A summer jobs program for low-income youth is expanding in Jackson County.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says 1,500 slots will be available to workers age 18 to 24 in the county.
Last year, using federal grant money, workers were hired to spruce up local parks. This year, Nixon says, there’s more jobs available and so the state is looking for private partners.
“This is something with 1,500 slots which is going to necessitate the requirement that you have businesses actively involved with that. That’s one of the reasons we’re making the announcement for next summer here in early November,” Nixon said during a visit to the Young Adult Career Connections Center in Kansas City on Friday.
The governor says summer employment is good for the economy and great for the kids who get jobs.
“So kids getting started on the right path is vital to keeping them on course, to financial independence, a rewarding career and a successful life,” he says.
In addition to the 1,500 jobs here, the $10 million federal grant will pay for another 2,000 summer jobs in St. Louis.
All will pay $8 an hour, 50 cents more than the Missouri minimum wage.
