The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is proud to be partnering with Project 5000 Kids, a community-wide movement to increase our high school graduation rate by connecting 5000 young people between the ages of 14-21 to meaningful work experiences and education. Through internships, career mentoring and job shadowing, these young people experience a professional environment that motivates them to stay in school, gaining the knowledge, skills and experience to be more successful in their future workplace.
Why is this program important to the business community?
There is a direct correlation between meaningful work experiences, relevant academics and graduation from high school. When we connect our young leaders to the workplace at an early age, we can positively impact our community by encouraging more youth to graduate high school and strive for higher education. For business owners, this means access to a better-educated, more skilled future workforce.
Facts about teens and education:
In 2008, 13,600 students dropped out of the Clark County School District. If half (6,800) of these students would have received a diploma in 2009, according to Project 5000 Kids, we would tentatively have seen the following increases to our regional economy:
• $70 million in increased earnings
• An additional $51 million in spending and $20 million in investing
• 450 new jobs and economic growth of $91 million
• Increased home sales of $194 million and auto sales of $7 million
• $5 million in increased tax revenue
• Increased human capital – after earning a high school diploma, 56 percent of new graduates would likely continue on to pursue some type of post-secondary education
How can your business get involved?
• Provide career preparation experiences to youth by offering paid internships for summer or year-round positions
• Make a financial contribution to support youth with paid internship opportunities, training and work readiness activities, summer school scholarships, transportation costs and work-based learning opportunities
• Become a career mentor or speaker
• Provide a job shadow opportunity
• Provide workplace tours and field trips
To become a part of Project 5000 Kids, visit
www.project5000kids.org or call 702.636.2384
