MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A select number of Miami-Dade college age students will have the opportunity to get paid this summer while they brush up on their ‘job-readiness’ skills.

On Monday, South Florida Workforce announced the opening of registration for the Career Pathway Compact Summer Employment Program. The eight to ten week education internship program will provide participants with entry-level positions within governmental agencies, local businesses, and community-based non-profit organizations. Program selection will be done by lottery for candidates who have met all program requirements.

“Enhancing the work-readiness skills of our young adults through special programs like the one created by South Florida Workforce is critical to the continued economic growth of our community,” said Mayor Carlos Gimenez in a statement. “Connecting our students to our partners in the private and non-profit sectors is key to growing jobs and to keeping our most talented students from leaving our community for career opportunities elsewhere.”

Miami-Dade County, in conjunction with South Florida Workforce, is making $1.5 million dollars available for the program.