Youth Champion Communities Application

Youth Champion Communities Application

National Youth Employment Coalition
The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) invites communities across the country to apply to participate in the Youth Champion Communities (YCC) 2026–2028 Cohort, a national initiative advancing economic mobility for young people ages 14-26, building futures through community-driven systems change.

This is a two-year engagement running from:
September 2026 – September 2028

Selected communities will join a national cohort and work alongside NYEC to strengthen coordination across systems, improve pathways to employment, and build more effective approaches to supporting young people.

Through this work, communities:
- Align workforce, education, housing, and community systems
- Center youth voice and leadership in system design and implementation
- Engage employers as partners in pathway development
- Establish shared metrics to track progress
- Implement coordinated strategies tied to workforce demand
YCC is not a single program. It is a systems-building approach designed to create lasting change by strengthening how communities work together. This initiative is designed for communities that are ready to invest in building stronger systems that improve outcomes for young people.

Learn more about the Youth Champion Communities model: www.nyec.org/ycc/
Key Dates

Application Opens: May 11, 2026
Application Deadline: June 22, 2026
Selection Notification: July 2026
Cohort Launch: September 2026
Period of Performance: September 2026 – September 2028
Participation and Investment

Participation in the Youth Champion Communities initiative is structured as a co-investment model. NYEC is actively pursuing national and philanthropic funding to support participating communities. However, communities should be prepared to invest in their participation, either fully or in partnership with local, regional, or national funders.

Final participation costs and structure will be confirmed prior to cohort launch and may vary based on:
- External funding secured
- Scope of engagement
- Opportunities for shared or blended funding
Communities are not required to have full funding secured at the time of application. However, applicants should demonstrate a clear strategy or willingness to identify funding to support participation.
Submission

You may save your progress and return to the application later by clicking the "Save" button at the bottom of the form.

Applications must be submitted by June 22, 2026

For questions, contact nyec@nyec.org
Section 1: Basic Information
Your Name

First NameLast Name
Title
Email
Organization
Location

Street Address Line 2

City/CommunityState

Postal / Zip Code
Tell us why your organization is interested in participating in this initiative and what you hope to achieve:
Section 2: Partnerships & Coordination
YCC is about collaboration and bringing a variety of stakeholders together to best serve your community's young people. This section will ask about your partnerships and level of coordination with other key stakeholders.

Please list your current or prospective partners (if you have more than 10, please pick your 10 strongest relationships):

Rows	Organization/Entity	Focus Area/Field of Work	Primary Point of Contact First and Last Name	Primary Point of Contact Email	Primary Point of Contact Title	Partnership Status
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Partner 4
Partner 5
Partner 6
Partner 7
Partner 8
Partner 9
Partner 10

How would you rate your coordination with the following entities within your community?

Rows	No Coordination	Limited Coordination	Moderate Coordination	High Coordination	Not Applicable
Workforce Board(s)
Community Colleges
WIOA Youth Providers
K-12 School District
Community Based Organizations
Employer Partners
Juvenile Justice Entities

Section 3: Youth Services & Opportunities
Please describe some of the strengths and challenges your community is experiencing with basic needs for youth (housing, transportation, food, mental health supports, etc.):
Please describe some of the challenges and opportunities your community has had with establishing career pathways for young people:
How would you describe the youth programs and the connections with local employers? What are some of the challenges and opportunities?
Highlight 3 priority areas your community would like to focus on
Section 4: Financial Alignment
If selected, is your community prepared to financially invest in this initiative?
Which best describes your funding status as it pertains to this initiative?
Anything else you'd like to share regarding funding for this initiative?
Submission

You may save your progress and return to the application later by clicking the "Save" button below.

Applications must be submitted by June 15, 2026

For questions, contact nyec@nyec.org
Should be Empty:

Youth Champion Communities Application

Submission

Section 1: Basic Information

Section 2: Partnerships & Coordination

Section 3: Youth Services & Opportunities

Section 4: Financial Alignment

Submission