USA, Mobile and Gulf Shores Join for New Jobs Program

---

Posted on May 16, 2017

Alice Jackson

---

---

The University of South Alabama and the cities of Mobile and Gulf Shores will put young people to work this summer through Youth Empowered for Success, or YES, an innovative partnership that leaders hope will go viral.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the pilot program will provide local young people with training skills for job opportunities.

“Our young people need to be trained and working this summer to prepare them for this region’s growing job market,” Stimpson said.

The program grew from Gulf Shores’ growing need for seasonal workers, Mobile’s job needs for its young people and South’s unique hospitality and tourism training program FLIGHT, which buses students from the campus to beach resorts for on-the-job training.

“Investing in our young people by providing workplace training will enable them to be successful in life and will help to ensure our region has the skilled workforce necessary to support the growing needs of our businesses,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft during a joint Tuesday news conference held in Mobile. “This partnership provides a notable example of the meaningful progress that can be achieved through regional collaboration.”

About 100 Mobilians, ranging from 17 to 24 years old, will be trained for two weeks by South’s department of hospitality and tourism management. After earning certificates, they will work for a variety of resort businesses in Gulf Shores. The City of Mobile, in cooperation with the Mobile County Public School System’s transportation department, and the City of Gulf Shores, in cooperation with the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System, will provide free bus transportation for the students. Applicants have already been selected.

Participating businesses Brett-Robinson, Meyer Real Estate, Spectrum Resorts, Kiva Dunes and LuLu’s Hospitality will employ the students in a variety of jobs.

“USA is really honored to be a part of this program, which can become a model locally as well as nationally with everyone working together,” said Lynne Chronister, vice president for research and economic development at South. “In these classes, we’re going to teach these young people about hospitality, and how they can use it on the job.”

Chronister added the program will provide other possibilities.

“Not only do they have a summer job, but they may have a career path as well,” she said. “We think this is a wonderful opportunity for area youth to learn about South’s hospitality and tourism program as well.”

---