City Receives $250,000 Grant for Youth Programs

The City Commission approved a $250,000 grant from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice at the July 7th meeting. The grant will fund workforce training scholarships via the Tallahassee Engaged in Meaningful Productivity for Opportunity youth program and the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy. The scholarships will go to individuals who participate and enroll in vocational and college skilled labor programs.

TEMPO

The Tallahassee Engaged in Meaningful Productivity for Opportunity (TEMPO) youth program was established in 2017 with a focus on individuals on the cusp of adulthood who are more susceptible to crime “as a victim, suspect, or perpetrator.”

The program offers a path for struggling youth to access services which connects them with employment and training programs, vocation education opportunities, and apprenticeships. So far, TEMPO has assisted 1,460 youth in Tallahassee. The program has resulted in 90 individuals enrolled in technical college, 61 completing their GED and 30 individuals with jobs earning a living wage.

TFLA

The Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA) is a leadership program which provides summer employment opportunities, leadership training, and financial literacy education to high school students. The employment opportunities are offered by the City of Tallahassee, local organizations, and local private businesses. Since its inception in 2015, the program has employed over 1,000 local youth.