Summer Youth Employment

Over $400,000 has been released to Orange and Ulster Counties for the 2005 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

"This program gives young people a chance to gain valuable work experience," said Senator Larkin. "The training they will receive and the experience in real life working environments will help prepare them for their future careers. And of course their paychecks will certainly be an incentive to continue the hard work they will be learning how to do this summer."

Orange County has been allocated $276,250, and Ulster County will receive $132,400 for the program.

Funding for the program, which will employ approximately 15,000 youth across New York State, comes through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and has been allocated to counties through the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Funding is available to support summer youth employment programs from May 1 to September 30, 2005, with most programs operating during July and August.

Program funds can be used as payment to an employer or third party as a work subsidy for eligible youth, education and training, support services, transportation to and from work or training and counseling and other employment related services. No more than 15 percent of the funds can be used for administration.

Eligible participants include youth aged 14-20 who are members of families in receipt of public assistance, or members of non-public assistance families with an income below 200 % of the federal poverty level. As an example, a 3-person family could have an income of as much as $32,180 and be eligible for the program.