Gov. Jay Nixon joined local and state officials, business leaders and students at the Full Employment Council in Kansas City to encourage young people to sign up for an expanded workforce development program that will connect low-income youth with area businesses this summer. Led by the Missouri Office of Community Engagement, the Summer Job League will enroll 1,500 youth between the ages of 16 to 24 from the Greater Kansas City area, providing an opportunity for them to explore careers and gain work experience, while earning a paycheck. “The Summer Job League is a great way for young people to gain real-world work experience and get a head start on a rewarding career,” Gov. Nixon said. “I thank Maida Coleman at the Office of Community Engagement for leading this effort, and the many business partners who have already stepped up to provide job opportunities for youth in this region.” To date, 66 Kansas City area businesses have already signed up to support the league and will be offering summer positions to youth in the area. The program will connect youth with businesses based on skill and interest as well as focus on providing emerging workers with experience into many of Missouri’s high-growth industries, including IT, financial services, healthcare, business, bioscience and customer service. Organizations like Magna Seating, thinkBIG, KCP&L; and Research Medical Center are offering a variety of summer positions that will expose league workers to STEM-related occupations and assignments including web designing, patient care, and engineering. Youth participating in the league will be enrolled in accelerated work-readiness training at area career centers where they will learn soft skills and be matched with a business operating in a field of their interest. The league will pay wages up to $8 an hour for up to 1,500 youth workers for a maximum of 240 hours during the summer employment period. Administered by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development and the local Workforce Investment Board, the Governor’s Office of Community Engagement will oversee the program. “As more and more youth join the league, we will be establishing a robust pipeline of young work-ready talent – where youth can explore career paths and where employers can access candidates that are serious about their future,” says Maida Coleman, director of the Missouri Office of Community Engagement. “This is an excellent way for businesses to support their communities as well as connect with the faces of our future workforce.” Youth eligibility is largely determined by household income and positions are for candidates that need these opportunities most. League candidates must be between the ages of 16-24, reside in the Greater Kansas City area, and be living at or below the 185 percent federal poverty level. “Summer is a vulnerable time for urban youth, so I appreciate Gov. Nixon helping enhance our summer youth employment efforts,” Mayor Sly James said. “Today’s announcement is a nice complement to the city’s Bright Future Summer Employment program to be held on April 25, and to our Summer Youth Employment Commission. We welcome every effort to keep youth productive through the summer.” The Summer Job League builds on the success of programs such as the State Park Youth Corps, which provides summer employment for young people in state and local parks. “The Summer Job League will be an outstanding resource for young people and businesses in Jackson County,” said Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders. “I thank Gov. Nixon for his leadership in this effort and his commitment to building a brighter future for our region.” Funding for the initiative will come primarily from federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds. Due to improving economic conditions and additional job growth, there is extra funding available through the TANF program, which can be used to provide services for young Missourians in families under 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Support for the program will also be provided through federal Workforce Investment Act and Community Development Block Grant funds. “Our businesses are excited about this opportunity to connect to a young, motivated workforce and contribute to their future success,” said President & CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Jim Heeter. “One of this Kansas City’s key advantages is the way we are able to bring public and private partners together to move the region forward. The Governor’s Summer Job League and Mayor James’ Bright Future Summer Employment program are both great examples of this collaborative approach.” For more information about the Summer Job League, visit mo.gov or summerjobs.mo.gov.

• published: 06 Mar 2015
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