Summer Jobs Connect (SJC) is a national initiative led by the CFE Fund with seed support from the Citi Foundation. Grounded in the belief that banking access is foundational to financial stability, SJC helps young people connect to safe and appropriate banking accounts through their first jobs. By integrating banking access to public payment streams, particularly municipal Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs), local governments across the country have turned seasonal jobs into opportunities for long-term financial empowerment. Over the past decade, the CFE Fund has worked with 47 local governments and their youth workforce program partners to support low-income youth ages 14 to 24 with establishing a connection to appropriate bank and credit union accounts and meaningful financial education.
The CFE Fund supports cohorts of new cities or counties interested in learning how to integrate banking access and financial education into their youth workforce programs through Summer Jobs Connect Academy. Summer Jobs Connect (SJC) Academy participants receive robust free technical assistance to learn how to integrate banking access into their programs, build partnerships with financial institutions, deliver financial education, and leverage data to improve program performance. Academy participants will join the national Summer Jobs Connect learning community of dozens of other municipal program leaders. They will also receive in-kind support to attend an in-person convening, access to our robust resource library, and more. Historically, SJC has only been available to summer youth employment programs; however, we are excited to expand eligibility to any youth program that provides a paid workforce opportunity to youth ages 14-24 and has a local government connection.
Through the CFE Fund’s leadership, our local government partners’ efforts, and the Citi Foundation’s seed support of almost $40 million, Summer Jobs Connect has provided over 16,500 young people with work experience and connected financial empowerment services. Other supportive funders include The Skillman Foundation and the PNC Foundation. Beyond a seasonal paycheck, Summer Jobs Connect positions early job experiences as entry points for lifelong success in the financial mainstream.
Please reach out to Matt Trombley, Senior Associate, at [email protected] with any questions about Summer Jobs Connect.