The American Job Center in Lincoln has launched a new program aimed at helping individuals with employment barriers access stable careers by providing access to paid positions and professional development supports.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said in the Bridges to Careers program, participants start with paid, full-time, entry-level positions in City of Lincoln departments, gaining experience while attending weekly workshops covering workplace communication, time management, resume building, and financial literacy.
“This initiative is a win-win that makes business sense for our city and provides more community members with a sense of purpose and a paycheck,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said.
Dylan Wren, the Workforce Administrator for AJC, said the 26 individuals in the first two cohorts who completed the program in 2025 worked in the Parks and Recreation Department. Participants in the 10-week program earn $17.75 an hour as laborers supporting City crews. After 10 weeks, participants who remain with the City receive $1 more an hour.
To be eligible for the program, Wren said, community members must be experiencing barriers to employment such as a criminal conviction, English as a second language, or an inconsistent work history, among others. Applicants must also be enrolled in one of three AJC programs: Adult Employment, Dislocated Worker or Youth Employment Support Services, or participate in the State of Nebraska SNAP Next Step Employment and Training Program.
AJC is recruiting new participants for the next Bridges to Careers program, which is scheduled to start in April. For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/BridgeToCareers.