Developing Youth Talent Initiative

The Developing Youth Talent Initiative (DYTI) creates collaboration between Nebraska businesses and public schools. Connecting young Nebraskans in 7^th and 8^th grade to learning opportunities in the Manufacturing and IT industries can play an important role in their decision to build their careers in our state. Exposing this next generation of leaders to the advanced skills and knowledge required for occupations in these industries encourages an expanding workforce to help Grow Nebraska.

Intent of the Developing Youth Talent Initiative is to support an industry-defined approach to develop a youth talent pipeline for manufacturing and IT occupations. Grant recipients will partner with schools to engage students in participation of hands-on career exploration and relevant workplace-learning opportunities.

Application Criteria to be scored include demonstration of the following:

• Impact on businesses, community and students
• Program sustainability
• Evidence of regional workforce needs and relationship of the proposed project to the need.
• Clear goals and projected outcomes
• Budget and project timeline
• Evaluation plan (3^rd party evaluator)
  • Must include pre and post assessment of student interest in and knowledge of occupations within manufacturing and IT fields.
• Potential evaluators for consideration:
  • Frank Shimerdla –frank@aogrants.com
  • Dick Meyers – meyerdc@unk.edu

DYTI may grant up to $250,000 with minimum award to two projects.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be a Nebraska business, or consortium of businesses, operating in a Manufacturing or IT industry (or industry with high number of IT occupations) working in partnership with a local school.

Important Deadlines

Electronic applications for the 2019-2020 DYTI grant cycle are due to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) by NOON, April 15th, 2019. Send to Bradley.pierce@nebraska.gov

For more information, please review the DYTI frequently asked questions and application guidelines or contact Bradley Pierce, bradley.pierce@nebraska.gov or 402-840-0831.