Jobs for roughly 2,300 young people are available for the summer, thanks to a grant of federal economic stimulus money.
The $11.1 million in additional funding raises the number of summer jobs provided by City Hall up to 17,400, and is provided to employ Chicago’s low-income youth and to keep them off the streets.
Up to 10 weeks of work is available for people between the ages of 16 and 24, whose family income is below the federal poverty level. These kids are the most prone to the violence that comes along with gang activity.
"One of the most important things we do in city government to keep our young people safe is to provide them with positive alternatives to hanging out in the streets when they’re not in school," Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said in a news conference on Friday.
Daley said summer jobs are more than just a moneymaking opportunity for young people; they represent a critical investment in the future of the city.
Summer employment programs build on the many other steps the city has recently taken to put young people on the right track.
Eligible families will be notified by the state. So far 420 young people have begun work under the program.
