States are using Stimulus Funding for Summer Jobs Programs

In this week's Front and Center, the National Govenor's Association reports on how states are creating summer employment programs:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $1.2 billion to states for Workforce Investment Act youth summer employment. Some states already have announced initial plans for ramping up their youth summer employment programs:

• Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has announced plans to hire 2,000 young adults to spend this summer improving Indiana’s parks, trails and natural habitats. The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps is designated for people 16 to 24 years old whose family incomes are at or below the poverty level.

• Rhode Island has launched the Summer Youth Employment Opportunities program that will serve approximately 2,000 additional youth ages 14 to 24. With an initial investment of $4 million, Rhode Island will accept Request for Proposals from nonprofit, private and public agencies to provide summer work experience, work readiness and academic enrichment programming for participating youth.

• Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has announced a $30 million two year commitment to create 10,000 summer jobs for young people ages 14 to 24. Governor Patrick plans to combine funds from the YouthWorks summer jobs program, public safety funds and funds provided through ARRA.

For more information on strategies to support job training and creation with ARRA funding.