CT Summer Jobs in Jeopardy

Posted on June 16, 2009

It was recently reported that thousands of CT summer jobs would soon be created thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. However, hundreds of those potential positions could be canceled if the state Legislature doesn’t pass the funding within the next 10 days.

The State of Connecticut was to use $11 million in federal funding to create 4,500 jobs for youths ages 14 to 24. But the General Assembly has not yet appropriated those funds, meaning 700 youth jobs in Eastern Connecticut are now in danger of being cut. According to an article by the Norwich Bulletin, the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board, one of five throughout the state, oversees $1.2 million for summer jobs.

“The longer we have to wait, the more the program is weakened,” John Beauregard, executive director of the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board, said in the article. “Something really needs to happen in the next seven to 10 days.”

Throughout the state, workforce boards have received more than 9,000 applications to fill the near 5,000 available slots. Because of the current economic recession, the state’s summer work program is often one of the only chances that disadvantaged youth have at finding work.

To be eligible for summer work, the youth’s family must be near the federal poverty level and they must have disabilities or other barriers to employment. Those who are selected will work 16 to 24 hours per week and earn minimum wage. They will work with public programs, private employers, nonprofit groups, municipal sites, state college campuses, hospitals and banks.