|
|
| NEWS HOME | HOME | CITIZENS | VISITORS | BUSINESS | DEPARTMENTS |
 |
Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
The goal was to do it “Bigger and Better” and Shreveport’s 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program did just that – employing nearly three times the number of youngsters, assigning them to 40 hr. week full-time jobs and paying them more than 1.3 million dollars. | “This was just outstanding and a tremendous opportunity for our youngsters,” says Workforce Enforcement Bureau Chief Herman Vital who directed the Youth Employment Program. “Because Mayor Glover went to bat for us and personally lobbied for stimulus funding we were able to do for our kids what most cities were not able to do and that was offer jobs.” | Keenly aware of the need and the benefit of summer employment for youngsters, early this year Mayor Glover traveled to Washington D.C. and lobbied for Shreveport’s Summer Youth Employment Program to be included in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Shreveport received $2,592,712 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Of that amount, $1,344,838 was used to implement the City’s “Bigger and Better” expanded Summer Youth Employment Program. | “I’m proud and thankful that on the heels of having to make the tough decision to cut summer jobs due to budget constraints, we were able to combine our efforts and offered a bigger, better and more community involved summer jobs program that expanded the number of jobs, the pay, the hours, and an age range that included young adults up to age 24,” says Mayor Glover. | It was anticipated that the summer jobs program would operate from May 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009. However due to the overwhelming response and the number of summer workers, the serious commitment that youngsters made to their jobs, plus the fact that the majority worked a 40 hour week and earned full-time pay, Bureau Chief Vital says fiscally the program has to end early. | Letters have been mailed to every youngster and employer officially notifying them that Wednesday, July 22, 2009 will be their last day of employment. Vital says each youngster was able to receive at least seven to eight weeks of employment. | “It was fast and furious and without a doubt one of the most successful summer employment endeavors we’ve offered,” says Vital. “The additional funding allowed us to form partnerships with private employers, local non-profit and public agencies. We are thankful to them and to our City Council and City Department heads for their unwavering support.” |
|