CHICAGO — A new partnership between Divvy, the city's bike-share program, and clothing retailer The Gap will aim to provide year-round employment for those unemployed by coordinating seasonal jobs.
The initiative is coordinated by Skills for Chicagoland's Future, a public-private partnership that began under World Business Chicago, and will launch a pilot program beginning in April.
The idea behind the program, dubbed the "optimum employment" program, is to link two seasonal jobs in different fields that share many of the same qualifications.
Employees would work for eight months — from March through October — as Divvy "rebalancers," distributing bikes throughout the city. From October through February, employees would work in a variety of roles for The Gap during the holiday season.
Skills for Chicagoland's Future will begin screening job seekers in Cook County to be considered for the pilot programs. Those approved will have to be hired by Divvy. Those who get hired will then have to also interview with The Gap and complete eight months with Divvy before being officially hired by the retail company.
Anyone interested in the program can apply here. Jobs would begin in late-April. To qualify, applicants must be currently unemployed and live in Cook County.
