GRow1000 Youth Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I’m interested in participating in GRow1000 Youth Employment over the summer. How do I apply?

The application for GRow1000 is located on our website at grandrapidsmi.gov/GRow1000 along with other relevant information for both applicants and business partners.

What are the requirements for participating in the GRow1000 Program?

Program Requirements:

• Must be 15 to 24 years of age by June 9, 2025.
• Complete an application and all necessary onboarding pre-employment documents by Friday, May 9^th.
• Attend 1 paid Pre-Employment Orientation Training session prior to work assignment.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions each Friday during the 6-week program.

*NOTE: Submission of an application and onboarding documents does not guarantee a job placement in GRow1000.

After I complete my application, how will I access my pre-employment paperwork?

All pre-employment paperwork will be emailed to you via our NeoGov onboarding system. Once your account is set up, an email from info@neogov.com will be sent to the applicant. If you do not receive this email, please look in your spam email. If you still do not see an email, please call Human Resources at 616-456-3176. This email will include a link to activate your account. Please activate your link as soon as possible to prevent deactivation. Once your account is active, you will be able to access your new hire paperwork.

How do I complete my pre-employment paperwork?

Once your NeoGov account is activated, please log into your account and complete the new hire paperwork tasks that have been assigned to you.

Tips for completing your paperwork:

• Be sure to use the name and contact information of the GRow1000 participant.
• Double-check all documents for accurate information before submitting (especially the I-9, W4’s, and Direct Deposit forms).
• Refer to the tutorial videos on the NeoGov portal.

City of Grand Rapids Human Resources and Our Community’s Children will also host an in-person Onboarding Paperwork Help Session on the following dates:

• Monday, April 14^th – 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (City Commission Chambers)
• Monday, April 28^th – 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (City Commission Chambers)

These Meet-and-Greet style “GRowcase” events are designed to encourage youth to meet with potential worksites and learn more about different work opportunities during GRow1000 while also providing an opportunity to ask questions regarding their application or onboarding paperwork to City of Grand Rapids Human Resources Representatives. 

What employment documents will I need to participate in the program?

*All GRow1000 onboarding documents must be submitted by Friday, May 9^th by 5:00 p.m. to be eligible to participate in the program.

1. W4 Tax Documentation (Federal, State, and City)
2. Personnel Data Sheet
3. Direct Deposit
4. Parental Consent Form
5. Minor Video Consent Form (English & Spanish)
6. 18+ Video Consent Form (English & Spanish)
7. Injury Handout
8. Work Permit
9. *Completed I-9 Identification Verification Form

*Note: I-9 (Section 2) Identification Documents are to be submitted in-person only during the following 2-week period of Monday, April 28^th – Friday, May 9^th.

Once I have completed all required paperwork, how will I know if I’m eligible to participate in GRow1000 or be matched with a worksite?

Once your onboarding pre-employment paperwork is completed, applicants will receive an email from Our Community’s Children staff informing them if they are eligible for hire in GRow1000 by Friday, May 16^th.

• Eligible participants will receive a Pre-employment Orientation Invite by Friday, May 16^th.
• Once eligibility has been determined, participants will be notified with their worksite supervisors contact information as well next steps to have a successful start to the program by Tuesday, May 27^th.

*NOTE: Our Community’s Children staff is committed to creating successful and meaningful work assignments for all youth. However, we cannot guarantee matching requests can be accommodated during the program.

Can I request a change from the employer I was matched with?

All GRow1000 Employee/Worksite matched job assignments are considered final once assigned by OCC staff using the responses from the application questionnaire and the availability of workplace assignments.

*Only in the case of an emergency or where additional workplace accommodations are necessary will replacements be considered.

What are the dates of the Mandatory Pre-Employment Orientation Training?

All GRow1000 Participants must attend their applicant-specific assigned paid Pre-Employment Orientation Training Session on the following dates:

• Monday, May 19^th – 4:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. (City Commission Chambers)
• Tuesday, May 20^th – 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Multi-purpose Rm. 143)
• Wednesday, May 21^st – 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Multi-purpose Rm. 143)

*All Pre-Employment Orientation Training sessions are by invite only! Participants will receive an invite from OCC staff prior to their specific orientation date and should not plan to attend an orientation session without confirmation or an invite from OCC staff.

Will I have an opportunity to meet with my matched worksite supervisor prior to the first day on Monday, June 9th?

Yes – Once eligible participants have received their matched worksite with their GRow1000 supervisor information via email by Tuesday, May 27^th, they are encouraged to introduce themselves and discuss specific details related to their work assignment prior to the 1^st day of work in GRow1000.

Both worksite supervisors and matched employees are highly encouraged to participate in a Job Shadow Day prior to the first day of work to meet in-person at their assigned workplace to receive additional information about their specific tasks, work environments, and weekly schedules. Job Shadow Day opportunities will be scheduled by your matched worksite supervisor.

*NOTE: Job Shadow Days are considered non-paid work opportunities for youth employees.

What are the dates of the program and how many hours can I work per week?

The first day employees will report to work is Monday, June 9th. The last day employees will report to work is Friday, July 18th.

GRow1000 End-of-Program Celebration will also be held on Friday, July 18th. GRow1000 employees are allowed to work a total of 17 hours with their worksite per week. Employees are also required to attend weekly professional development with Our Community’s Children staff every Friday for six weeks of the program for 3 hours. Employees can be paid for a total of 20 per week including the GRow Further Friday professional development.

What are GRow Further Fridays and must I attend each week?

The GRow1000 Program will continue to institute a series of weekly training seminars each Friday throughout the length of the program called GRow Further Fridays. Each session is designed to teach youth participants professional development topics such as Dressing for Success, Public Speaking and Financial Literacy.

Also, during this time, employees will receive help with completing timesheets, completing program surveys, and providing feedback regarding their work experiences. All employees must attend the weekly GRow Further Friday sessions to claim 3 hours of work. All GRow1000 employers will be made aware of this requirement and will not schedule their youth during these Friday sessions.

GFF Schedule:

• Week 1 - Friday, June 13th
• Week 2 - Friday, June 20^th
• Week 3 - Friday, June 27th
• Week 4 - Thursday, July 3rd
• Week 5 - Friday, July 11th
• Week 6 - Friday, July 18th - End of Program Celebration

*NOTE: Dates/Times of GFF Sessions are subject to change depending on curriculum and scheduling of programming.

How do I fill out a timesheet and how often do I need to submit a timesheet in order to get paid?

All employees are required to complete their timesheet every week by Friday at 5 p.m. The electronic timesheet will be available to youth prior to the start of the program. The timesheet is a two-page verification that confirms the employee’s name, work location, work week and number of hours worked.

Note: All GRow1000 worksite supervisors are also required to complete a timesheet for each employee who completes weekly hours. Employee hours will also be verified to match what is reported by supervisors. Any timesheets submitted past the weekly deadline may delay youth from receiving their next paycheck. If employees report any incorrect or unapproved hours over the 20 total weekly hours this may also result in a delay with their paycheck.

How will I receive my paycheck and how often will I be paid?

Youth will be paid by the City of Grand Rapids via direct deposit unless they do not have a bank account.

If GRowers do not have direct deposit, a paper paycheck will be sent on the Monday of the pay period week to the GRower address on file and should be received by the next day (Tuesday). For 2025, all GRow1000 youth participants will be paid $13/hour.

The following pay schedule is that of all City employees who are paid every two weeks:

Work Weeks 1 & 2

• Sunday, June 8 - Saturday, June 21, 2025
• Pay Date: Tuesday, July 1^st

Work Weeks 3 & 4

• Sunday, June 22 - Saturday, July 5, 2025
• Pay Date: Tuesday, July 15th

Work Weeks 5 & 6

• Sunday, July 6 - Saturday, July 19, 2025
• Pay Date: Tuesday July 29^th
• This is last pay date for which any hours worked in GRow1000 can be submitted in the program.

How can I get a bus pass?

A bus pass can be requested and obtained by a GRower at the time of their attendance at their mandatory GRow1000 Orientation date.

How do I request a disability accommodation for my work assignment?

Please contact City of Grand Rapids Human Resources Dept. at 616-456-3176.

What if I need to update my address or my contact information?

If you need to update your address or contact information, please reach out to Human Resources immediately at 616-456-3176.