Inner City Youth Employment Program

News From New York State
Senator Shirley L. Huntley
For Immediate Release: December 12, 2011
Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

*PRESS RELEASE*

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Announces Passage of Inner City Youth Employment Program

Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D-Jamaica) announced the passage of a new Inner City Youth Employment Program and Tax credit initiative for the State of New York. The new bill (S. 50002) establishes an $87 million program in grants, training funds, and tax credits to deal with the crisis of inner city youth unemployment.

“Our current recession has crippled the State of New York’s economy,” Senator Huntley explained. “Our inner city youth are one of the most  highly effected and consistently overlooked groups in the state.”

In Queens, but most specifically Southeast Queens unemployed youth have a lot of time and energy to expend. Youth who are employed are less likely to engage in a high risk activities and can help contribute to their family and personal well being. Also, the prospects of being employed teach our youth to work hard, be responsible, and become productive citizens in our society.

Enveloped in this $87 million in grants is a $25 million dollar tax credit for employers who hire unemployed youth between the ages of 16 and 24 for the first six months of this upcoming year, a $37 million job program, and a $25 million workforce training and support program.

These programs will be made available in cities with a population of over 62,000 and also the towns of Hempstead and Brookhaven on Long Island. 

A list of the eligible cities follows:

• New York City (8,175,133)
• Buffalo (261,310)
• Rochester (210,565)
• Yonkers (195,976)
• Syracuse (145,170)
• Albany (97,856)
• New Rochelle (77,062)
• Mount Vernon (67,292)
• Schenectady (66,135)
• Utica (62,235)

“This legislation will go to great lengths in ensuring our future workforce gets off on the right foot,” Senator Huntley concluded. “And with this added tax credit our inner city youth will not only find employment but gain useful training skills while stimulating the economy. I’d like to applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership with this progressive legislation and congratulate the State of New York on no longer tolerating our youth to be left behind.”

This bill will be in effect upon its signage into law.

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Additional news available at http://huntley.nysenate.gov and facebook.com/Shirley L. Huntley
New York State Senate Email | shuntley@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531