Applications Now Available For Buffalo’s 2026 Summer Youth Jobs Program

If you were to take a look outside, you might not believe that spring is around the corner, but it is. In fact, it will be here in less than three weeks, and once spring gets there, then summer isn't too far away. We then all know what happens when summer arrives, the kids get out of school, and a lot of them are looking for something to do.

I am not one of those who think it's ok for their kid to sit around all summer like a bump on a log, so I'll be on the lookout for plenty of things for them to do. If you have a teenager like I do, then one thing they can find to keep themselves busy this summer is a job.

The summer of 2025 is poised to have thousands of summer jobs available for youth when the weather breaks, and if you need to find one for your kid and you live in the City of Buffalo, then you'll be glad to know that Buffalo's Mayor Sean Ryan has announced that they are now accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Youth Internship Program.

For many people, a summer job is their first real introduction to working and earning a few bucks. For thousands of youth and young adults in Buffalo, this is a great chance for them to learn some work experience, make some great networking connections, and potentially gain some important skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. This, of course, doesn't even include the best part: earning some cash.

The Summer Youth Internship Program is set to start in early July and will run for 6 weeks until the middle of August. Young adults under 18 will work up to 20 hours per week for those 6 weeks.

To qualify for this program, you must be a resident of the City of Buffalo and be between the ages of 14 and 21. You also have to have your New York State Working Papers if you are under the age of 18.

Applications are being accepted online right now and must be completed by Friday, March 27, 2026. Please make sure you read and fully complete the application, and submit the requested documents with it, because officials from City Hall will not complete and/or process incomplete and/or late applications. Applicants will need to submit copies of the following items along with the application to be considered for employment:

• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card
• Proof of Address (Must Be City of Buffalo Resident)
• Proof of Household Income
• Report Card/Transcript for those enrolled in school

You can find a complete list of the requirements here on the City of Buffalo Website.

Like previous years, the applications are only being accepted online and cannot be submitted on paper, so if you have any questions or need any assistance in applying, you can contact the City of Buffalo here. You can also call their office in Buffalo City Hall at (716) 851-5887.

If this at all sounds like something you're interested in, don't wait to submit your application as soon as possible because the deadline is March 27, 2026.