ELMIRA – Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli and Youth Bureau Director Bob Harris were joined with local employers  at a press conference today unveiling the County’s new “Hire One Youth” initiative.  The Chemung County Youth Bureau is looking to partner once again with local employers and businesses in Chemung County this summer through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Summer Youth Employment Program.  The TANF Summer Youth Employment Program will provide approximately 100 income eligible Chemung County youth ages 14-20 with valuable work experience and basic employment skills training for a period of six weeks this summer. For the first time, the Youth Bureau is publicly encouraging local employers and businesses to commit to hiring at least one youth this summer through a partnership with this program. 

“The Hire One Youth campaign is an excellent opportunity for both the youth in our community and our businesses,” said Santulli.  “The businesses get the benefit of an employee at no cost to them that has received pre-employment work readiness training. The youth are afforded hands-on jobs skills training and valuable work experience, often times their very first employment experience.”

Harris added, “The employers we have here today are a true testament to the level of community support that exists for our young people. Without the existing partnership that the Youth Bureau has with local employers, community based agencies and school districts we would not be able to operate this much needed program.”

Participating employer in the program and Executive Director of Elmira Downtown Development, Jennifer Herrick, states that “for the past three years Elmira Downtown has used the Summer Youth Employment Program.  We welcome younger people to be a part of what we do, and we feel that this program gives them hands on experience that stays with them.  Elmira Downtown has had a positive experience with the program and we sincerely hope that other organizations are able to utilize this program as it continues to grow bigger and stronger every year.”

Youth employee’s wages are 100 % subsidized by the Youth Bureau and basic employment training is provided to youth throughout the summer by TANF Summer Youth Employment program staff. In addition to basic training, all youth employees are assigned an Employment Supervisor who is a direct liaison between youth employees and employers. Under the direction of the TANF Summer Youth Employment Program Coordinator, Tara Moran, Employment Supervisors provide on the job assistance to youth employees in an effort to ensure a successful work experience.

“The position of the Employment Supervisor is vital to the success of the program,” said Moran. “Youth employees and participating employers of the program are offered on the job and technical assistance on a continual basis throughout the entire summer.”
By pledging to hire one youth this summer, local employers and businesses in Chemung County will assist the Youth Bureau in providing opportunities for positive development for these youth by building upon key developmental assets and encouraging them to become an active member of the workforce of our community. The program begins on June 25, 2012. Interested Chemung County employers can contact TANF Summer Youth Employment Program Coordinator, Tara Moran at (607) 737-2907 for more information about this opportunity.

Pictured: Tara Moran Youth Bureau TANF Summer Youth Employment Coordinator.