City, county forced to cut summer youth job programs
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Now that the federal stimulus money is gone, the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have sharply scaled back summer youth employment programs that together employed more than 2,000 last year.
The stimulus money gave disadvantaged youths a special opportunity in a faltering economy, and the end of the money comes at a time when summer jobs in many economic sectors are difficult to find.
This summer, the county has slots for about 100 youths, while the city hopes to hire about 340. More than 700 youths applied for the city slots; the number of county applicants wasn't available Monday.
Officials expressed regret at the cutbacks but said stimulus money was intended to provide a short-term boost to the programs, which provide students with paid internships or put them to work on conservation projects.
With the stimulus money gone, they said, they're returning to pre-stimulus budgets. Joanna Doven, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's spokesman, said the city is seeking $250,000 in foundation money to hire as many youths as possible.
Paying minimum wage, the city program "teaches youths work skills. It exposes them to careers and potential opportunities, and it teaches them how to manage money," personnel director Judy Hill Finegan said.
The program also is an eye-opener for nonprofit groups and other employers who take on the teens under agreements with the city and county.
The county hired about 570 summer workers in 2009, the first year that stimulus money was available, and about 1,145 last year. The county used about $3.6 million in stimulus money over the two years, according to information provided by Jonathan McKain, a spokesman for the Department of Human Services.
The city hired about 500 summer workers in 2009 and about 915 last year. It spent about $4.2 million over the two years, predominately stimulus money, Ms. Hill Finegan said.
Last year, youths in the six-week city program worked for the Hill House, Hill Dance Academy, Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., Student Conservation Association and the Pittsburgh Public Schools, among other employers.
The city and county programs traditionally target teens in need of skill-building and positive experiences. In announcing their program last year, county officials said they were seeking youths from low-income households as well as those with disabilities, in foster care or rebounding from brushes with the law.
First Published June 14, 2011 12:00 am
