State has $11 million in stimulus funds for Summer Youth Workforce

Hundreds of work sites around the state are gearing up to hire young workers for the summer, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell (Senate Bill 2001) that appropriates $11 million in federal stimulus funds for summer jobs.

The program may provide jobs for as many as 5,000 disadvantaged young people between 14 and 24 years old.

The $11 million is part of $30 million in stimulus workforce funds, with $19 million to be used to assist dislocated adult workers.

“These funds also will help give employers the workforce they need and the resources to pay for them,” Gov. Rell said in a statement released today.

The program, administered by the state Labor Department, is coordinated through five regional Workforce Investment Boards:

• The WorkPlace in Bridgeport
• Capital Workforce Partners in Hartford
• Workforce Alliance in New Haven
• Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board in Franklin
• and Northwest Regional Workforce Board in Waterbury.

State Dept. of Labor officials say the program has already attracted nearly 11,000 applicants.

The Workforce Investment Boards find jobs for the young workers with non-profits, private industry and municipal agencies.

Jobs include office work, graphic design assistants, hospital and nursing home aides, and recreation and park staff.

For more information about youth employment visit the Department of Labor Web site at www.ct.gov/dol.

For more information about how stimulus funds are being used in Connecticut visit the state government Web site at www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link.

Posted June 25, 2009