Good news for the poorest teenagers in Summit County. After receiving no money last year for the county's Summer Youth Employment Program, Summit County will see 1.2 million dollars from the feds for the jobs program this summer...

Pat Divocky, Director of the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services says that is half the $2.3-million the county received for the jobs program in 2010.

Divocky tells AkronNewsNow " It's going to be somewhere between 600 and 660 youths that will be able to get jobs for the summer. We've identified a certain group, youth who are on Temporary Assistance To Needy Families or the Ohio Works First program. These are the neediest people, the neediest families in the county."

She says letters are going out this week to teens between the ages of 14 and 24 who are eligible for the summer employment program, which runs from June 11th through August 31st. Their families are already part of the Temporary Assistance To Needy Families program.

Divocky says the county is now recruiting companies to hire the teens whose minimum wage pay will come from the summer jobs program.

News Release from Summit County Executive Russ Pry

Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry announced the 2012 Summer Youth Employment program will get
underway June 11 and run through August 31. The program offers summer jobs for youths aged 14-24 whose
families are eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The jobs range from landscaping and
painting to light administrative or clerical. The County will receive approximately $1.2 million to run the program,
about half the amount received the last time the program was funded in 2010.

Because of limited funding, youths eligible for employment have already been identified as members of families
who presently receive cash assistance under TANF and the Ohio Works First (OWF) Program, or youth who no
longer receive cash assistance due to a sanction of another person in the household. A letter and questionnaire
asking their job interests will be mailed this week. The program will then match candidates to jobs by interest and
by zip code to help alleviate transportation issues. Potential candidates will be required to attend a recruitment
night meeting at an assigned location at one of four sites around the county, and will be asked to RSVP.     

The program is also contacting potential employers. Organizations that employ summer youth workers will be
reimbursed for wages paid, and other payroll costs such as FICA and workers compensation. The cost of
background checks and uniforms/tools may also be reimbursed. 

Organizations interested in hiring summer youth workers may call 330-630-6068 or email
summit_summeryouth.odjfs.state.oh.us for more information.