After federal funds were cut for summer jobs for kids three years ago, Hudson County – through the combined use of county, state, federal and private money – has managed to re-establish the program.
“This is the second summer we’re doing this,” said Ben Lopez, the county director in charge of overseeing the county’s “Welfare-to-work” initiatives.
Recently Lopez managed to find $100,000 to help get the county summer jobs program up and running. “The idea is to provide these kids with something to keep them busy during the summer,” he said.
County Executive Tom DeGise said the program is open to kids throughout the county, although some state funding sources are geared specifically to children from families currently involved in Welfare-to-work. And the jobs provided with federal funding have to go to low-income kids. But privately funded jobs can go to any kids. The work program starts just after the 4th of July weekend and will last six weeks.
“It is open to kids 16 to 18 years old,” Lopez said, noting that private sources have allowed the program to continue.
Summer jobs programs for poor kids became part of county freeholder activities dating back to the 1930s, when federal funds were used to provide positive activities during the months when they were not in school. But under the current federal administration, jobs has to be tied to educational or job readiness, not merely as a means to provide low-income families with extra income.
Earlier this year, Hudson County saw an additional cut in revenue, forcing Lopez to scramble to find alternative funding.
“The Federal Department of Labor cut out the money for our summer job program,” Lopez said.
Fortunately, Hudson County’s economic growth has produced companies willing to invest in local youths by providing funds.
Last year, the county unveiled the Hudson County Workforce Investment Board Summer Youth Employment Program with the idea of keeping kids occupied and out of trouble. The youth job program brought together public and private sectors to create employment and training for 126 economically disadvantaged and at -risk kids, Lopez said.
Helping kids out for the summer
Kids involved with the program last year were introduced to the Hudson County Schools of Technology Career Development Center, where they could take advantage of one-stop job services and other activities. This is a relatively recent addition to the county’s Welfare-to-work program, as adults can use it to get information on jobs, careers and even educational opportunities, and learn about the array of training providers in the area.
There are several county-funded job centers: the Hudson County Schools of Technology at 4800 Broadway in Union City, at the Urban League of Hudson County 253 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Jersey City, and at the One-Stop Career Center, 438 Summit Ave. in Jersey City.
Kids last year worked at about 39 sites through the county, including governmental offices on the municipal and county level, local educational centers, and community-based organizations. They worked in offices, parks, public works, recreation centers, and maintenance facilities. Some of the college students involved were hired to work as area coordinators and counselors. Some even worked for local businesses.
“Some companies like Panasonic in Secaucus provided job slots, and last year, the kid who took part in the summer program did so well, Panasonic offered the person a job after the program ended,” Lopez said.
The county program, he said, uses some county funds as well as grants from private companies to provide for the jobs.
According to a report on the program Lopez issued to the freeholders in May, “The Summer Youth Employment Program is an important tool for today’s Hudson County youth to utilize in breaking the cycle of government dependency.”
But he said the program will have to rely more heavily on private sector funds partly because some of the remaining federal funds were cut back again in January. The county has committed about $50,000, but also has received commitments from companies such as Fidelity Investments, Fleet Bank, the Provident Bank Foundation, Goldman Sachs & Co, Wachovia Bank and Panasonic to provide funds for the 2004 program. Lopez has also received permission from the NJ Division of Family Development allowing the county to use $100,000 in WorkFirst NJ Special Initiative funding for the program for those kids that are part of households receiving public assistance.
Schools and public officials have been notified about the program, and people who are interested can make arrangements to find out more through school guidance counselors or even municipal government officials.
Lopez said families interested should contact their local government or school to for qualifications to enter the summer program.
“This is our second year, and we’re hoping to make it better,” said DeGise during a telephone interview last week. “These are the kinds of things I did when I worked at Snyder High [in Jersey City] helping to connect kids with local businesses in order to get them work experience.”
DeGise sang Lopez’s praises, saying this has been an all-out effort to make certain kids got opportunities this summer. He said some federal and state money is specifically geared to kids from needy families, but the county has put in money of its own and sought private funding sources in order to provide a balanced program for all kids through the county.
“We’re working hard to reach out to businesses like Goldman Sachs and some of the banks in order to get funding and job opportunities,” DeGise said.
Businesspeople like Eric Silverman actually gave the county a $1,000 donation that would allow the county to hire one kid for the summer.
But other places also deserve credit, such as the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and Hartz Mountain Industries in Secaucus.
“While I don’t have anything against flipping burgers, these jobs are higher profile than that,” DeGise said. “Kids who come to work at places like Merrill Lynch begin to take pride in themselves and really mature while on the job. Kids who show up for the first day in jeans start dressing up by the end of the summer. It is really something to see.”
Barbeque
The county also throws a shindig at the end of the year to celebrate the right of passage, offering a barbeque for sponsors and workers in Lincoln Park, where certificates of accomplishment and thanks are issued.
DeGise said Lopez has also put significant thought into the program, trying to place kids in the communities from which they come.
“If a kid comes from Bayonne, we try to find a job there. If the kid is from Secaucus, we look in Secaucus,” DeGise said.
He also noted that the county tracked students who took part in last year’s program.
“Of those who took part, 100 percent of the kids stayed in school this year,” he said. “None of them dropped out.”