A federally funded summer work program for underprivileged youth is turning out to be a boon for local Pinellas County employers desperately seeking workers.
CareerSource Pinellas’ Summer PAYS Program already has 225 participants and numerous employers throughout the area placing local teens and young adults in positions.
“It’s going very well,” said Kristopher Lucas, CareerSource Pinellas Director of Business and Talent Development. “This is my first run at putting a project like this together and it is very grass roots.”
The funding comes from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and works to pair underprivileged youth with employers in the same ZIP code, so transportation is not an issue. The participants work through July for $12 an hour, a rate higher than the mandated minimum wage. There will be instances where employers will keep them on after July, if the partnerships work out, Lucas said.
Among the businesses participating are YMCAs throughout Pinellas County, Pinellas County Schools, Slyce Pizza and Peltz Shoes, to name a few.
“The bulk of them will start June 14 and run through July,” Lucas said. “Our grant funding year ends at the end of June. We adjusted to complete funding for this year and begin funding for next year. We will spend about $500,000 on this one.”
On the employer side, he said, “they are chomping at the bit, saying ‘just give me a warm body.’ For them, it’s the demand,” Lucas said. “For the youth and parents, they are eager to start working and earning some money. Feedback from them is that youth want to start immediately.”
Employers and youth can visit the CareerSource website to sign up.
