County to tap funds for summer jobs

When Lucas County begins to hire for the 1,000 summer jobs to be created with $2.3 million in federal stimulus money, 16-year-old Kenneth McMillian plans to apply.

I ve been dropping off applications at McDonald s, Wendy s, and I haven t gotten any calls back, said the youth, who lives on Lawrence Avenue in Toledo and was at the Homer Hanham Boys and Girls Club yesterday on North Detroit Avenue.

He said the lack of available jobs makes me feel like a cloud is on me.

County officials announced yesterday that they plan to use $2.3 million of the $5.6 million in work-force training funds allocated to Lucas County to create 1,000 summer jobs for low-income people ages 16 through 24.

Each job will pay $7.50 an hour for 25 hours a week for an eight-week period.

Those who have perfect attendance will get a $100 bonus. The money will be available from May 1 through Sept. 30.

Lucas County commissioners approved the funding yesterday and are now looking for a contractor to handle the payroll processing and for nonprofit agencies and small businesses to provide the work.

The money can t be used to hire someone who would replace a laid-off worker.

A meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. today for officials from agencies that might participate. The meeting will be held at the Dana Conference Center at theUniversity of Toledo Health Science Campus, the former Medical College of Ohio, on Glendale Avenue.

The county has not yet said where the applicants can apply for the jobs.

We need people to step forward and say we have opportunity for youth and try to partner with them, said Commission President Pete Gerken.

Eric Walker, director of the county s Workforce Development Agency, said Lucas County has 65,180 residents between the ages of 15 and 24. He estimated at least 10 percent of that number, or at least 6,518, would qualify to apply for the jobs.

He said young adults can apply to be assistant work site supervisors and crew leaders and get up to $10 an hour.

He said the agency is looking for 100 work sites and has 40 identified. Already partnering with the county are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio, Lucas County Educational Service Center, Harbor Behavioral Healthcare, the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, and the Oregon Career and Technical Center.

County commissioners praised the program.

In these tough economic times our small businesses and our nonprofits didn t have the extra money in order to put young people to work, but because of the stimulus money it will help both businesses and young people, Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak said.

Commissioner Ben Konop noted the county s $5.6 million, part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 approved by Congress and President Obama in February, will also help displaced adults to get retrained and to create green jobs.

I am proud to support this resolution Tuesday because it not only creates 1,000 jobs for young adults, including many who might be looking for a way off the streets, but it will also go to the retraining of our work force as we move to compete for 21st century jobs, Mr. Konop said.

At the Boys and Girls Club, youths are hoping the program means some spending money in their pockets.

Dameisha Foreman, 16, who lives on North Detroit Avenue, said she s left her application at Westfield Franklin Park and elsewhere. Nobody s hiring. I haven t heard from anybody, said Miss Foreman, a student at Scott High School. I ll be wanting stuff or needing things. My parents get what they can afford, but they ve got to pay the bills.

Jimmie Reynolds III, 17, who lives on Page Street, said he d pretty much given up on finding a job and was planning to concentrate on playing basketball in Scott s summer league.

Now, he said, he ll check out the program in hopes of landing one of the positions.

Kenneth McMillian said his friends are also looking for a chance to make some money.

The only way to get money is to have a job or sell drugs. That s why we look for jobs, he said.

Shawna Woody, director of program operations for the Boys and Girls Club, said the club will apply to use the funds. She said the club offers youths a few small jobs, such as checking coats, but not as many as are wanted.

They want to work, she said.