GROW RACINE
Mayor Mason Message
Welcome to GROW Racine! As Mayor of the City of Racine, I want everyone who lives in our City to know that we believe in your potential.
At the City of Racine, we are focused on exactly what GROW stands for: Growing Residents’ Opportunities and Wealth! GROW Racine wants to help our residents earn their high school degree, start family-supporting jobs in the trades, become homeowners, and repair and improve their houses.
We are investing in our residents’ futures with these GROW Racine programs, and this website puts all of these resources in one place. Whether you’re a resident using these programs to improve your family’s future, or you’re a resident who wants to support and encourage residents working to GROW, we welcome you to these City resources. Together, we can grow and transform Racine.


Pathways to Your Success
Grow & Achieve Your Goals. We are investing in your future.

Racine’s Firefighter/EMS Internship
The City of Racine and Racine Fire Department are excited to announce the Firefighter/EMS Internship! The purpose of the program is to allow high-school students the on-the-job experience of being a Firefighter/EMT.

GROW Racine Mini-Grants
Applications now open for the GROW Racine Mini-Grants! Eligible local nonprofits can apply for $10,000-$25,000 to address an unmet community need. Learn more and apply here.

Earn Your High School Degree
Scholarships of up to $1,500 now available for City of Racine adults who want to go back to school and earn their high school credential through YWCA SEW’s FREE HSED program.

Earn your high school credential!
In the City of Racine, we want our residents to know that, whatever happened in the past does not have to prevent them from succeeding...

Start a career in the trades
Scholarships now available for City of Racine adults who are ready to begin careers in the building trades by enrolling in and completing...

Get free financial coaching
The Racine Financial Empowerment Center in Racine (FEC) offers one-on-one, confidential professional financial counseling

Repair & Enhance Your Home
The City of Racine believes everyone deserves a safe and habitable place to live, and we want to support homeowners in investing in their homes.

Youth Employment Program
The Youth Employment Program is an 8-week employment program that provides City of Racine area youth, ages 16 to 24
NOW HIRING!!
The City of Racine’s Youth Employment Program (YEP) is now accepting applications for Summer 2023! Do you know any 16-24 year old’s interested in working for their City? Apply today to gain an authentic work experience working alongside City of Racine professionals. Application Deadline: May 15th
If this sounds interesting to you, please APPLY TODAY!

Scholarships to Earn Your High School Credential!
Go back to school to earn your high school credential through the YWCA SEW’s FREE 5.09 HSED program AND, for a limited time, City residents age 18+ can get a $1,500 City Scholarship to help pay the bills while you’re in the FREE 5.09 program! Learn More


Scholarships for Pre-Apprenticeship Training!
Start a career in the construction and building trades! Enroll in FREE pre-apprenticeship training programs offered by one of our partners AND for a limited time. City residents, age 18+ can get a $1,500 City Scholarship to help pay the bills while they’re getting training.
Learn More
The Racine Firefighter/Ems Internship
The City of Racine and Racine Fire Department are excited to announce the Firefighter/EMS Internship! The purpose of the program is to allow college students the on-the-job experience of being a Firefighter/EMT.
Applications are not closed. To stay updated on the next application period, text “fire” to 262-276-2692

News & Highlights

2022 Financial Literacy Award from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers
Racine FEC Managers Dasheika Kidd and Vicky Selkowe attended the award ceremony held in the State Capitol on April 21, 2023, and are pictured here with Governor Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers. Know More

Fox6 News: GROW Racine Initiative Launched; help transform residents’ futures

Did you know that GROW Racine is helping City residents launch great careers in the construction and building trades? It's true!
Super proud of these three City residents who graduated on Friday from WRTP / BIG STEP's Southeast Wisconsin Roadbuilders Program. All three received City of Racine, On the lake GROW Racine pre-apprenticeship scholarships to encourage & support them while they were enrolled in this training program.
Up next for these residents? Great careers with family-supporting wages, lifelong learning, and benefits!
Learn more about how the City is investing in our residents to rebuild and grow our City! www.growracine.org/careers-in-the-trades/
#GROWRacine #CityofRacine ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Our Youth Employment Program is one of the many ways the City of Racine, On the lake is investing in our residents' futures. Applications are now open for this summer's 8-week paid youth jobs with the City! Learn more and get the application here www.growracine.org/youth-employment/
#GROWRacine #CityofRacineMeet Tihane A.! Tia is a former Summer Youth Employment Program participant who was then hired to continue working for the City of Racine. Read more about Tia’s experiences in the interview below:
*The YEP application is OPEN! Learn more here: www.growracine.org/youth-employment/
Q: What was your position with the City of Racine?
A: My position in the city was a Summer Youth Employee in the Human Resources department.
Q: What motivated you to apply?
A: I needed an internship for one of my classes at Gateway Technical College. The application was sent to me by a classmate. I figured if all goes well, I will have an internship and a pretty unique experience.
Q: What were some skills you learned?
A: I gained a better understanding of what the different departments in the city do from an insider’s point of view. And I (of course) got to see the process behind how someone is hired and interviewed, setting up benefits and a glimpse of what goes into setting up the wellness activities for the city employees.
Q: What’s it like working in city government as a young person?
A: It’s a little weird… I feel like I should have had office experience and have been in school for something business related to work here, but I work here without it.
Q: How do you explain your job to other people at school?
A: I just explain that I help the hiring process along, I file part-time applicants, set up interviews, pre-employment drug screenings and orientations, run background checks, then call applicants to offer them the job.
I have also been helping create the wellness calendars, bingos, and word searches.
Q: What do you wish you knew before this job?
A: I wish I knew that it’s not as intimidating as I thought it would be and the experience is going to be whatever you make it. Before starting I assumed working in an office (especially for it to be the city), it would be really dull, strictly work, and no room for mistakes.
It’s not like that at all, I work with a very nice group of people who are very patient and understanding. They would rather me ask a lot of questions and do the job right, than to not say anything at all and do it wrong.
Q: How will this internship impact your future goals?
A: The Youth Employment Program has made a very big impact on my future plans. Before coming into the program, I was at a point in school where I did not really know what I wanted to do. I just knew the demographic I wanted to work with and a few careers I thought I would be good at or could see myself doing.
But after the program and now working here for a while I have a clear understanding of what I want to do career-wise and feel confident that when the time comes I will be able to do my job well 🙂
Q: What advice do you have for other students who are applying for any internships?
A: My advice for applying for any internships would be to choose something that you think would be the best fit for you. Also that internships are pretty low stakes, you’re just doing it to get experience in the field and get your foot in the door. It will teach you the things you do and do not like about the field you may go into or that company/organization. Which can be a tool when choosing the rest of your classes, another internship, or figuring out what you want to do as a career.
Getting to work with the city while in this program, is such a new and fun experience and can open a lot of doors to new opportunities.
Another thing I would want those applying to YEP to know is that Kischa tries to make sure that everyone is having a good experience from this and includes activities that are fun and beneficial to the employees. For example, for one of the cohort days we went canoeing then had a lunch from the fire department or people from Gateway came to help the employees build their resumes. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Thanks to Racine County Eye for highlighting the enrollment event the City of Racine, On the lake's GROW Racine team, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, and Gateway Technical College are hosting this Saturday!
Know a City resident who's ready to go back to school to earn their high school credential? Make sure to tell 'em about this event, where we'll help them with every step of the enrollment process AND they can apply for the City's $1500 GROW Racine HSED Scholarship. #GROWRacine #CityofRacine ... See MoreSee Less
High School Equivalency Diploma enrollment and $1,500 scholarship event this Saturday in Racine | Racine County Eye
racinecountyeye.com
RACINE — The City of Racine is hosting a 5.09 High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) event to recruit and enroll interested individuals for classes that beginComment on Facebook
We're GROW-ing Racine's future success by helping adult City residents earn their HSEDs and transform their futures!
Spread the word about this Saturday's enrollment session! #GROWRacine #CityofRacine ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
The City of Racine, On the lake's Youth Employment Program is now accepting applications for summer jobs! Help spread the word to local young people ages 16-24 about this fantastic paid 8-week summer experience. #GROWRacine #CityofRacine
www.growracine.org/youth-employment/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Are you ready to go back to school to earn your high school credential? Don't miss this event next Saturday where we'll help you get enrolled so you can start FREE classes on May 30th! Share this to spread the word to other Racine residents. #GROWRacineIt's almost a week away! GROW Racine & YWCA Southeast Wisconsin in-person 5.09 HSED enrollment event is coming up quickly, be sure to register using the link to secure your spot! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook