Nearly $200 million has been allocated for a major jobs program across California to help young people find jobs.
The Californians for All Youth Jobs Corps program has put forward $185 million, divided among cities and counties in the state.
KPBS reports The program will see $150 million of government money invested in the 13 largest cities in the state.
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Phase two will then see another $35 million invested in smaller counties and cities.
The cities which will get the money include San Diego, Anaheim, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Francisco.
Josh Fryday, who is chief service officer for California Volunteers, told KPBS Midday Edition: “We’ve seen this pandemic have an incredible affect on young people, on unemployment and especially on communities of color and those that have been hardest hit.
“So this is a time for the state to invest in not just helping our communities by creating jobs where people are going to be serving their communities in really important ways, but this is also a chance for us to invest in people’s futures.”
The program aims to create opportunities for people from the state aged between 16 and 30.
Mr Fryday added: “This program is very intentional about focusing on hiring the most underserved youth. Youth that are low-income, youth that are unemployed or out of school, that are justice involved, are transitioning from foster care, or engaged with mental health or substance abuse systems.”
There will be opportunities to work in areas including food insecurity, climate change, Covid-19 recovery, education disparities, and river clean-ups.
Mr Fryday continued: “It’s a win for the young people who are going to get a job that pays with dignity at a minimum of $15 an hour, often higher in some cities, and it’s a win for the community because these young people are going to be serving the community and doing work that matters.”
He said the program will also provide services to help the applicants with resume preparation, leadership and network training.
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