Benton Harbor offering Summer Youth Employment Program

A summer youth employment program is being held by the city of Benton Harbor. It says the Youth Employment Project is looking to hire around 150 youths between the ages of 14 and 19 to perform various public service jobs in streets, parks, and other public venues. The program is possible thanks to federal Community Development Block Grant funding, as well as a Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency grant and a grant from Michigan Works. 14 and 15-year-olds will be paid $10 per hour and those 16 through 19 years will be paid $15 per hour and enrolled in the Michigan Works program. Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says the “program in addition to helping the youth and their families financially, will also provide a meaningful diversion from some of the violence impacting youth in our community.” Applications for the youth employment program can be picked up and submitted to Youth Employment Program Coordinator Corey Sterling at Benton Harbor High School for the next ten days.