Three Denver groups get stimulus money to create jobs for youth
| July 7, 2009 | 3:59 PM
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The Denver Housing Authority, Goodwill Industries and Servicios de La Raza have won contracts from the Denver Ofice of Economic Development to create 600 summer jobs for at-risk youths.
The contracts, which total $753,070, will allow the city to serve nearly 1,000 young people through its youth summer employment program. Typically, Denver receives funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to create 400 such jobs each summer.
But as Pamela Gomez Farrell, director for workforce development, notes, “the funding for youth employment is at the lowest it has been for many years.”
The federal Youth Employment Program, which is funded by stimulus dollars, connects youths ages 14-24 with up to 160 hours of work for businesses, nonprofits or government groups.
The program, which started in June, runs eight weeks, and the jobs can include office work, food service, landscaping, maintenance, janitorial and recreation positions. There are also “green” jobs such as performing home energy audits and weatherization services.
The Denver Housing Authority, which received $312,960, will give jobs to 250, while Goodwill, which got $284,210, will employ 200. Servicios de la Raza will provide 140 jobs with its $155,900 allocation.
The city has received $4.7 million in federal stimulus money for workforce development programs. Of that, $1.9 million will be used for youth employment and training. Denver has until the end of September to use the money. The $1.9 million is further broken down into:
- 43 percent on youth wages
- 41 percent on community based services
- 10 percent on supportive services (bus passes, youth certification)
- 6 percent on administration
So, why the emphasis on youth employment when so many adults are out of work?
“Many youths in our community are contributing to the family income during these difficult times,” Gomez Farrell said. ”Some are parents, so they are contributing to the household income.”
She also says there are long-term benefits to the program.
“Youths who work also have greater success in graduation rates and continuation of their education than those who don’t,” she said.
The city is no longer accepting applications for these summer jobs, as all of the positions have been filled. However, each contractor is maintaining a wait list.
For more information, contact the Denver Housing Authority at 303-607-9216, Goodwill Industries of Denver, 303-430-5319, or Servicios de La Raza, 303-953-5950.
Denver Office of Economic Development, stimulus money, Tillie Fong, youth employment
