Thursday, Jun. 18, 2009

Federal stimulus provides summer jobs for metro-east youths

Beginning Monday, 400 new summer jobs will be provided to young people in the metro-east as part of the federal economic stimulus plan.

On Thursday, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern officially initiated the pilot program and addressed those who had been accepted in the program and filled the County Board chambers in Belleville.

The program is designed to provide jobs to youths between the ages of 14 and 24 who come from low-income households in St. Clair, Clinton, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties.

Kern said the program is funded by $1.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will provide a quality, paid work experience for youths who will contribute immediately to the local economy and improve their work readiness skills for future long-term employment through partnerships established with businesses, government and nonprofit agencies.

"We know this program can honestly make a difference in your lives," Kern said.

"You will get viable work experience this summer ... This is the most effective use of stimulus money as we can see."

Debra Moore, executive director of the county's Intergovernmental Grants Department, said the federally funded program will provide jobs at local government and nonprofit agencies, as well as businesses.

Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, told the youths that he participated in a similar program when he was a younger man.

"When I did it 26 years ago, do you know what I did?," Clayborne said. "We had sling blades that we chopped weeds with in the sun."

"You get to use your minds and get exposure to things that I didn't ... I'm somewhat envious of all of you. I want you to take advantage of this."

Program manager Edward White said the program will continue until early August, but an end date has not yet been determined. He also said about 65 different businesses and entities are participating with more inquiring about the program every day.

Meanwhile, a parallel summer jobs program funded through the governor's office has been slashed by 75 percent. Last year, under then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the program provided 10,000 jobs statewide, including 300 in the East St. Louis area. Now, because of the state budget crisis, under current Gov. Pat Quinn it is only funding 2,500 jobs statewide, with none planned so far for St. Clair County.

The impact of the second summer jobs program's deep reductions has been devastating, said Kathy Haywood, officer manager for the Emerson Park Neighborhood Association, in East St. Louis. Families in the community are depending on the summer jobs program more than ever because of the financial setbacks the adults have already suffered, said Haywood, whose group oversaw 300 summer jobs last year. The number this year: Zero.

Contact reporter Will Bus at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526. Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 239-2533.