June 19, 2015
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is expected to announce $7.5 million in funding to create about 3,700 summer jobs for young people statewide.
The announcement will occur Friday afternoon at Philadelphia Works, an organization that tries to connect people seeking work with employers. Wolf’s chief of staff, Katie McGinty, and Senator Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, will attend the press conference.
Back in February, Mayor Michael Nutter called for the city's business and non-profit community to create 10,000 summer jobs for young people in part through a city campaign titled WorkReady, which is administered by the Philadelphia Youth Network, an organization that works to create opportunities for young people. Nutter did not announce any additional city funding in his call to action.
“Youth employment opportunities matter. Youth employment and the development of a skilled, educated workforce are critical to achieving so many of our city’s long-term priorities,” Nutter said at the time. “By providing a young person with a summer work opportunity, employers are investing in the future of their company, the future of their young employees, and the future of our entire city.”
“[Mayor Nutter] personally solicits businesses to sign up,” said Alex Styer, a spokesman for Philadelphia Works. “And the money that gets pulled together helps subsidized the work of the actual kids.”
The funding announced Friday will come from federal and state sources. It was not immediately clear how many Philadelphia jobs would be created.
Young people aged 14 to 21 who are interested in one of the work opportunities or internships can apply online.
