NC Council approves JAG Nebraska grant – Nebraska City News Press

Julie Davis, CherryRoad Media

At a special June 30 meeting, the Nebraska City City Council approved a Community Development Block Grant application to receive up to $105,000 in funding to expand the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Nebraska program.

The program, which Nebraska City High School has been part of since 2019, offers students training that helps them succeed in the classroom or in the workplace. The program teaches students 37 core competencies in career development, job attainment, leadership and self-development, and personal skills.

The current Nebraska City High School program serves 35 students. Plan call for the program to expand to accommodate 15 more students beginning in August. In the 2023-2024 school year, plans call for the program to increase by 25 percent, with a final capacity of 55 students being served.

Nebraska City High School was in the second group of schools statewide that participate in the program. Students in the local JAG Nebraska program have met with representatives of Arbor Day Farms and the Lied Lodge and Conference Center (tourism and hospitality), the Army National Guard (construction and engineerings), Honeywell (maintenance), Arbor Psychiatric and Wellness Center (mental health and human services), and Peru State College (criminal justice and careers at the Tecumseh state prison) during their training. Nebraska City Mayor Bryan Bequette has also met with students to provide community updates and discuss city operations and functions.