Kentucky.gov

ARRA dollars to provide employment and training programs

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that over $15 million will be distributed to the Commonwealth’s 10 local workforce investment boards. The funds, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will be used to conduct the Kentucky Summer Youth Employment Program and provide other training opportunities to approximately 6,000 at-risk youth and young adults across the state.

“These funds make it possible to give our young people the valuable work experience they need while simultaneously assisting our employers who need but can’t afford to hire summer workers,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is especially important to the economic stimulus of our local communities.”

The program will offer paid work experience and work-readiness education via the summer 2009 program running from May 1 through September 30. It is available to low-income youth ages 14 to 24 who have one or more of the following barriers: deficient in basic literacy skills; school dropout; homeless, runaway or foster child; pregnant or parenting; offender; or an individual (including a youth with a disability) who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment.

Employers can partner with local workforce investment boards to provide opportunities for youth in their communities and at the same time receive a short-term employee at no cost to the employer.

Employment sites can be in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Youth are usually paid minimum wage for a specified workday/workweek. Worksites are coordinated throughout the commonwealth by local workforce investment boards as designated under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

Work experiences are structured to impart measurable communication, interpersonal, decision-making and learning skills in the workplace. Efforts are made to match worksites with the interests and goals of participating youth.

Local youth leads can provide details on participant eligibility for both youth and employers. Employers can find local contact information about Kentucky’s Summer Youth Employment Program at www.oet.ky.gov/des/documents/YouthLeadMap.pdf.

For general information on programs and services, please call 502-564-7456.

These stimulus funds are administered through the Office of Employment and Training in Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet and are awarded to local workforce investment areas. The amount of each local grant is as follows:

Kentucky stimulus funding can tracked at www.kentuckyatwork.gov.

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