SCCPSS Partners with City, County, Chamber and Local Business Partners for Summer 500

Do you remember your first job as a high school student?. Store clerk? Mowing lawns? Waiting tables?  Whatever the role, for some, it was the beginning of independence. For others, it was having your own money. And yet, for many, it was a matter of helping our families survive during trying economic times. All are reasons Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is partnering with the City of Savannah, Chatham County, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and local business partners to welcome back the Savannah Summer 500.  

“We understand that summer months can bring an increase in crime. That’s why the City of Savannah has been intentional about engaging our young people, keeping them active, supported, and, for our older youth, connected to meaningful work opportunities,” said Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. “Summer 500 is a key part of our ‘100 Days of Summer’ strategy. We are grateful for our community partners, and we’re excited to kick off Summer 500 2.0 this May.”

The program, which began in 2016, returns with a renewed focus on bridging the need for summer help and summer employment between the City of Savannah’s workforce and the city’s students. This time around, the program brings together the work already happening in our community, from 100 Days of Summer to the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System’s Student Workforce Apprentice Program (SWAP). This renewed community effort builds on that momentum to connect even more students with real jobs and real opportunities as the program seeks to expand in 2027. 

Savannah Summer 500 is a collaboration between business and education sectors impacting the entire community and helps to solidify the future of our workforce. The community-wide initiative purposefully connects local high school students with paid summer employment opportunities while helping businesses meet hiring needs.  

“This is about opportunity,” said Savannah City Alderwoman Carol Bell, who helped to launch the original program. “When we invest in our young people, we are investing in the future of Savannah. Summer 500 connects students to real jobs, real mentors, and real possibilities, helping them see a future for themselves right here in our community.” 

The goal is to place up to 500 high school juniors and seniors in four- to six-week paid internships beginning May 27, 2026. By combining education and industry, the program strengthens both student outcomes and the region’s long-term workforce pipeline. The Chamber encourages businesses across the Coastal Empire to commit to hosting at least one intern this summer.

“The relaunch of Summer 500 is a vital investment in Savannah’s economic future,” said Savannah Area Chamber President Bert Brantley. “By hosting an intern, businesses are not only filling a short-term role, but also they are helping build a sustainable talent pipeline and mentoring the next generation of our workforce.”

With the relaunch, chamber officials are helping by motivating the business community to commit to hiring valuable talent. Through outreach to its 2,700 members, the Chamber has brought more than 90 jobs to the table to match the interests of participants. The last full year of Summer 500 was 2019, ahead of the pandemic. While the four-year run of the program facilitated great gains in assisting more than 500 students with job placement and 115 businesses with additional help, the return is positioned for greater success. Businesses that would like to accept the challenge may sign up here. Students who would like to apply may do so here.