News release from Mayor Bill Finch:
At a press conference today, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch joined representatives from businesses and community groups to announce summer job efforts around the city, which collectively will create more than 300 summer jobs for Bridgeport youth. The more than 300 summer jobs will be open to youth in Bridgeport, ranging from ages 14-21.
In addition to the announcement, Mayor Finch urged other members of the business community to do their part to help create jobs in Bridgeport this summer.“We want to put people to work right here in Bridgeport, including young adults during the summer months,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “When businesses step up to the plate and provide opportunities for young people, the entire city benefits. These jobs will provide a structured environment for our youth to learn, and will also help grow our economy and pave a pathway to their future success.”
Mayor Finch continued: “More than 300 jobs is a great start, but we’re hoping to put even more of our youth to work this summer. We urge other businesses in the community to join us in this effort.”
Others in attendance at the press conference included: Bank of America; PSEG; The Workplace; and the Mayor’s Conservation Corps. The City of Bridgeport is partnering with The Workplace Inc., one of five Workforce Development Boards in Connecticut that prepares people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers. That partnership created 270 summer youth jobs this year.
These jobs include 50 with the Mayor’s Conservation Corps, a group of young adults who go door-to-door in the city educating homeowners about recycling, energy conservation and savings, storm water management and the importance of planting trees.
“For every young person, a job offering decent work can be an important step in their journey toward adulthood and self-reliance. Youth employment programs provide engaging, work-based educational opportunities designed to help youth explore careers, learn new skills, and earn income,” said The WorkPlace President and CEO Joseph Carbone. “The WorkPlace commends Mayor Finch and the city for its support and leadership in facilitating the growth of youth employment opportunities.”
And, Wilifred Murphy, Program Director of the Conservation Corps, added: “Young people in the Mayor’s Conservation Corps will be trained in valuable green job skills that help protect our community and preserve the earth. We’re giving each cohort of students that apply to our program each year a real world perspective while shaping their skills to ensure that we have a stronger workforce and community in place tomorrow.”
Also, in partnership with the United Way, Bank of America has committed $7,500 to summer youth job creation, and so far the group has raised $15,000 of the total $50,000 needed to fund 50 summer jobs in total. In addition, Posigen–a solar company that recently moved to Bridgeport–will create 10 summer jobs, and PSEG will create a total of four summer jobs.
“Earning a paycheck this summer is important, but more critical are the real-world interpersonal and problem-solving skills these kids will develop,” said Bill Tommins, Bank of America’s Southern Connecticut Market President. “Experiences like these will enable them to better themselves, their families and their communities.”
Tom Copus of PSEG added: “PSEG is very happy to be a part of this program. We’re excited to have youth come and learn about energy.”
Mayor Finch also noted local businesses can help make a difference in the young people of Bridgeport by donating money, agreeing to hire one young person part-time for the summer or volunteering their time to support the training program. Businesses interested in contributing to the program can contact Tammy Papa at 203-576-7252 or tammy.papa@bridgeportct.gov.
The program will be administered by the city’s Office of Youth Services and is a partnership between the City, Bank of America, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). The City’s Office of Youth Services will manage the effort and has extensive experience in recruiting, training and employing young people.
Having had numerous occasions in which to partner with The Workplace, Inc. on the implementation of past summer youth employment programs, the Office of Youth Services is prepared to accept applications, interview candidates, and match prospective youth with the ideal job. Interested youth should contact Mary Ray, Teen Training and Employment Specialist at 203-576-7252.
The deadline for submitting applications is June 13, 2014.
This is great news. As they say, “idle hands are the devil’s playground.” This will also help develop youth’s soft skills, confidence, experience and job experience. In light of the violence among youth in the city in the past year or two, I think this is wonderful. This is a good investment.
Great and wonderful news for children of well-connected folks who regularly suck up to Finch and his goons and therefore have an opportunity for summer employment. Every other year the announcements have touted Bridgeport kids who got summer jobs in Bridgeport and with some digging we all learned they lived someplace else but were kids of Finch-employed fans. I for one am hoping for a different outcome but I sure won’t be holding my breath.
Well good point, I hope the jobs go to Bridgeport youth and youth who really need it.
The record of this administration will hold true and the kids who really, really need these jobs won’t get them. The kids of the political suck-ups will.