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 White Plains, NY - In Westchester, hundreds of low-income youth will be getting summer jobs subsidized by federal stimulus dollars in a new program that will provide paychecks and work readiness skills to the youth and help employers who wouldn’t otherwise be able to offer those positions.
The Department of Social Services, through the Office of Workforce Investment, will use federal funds received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to subsidize summer jobs for eligible youth. Westchester County recently issued $800,000 in employment contracts to ten local youth services agencies who will act as the intermediaries between the youth and the businesses who will hire them.
Participating businesses will benefit from a 100 percent wage subsidy for participating youth, who will be recruited by the participating agencies and placed in public and private sector jobs throughout the county. Youth must meet income eligibility requirements and be 21 to 24 years old.
To prepare for the program’s launch, the county’s One Stop Employment Center has already lined up more than 60 public and private employers who will hire up to 300 youth for up to 11 weeks. Among the jobs listed are clerical and office support, maintenance/custodial, parks and recreation, hotel and hospitality, child care, sales and customer service, transportation, cosmetology, food services, construction and landscaping, and stock and warehouse.
In addition to getting employment, the youth will participate in a structured program designed to improve their work readiness skills. Each agency will implement a “green project” through which participants will learn about opportunities in the green jobs market.
Interested businesses and youth should fill out an online application by going to www.westchestergov.com/onestopemploymentcenter and clicking on “What’s New,” or by contacting one of the following agencies:
Mount Vernon Youth Bureau (914) 665-7495
Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, Mount Vernon (914) 664-1838 x108
Westhab, Inc., Elmsford (914) 345-2800 x22
White Plains Youth Bureau (914) 422-1378 x2125
Union Baptist Church, White Plains (914) 948-6014
Thomas H. Slater Center, White Plains (914) 948-6211
Peekskill Youth Bureau (914) 734-8418
Port Chester Carver Center (914) 939-4464
The Children’s Village, Dobbs Ferry (914) 357-1970
Westchester Community Action Program, Elmsford (914) 592-5600 x113
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