The Iowa Transportation Commission recently approved just over $78,000 in federal funding for the Urban Youth Corps program. Craig Markley with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says the program involves organizations with transportation related activities, such as cleaning up or improving a trail system.
“Or maybe they want to add a scenic overlook or some park benches or they just need to trim some brush. What this program does, is they can apply and it focuses on providing a job for folks ages 16-21 who may face a barrier to employment. So, it’s targeting some disadvantaged youth,” Markley says.
He says the program is more than just providing the participants a job — the program also teaches them life skills, as the project sponsors are required to help them with things like creating a resume, doing a job interview.
The DOT seeks private, nonprofit organizations and public agencies to submit applications for the Urban Youth Corps program, and then reimburses them part of their expenses once the projects have been competed.