Governor Cuomo Announces Summer Jobs Program Will Put More Than 18,000 Teens to Work

LongIsland.com

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that more than 18,000 teens will have jobs this summer through New York State’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

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Albany, NY - May 15, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that more than 18,000 teens will have jobs this summer through New York State’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

 

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has distributed $25 million in funding to all 57 counties and New York City to help bring youth into the workforce, acquire skills that can help them improve in school, and propel them to greater educational and career achievements.

 

“The Summer Youth Employment Program offers a great opportunity for employment to teenagers and young adults in underserved communities across New York State,” said Governor Cuomo. “Introducing youth to their first job means they will gain valuable skills and experience that can help them achieve success in the future.”

 

Youth ages 14 to 20, whose families are recipients of public assistance, or have a family income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $38,180 for a family of three, are eligible.

 

The funding can be used to subsidize wages, to support education and training activities, counseling and employment-related services, such as transportation to and from work or training. Youth interested in participating can contact their local department of social services.

 

OTDA Acting Commissioner Kristin M. Proud said: “Jobs are crucial to help teach teens responsibility, good work habits, budgeting and how to cooperatively accomplish goals in a business setting. Governor Cuomo enthusiastically supports the Summer Youth Employment Program because every year it gives employment opportunities and skills to teens who seek a brighter future.”

 

16 year old Onyx Wright, a student at Brewster High School has participated in the program the last two years. She described her experiences as, “Amazing! I have loved both summers. I have worked in a library and also for Head Start. I not only had fun, but it gives a student the push he or she needs to really get going and to learn people skills and responsibility.”

 

Onyx’ father Richard Wright said, “It gives the young people a healthy respect for what it is like to earn money and to be responsible for it.”

 

Robbie Harris, a senior at Copenhagen High School who got a job last summer working on a landscaping crew in Lewis County, said: “The Summer Youth Employment Program helped me in a few different ways. It gave me money throughout the summer, it helped me make a few more friends, and it also gave me more experience working which I'll be able to use after high school.”

 

A list of funding awards is below:

 

Region/County

Amount

 

Capital Region

 

Albany

$374,178

Columbia

$51,356

Greene

$67,713

Rensselaer

$184,887

Saratoga

$146,959

Schenectady

$146,924

Warren

$69,959

Washington

$62,452

 

Central New York

 

Cayuga

$100,433

Cortland

$110,305

Madison

$113,260

Onondaga

$603,322

Oswego

$228,307

 

Finger Lakes

 

Genesee

$67,136

Livingston

$116,535

Monroe

$871,780

Ontario

$98,704

Orleans

$58,460

Seneca

$49,531

Wayne

$93,174

Wyoming

$53,107

Yates

$41,510

 

Long Island

 

Nassau

$629,949

Suffolk

$852,582

 

Mid-Hudson

 

Dutchess

$259,635

Orange

$363,706

Putnam

$32,220

Rockland

$227,375

Sullivan

$111,595

Ulster

$192,234

Westchester

$649,283

 

Mohawk Valley

 

Fulton

$81,762

Herkimer

$87,667

Montgomery

$69,035

Oneida

$279,133

Otsego

$139,441

Schoharie

$56,399

 

New York City

$13,467,175

 

North Country

 

Clinton

$144,229

Essex

$47,526

Franklin

$85,271

Hamilton

$6,119

Jefferson

$201,509

Lewis

$46,736

St. Lawrence

$263,133

 

Southern Tier

 

Broome

$303,227

Chemung

$129,356

Chenango

$79,024

Schuyler

$30,175

Steuben

$147,255

Tioga

$58,315

Tompkins

$345,797

 

Western New York

 

Allegany

$126,045

Cattaraugus

$143,390

Chautauqua

$229,254

Delaware

$70,283

Erie

$1,073,977

Niagara

$260,196

 

In 2012 the following number of youth participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program:

 

County

2012 Total Participants

Albany

763

Allegany

46

Broome

217

Cattaraugus

141

Cayuga

49

Chautauqua

139

Chemung

88

Chenango

49

Clinton

94

Columbia

34

Cortland

61

Delaware

65

Dutchess

99

Erie

758

Essex

28

Franklin

41

Fulton

43

Genesee

37

Greene

45

Hamilton

7

Herkimer

87

Jefferson

102

Lewis

23

Livingston

50

Madison

69

Monroe

466

Montgomery

47

Nassau

180

Niagara

98

NYC

9,240

Oneida

395

Onondaga

388

Ontario

70

Orange

199

Orleans

33

Oswego

134

Otsego

96

Putnam

14

Rensselaer

176

Rockland

162

St. Lawrence

122

Saratoga

86

Schenectady

124

Schoharie

42

Schuyler

17

Seneca

33

Steuben

81

Suffolk

580

Sullivan

60

Tioga

40

Tompkins

182

Ulster

111

Warren

55

Washington

39

Wayne

47

Westchester

613

Wyoming

9

Yates

38

2012 Totals

17,112


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For More Information, Please Contact:

Governor's Press Office
NYC Press Office: 212-681-4640
Albany Press Office: 518-474-8418
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov