It’s usually around this time of year when young people start thinking about a summer job.
Thanks to one million dollars in stimulus money, jobs are available.
“The young people who get these jobs probably won’t have any other options available to them other than these jobs,” explains Vaughn Smith, director of Workforce Connections.
Kids age 14 to 18 will have the opportunity to land one of the jobs through Workforce Connections. They will work 30 hours a week at minimum wage.
Applications will be accepted beginning in May. Work will start June 1 and continue for approximately eight weeks.
“The eligibility criteria requires the family to have an income that’s below the poverty guidelines, and so we’ll have a process and they will come apply, and we will determine who is eligible,” adds Smith. “I think there will be a job for every eligible youngster who applies to us this summer.”
The positions will be at public and private non-profit agencies in Knox County and throughout Knoxville, including parks and recreation departments.
There will also be jobs available at the UT Campus.
“We expect to have people doing clerical work, answering phones, working at the libraries, that sort of thing,” explains Smith.
More jobs are being sought from non-profit groups to provide for the young people.
If you can help out or if you’d like more information on how your child can take part, you can call (865) 544-5200.
Similar programs are also being setup across East Tennessee.
The county received $ 1million of stimulus money for the summer jobs money.
The county received another $1.5 million that will go towards helping unemployed adults further their education.
If you’re interested in that service you can visit the Tennessee Career Center on University Avenue in Knoxville.
Source: WATE
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