Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for, and if awarded, enter into a grant agreement with the State of Minnesota to accept $754,689 in grant funds for the City's youth employment program (YJC).
Body
WHEREAS, The Parks and Recreation Department is requesting permission to apply for $754,689 in grant funds from The State of Minnesota through the Department of Employment and Economic Development for the City's youth employment program (YJC); and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Youth Job Corps (YJC) is to connect Saint Paul youth and young adults with meaningful training, work and career exploration opportunities so they are prepared to thrive and prosper; and
WHEREAS, City departments and more than 20 community agencies have agreed to partner with YJC to provide high quality youth development and work experiences for up to 535 teens; and
WHEREAS, the City has a huge unmet need for meaningful youth workforce opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department has effectively managed the City's youth employment program since 2004, employing 3549 youth who have worked at total of 881,473 hours; and
WHEREAS, 94% of the funding received from DEED will go directly to youth wages, focusing on economically disadvantaged youth ages 14 through 24; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Saint Paul hereby authorizes the Parks and Recreation Department to apply for and if awarded enter into a grant agreement with the State of Minnesota to accept $754,689 in grant funds to support the summer youth employment program in Saint Paul.