New program will pay youth to learn entrepreneurship and build skills for success

The County has rolled out a new “Earn and Learn” program, an innovative workforce model offered to prepare OC's low-income youth for future business and life skills while earning wages.

The “Earn and Learn” program will be offered through the Ready S.E.T. Orange County (OC) Initiative and is designed to assist youth in making a successful transition to unsubsidized employment, post-secondary education, military, apprenticeship or trade placement to ensure self-sufficiency and a long-term positive employment outlook.

Youth enrolled in the program will earn wages for participating in occupational skills training; financial literacy; leadership development, which includes peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors during non-school hours; mentoring; and entrepreneurship.

Youth ages 14-21 can also take part in an online 10-week Entrepreneurship Academy. Students will learn the fundamentals of business and graduate with a prototype, business plan and venture pitch.

The first academy for the “Earn and Learn” program begins on August 31, with enrollment on a quarterly first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, students must be enrolled in the Ready S.E.T. OC Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program. To review eligibility criteria or sign up for the youth program, visit www.oconestop.com/young-adults.