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Spots open in youth job program

While the summer youth employment program officially started on June 4, there is still time to apply for any of the positions available through Washington County Job and Family Services.

There are currently 120 eligible youth enrolled in the program with available positions in public and private sectors, including Haessly Hardwood, JaniSource, all school districts in the county, the villages of New Matamoras and Beverly and the Betsey Mills Club.

Two of the businesses that regularly partner with JFS to provide employment for the summer are Marietta City Schools and the City of Marietta.

“We’ve had this partnership for a long time,” said Darrell Prim, facilities and transportation manager for Marietta City Schools. “We offer them a variety of experiences and there’s even an opportunity to stay on if they want.”

Zach Allen, 19, is working at the middle school this summer. He learned about the application process through the Washington County Career Center. Some of the things he will do during the summer include custodial work, cleaning floors, moving furniture and prepping MMS for the upcoming school year that begins Aug. 22.

“It helps me out financially and the application process was pretty easy,” he said.

The process, according to Michelle Brown, Workforce Development Administrator for Job and Family Services, requires eligibility through four points of entry.

“There are two mandatory groups, those who receive cash assistance through OWF (Ohio Works First) or those who meet the low income barrier through WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and two volunteer groups, those in the OWF program who are not work eligible, like a grandparent, and those who receive services through the PRC (prevention, retention and contingency) program,” Brown explained.

The City of Marietta is employing 17 young people through the program this summer in the recreation, streets and parks and cemeteries departments.

“We’ve been doing this for many years and the process works really well,” said Susan Joyce, recreation program & public facilities office manager.

“We have a wonderful group of kids this summer.”

The budget for the program is $400,000 and is possible through the federal CCMEP program which combines the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth program.

Businesses that would like to partner with JFS are eligible for a work opportunity tax credit and anyone that is interested can contact Brown directly through JFS at 740-373-5513.

“The goal of CCMEP is to provide eligible youth the opportunity to meet their education and employment goals,” Brown said. “Everyone is assigned a case manager and we work with them, whether it’s helping to get a driver’s license, getting supplies needed for class or providing tutoring.”

To fill out an application and determine eligibility, visit Ohio Means Jobs at 1115 Gilman Ave., Suite B.

Program

Requirements:

¯ Must be a resident of Washington County.

¯ Household income is less than 200 percent Federal Poverty Levels for household size.

¯ Youth ages 14-17 as long as the youth is a minor child in a needy family and is in school (Youth may be 18 if they are a full-time student in a secondary school).

¯ Youth ages 18-24, as long as they are in a needy family that also has a minor child; or

¯ Youth ages 18-24 that have a minor child and are considered needy.

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