicant will be randomly selected through a lottery system. Selected youth must complete all enrollment forms and upload the required documents into the CareerEdge portal. All properly registered and eligible Detroit GDYT youth will receive a minimum of 12 hours of work-readiness pre-training before the start of their summer employment. In early May, selected partners will have the opportunity to interview youth candidates at a GDYT-sponsored career fair for Career Pathways Internships, Industry-Led Training, and Pre-Apprenticeships. Eligible youth may also select their own summer work experience during our virtual Career Fair in June. Successful GDYT-registered youth will also attend a Youth Orientation where they will receive additional materials regarding timekeeping, benchmark achievements, and the GDYT Handbook. For more information about the youth applicant process, refer to GDYT’s Roadmap to Success at www.GDYT.org. 

Partnering with GDYT 

Funding for GDYT every year comes from several sources, including the City of Detroit, local employers, foundations, and many individual private donors. More information can be found at GDYT.org and those interested in supporting the program can do so in several ways: 

• Become a Funding Partner by making a financial contribution to the GDYT program to support summer work experiences for Detroit youth. 

• Become an Employer Partner by providing a job at your designated worksite and sponsoring a six-week paid work experience (120 hours). 

• Be recognized as an Affiliate Partner by directly hiring youth through an existing summer program that you operate. 

• Volunteer to support key program components (career fairs, work-readiness training, etc.) 

• Explore options to provide year-round and/or permanent employment opportunities to Detroit youth.