Program to pay 30 to work, live in Detroit

The financial incentives to come to the Detroit area kept rolling in Wednesday as a Birmingham nonprofit launched a program to pay for 30 of "tomorrow's leaders" to live and work in the Motor City for a year.

The Collaborative Group said the Challenge Detroit program will pay participants a $30,000 salary to work in jobs for companies such as DTE Energy or Strategic Staffing Solutions. Participants from across the nation also will receive a $500-a-month housing stipend to live in Detroit.

The program will accept applications until March 16. The jobs, which offer health benefits, begin in August.

Many firms said they are willing to hire the workers after the program ends, said Deirdre Greene Groves, executive director and Collaborative Group co-founder.

"Though it would be great if we find people who may want to start their own business in Detroit," she said.

The participating companies range from Dearborn-based ad firm Team Detroit to Royal Oak-based Beaumont Health System to heavy-industry Levy Group.

"So many of the businesses have told me they want to look at the field of candidates and decide what's the best way they could add to the company and not put them in an already-defined position," Greene Groves said.

The one-year program builds on the Live Midtown and Live Downtown initiatives, but adds a civic component.

The 30 participants will be expected to participate in monthly "team challenges" where they will work with institutions and businesses to tackle issues such as education and public transportation. An example will be teaming up with the Detroit Public Schools to develop after-school programs. Details are available at www.ChallengeDetroit.org.

laguilar@detnews.com

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